Are yearly shots Necessary??

iluvmykittys · Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 107

Hi,
I have 3 cats that will be 4 years old this September. One cat (Lucy) does not go outside at all. (She's too chicken) MY other cat (Boo) goes out on a leash in my front yard. He stays in my garden really- only for about 20 mins-45 mins 1-2 times a week in the summer when its sunny. My other cat (Cali) loves being outside. I let her out on a leash maybe 2-4 times a week when sunny. She lays in my garden and on my grass...she likes to watch the birds and bugs. LOL.
My question is....Do they really really need their shots??? All 3 need them?? How do you feel about Heartworm pills and the frontline for Cats? Think they all need it or 1 or 2 of them??? Please give me your opinions....Thanks. Your the best

vene · Super Senior Member Plus Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 4243

Milo goes outdoors except in the winter so he gets the whole works. Pumpkin, Monty, and Rene will venture in our backyard for 5-10 min. if even and I'm reluctant to give them any vaccines. They have been getting their Rabies shots because it's mandatory in NYS. Our ex-vet (left the practice) does not vaccinate her indoor kitties except for every 6-7 years. She said that most pets are overvaccinated. My S.O. had a 14 year old kitty that was not vaccinated regularly and he was outdoors almost daily. He died of natural causes. I won't give my furbabies any Frontline, etc. unless there are symptoms. I drontaled Milo and Vene and the gang a couple of times in the past few years.

Mary_NH · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject:

My cats must have distemper cause of my fostering.
They don't get feline leuk yearly but do every 3 years again due to my fostering. Missy doesn't get it at all cause she gets so ill.
Rabies, as vene said, is also required here by law and I had a friend who missed a year with her cat. Her cat played with a bat - cat had to go into quarintine for 6 weeks and she had to have the rabies series. So I do pay attention to that.
My cats are inside only and I don't have to use any flea protection on them.
I think most of it depends on lifestyle.

EternalFlame · Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 6:44 pm Post subject:

i think Lex had the very basics waaaaay back .. like before he was mine...

as for Raz, when i first got him i made sure he had it all, just because of his special condition i didn't want to chance anything. and i gave him a Revolution for any fleas/bugs/nasties.

Now i just feed them good food, and keep close watch.

both fluff's are strict indoor kitties.

nern · Moderator Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 5042 Location: NY

My cats get vaccinated (rabies and combo) every 3yrs even though they are indoor cats. Richie has chronic herpes so although I was going to stop getting the combo vaccine for all of the cats I decided to continue getting it since Richie joined my fur family.

shnen · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 2:03 pm Post subject:

serendipity and cinnamon (aka. speedbump) both get theirs yearly... but now I have to wonder!

they get organic food (eat better then us!) and do NOT go outside at all. I have to wonder if I am throwing my money away every year then?

The vet sends a thing in the mail every year with an appointment already made. they get a check up and the whole drug cocktail - the deworming, rabies, etc.

i would love to hear reasons why to and not to... i want the furbies to be happy - but I don't want to wste money or over drug them!
(and with vets you never know)