Readers Respond: Do you vaccinate your own cats? Share your reasons and experiences?

Responses: 30

By Franny Syufy, About.com Guide

I have vaccinated my own cats for years, using 5-way for the first several years and 4-way (no leukemia) in later years. I have never had a negative reaction aside from one cat who always seemed a bit listless the day after the shot until I switched to all-killed vaccine (believe it as you wish, but it's true). These are purely outdoors cats who come and go freely (with 24-hour food, water, plus heat lamps as needed in cold weather, all inside draft-free buildings. Does it work? Well, my oldest is now going on 15 and remains as playful as a kitten. Two brothers are going on 14, and the only real sign of aging is that one doesn't groom himself as well as he should but is otherwise active and healthy. The other three are strays of indeterminate age and origin (two dumped, neutered/spayed and declawed, to fend for themselves, one of which appeared to be within a day or two of death when she showed up in February a few years ago, but now very healthy). All are spayed/neutered.
—Guest littleguns

My Minggay is an indoor cat and she got her shot before I adopted her. For me, I don't think it is necessary and I [don't] want her to be subjected to another vaccination. She's in a pretty good health.
—Guest daiwiesel

I use the vet services that are part of petsmart. They are usually under the name of banfield or vetsmart. I pay a monthly fee which pays for vaccines and check-ups and various tests to ensure their health. My cats are indoor cats but I do make sure they get their shots. It is sad fact that pets get lost and I want to make sure that mine are safe regardless of the fact that i am very careful that they stay inside. I also have had squirrels and mice in years past and though the rodents have only been in my home twice in 20 years they still carry disease that could be transferred to my cats. All my cats are stray and I am sure there will be more, They last cat I took in tested positive for FIV. The positive FIV results could very well be form the vaccine as that the register a false positive and she was obviously someone pet at on time as that she is spayed and de-clawed. The cats go to the vet 2xs a year and this helps to ensure their health and catches health concerns ASAP.
—Guest melanne Hoeflicker

I have been vaccinating my own cats for ten years now. I have never had a problem and the cost was quite a big difference from the Vet. I also did some studying and found out that cats only need to be vaccinated once every three years. Many of the vaccinations can cause a sarcoma, especially in geriatric cats. In my research I learned that it is too risky to vaccinate an older cat. Hope this will help a cat lover out there.
—Guest Jeannette

I no longer vaccinate my cats on a yearly basis, having read a lot on the subject I found out that rabies anitbodies from the vaccine last up to three years.
—Guest frasuwheel

I have a shelter and the vet gives the cats their first shot and I give them after that. I have mixed feeling about shots, as I have lost cats because of the shots. The cats are all indoor cats. My cats come from homeless people and death of owners or go into nursing homes!
—Guest Cat Lady

I WOULD NEVER GIVE INJECTS TO MY CATS. FOR MANY OF THE REASONS ABOVE. I DO NOT KNOW THE QUALITY OF THE MEDICATION AND I WOULD NEVER BE COMFORTABLE DOING IT TO THE LITTLE FURRY LOVES OF MY LIFE. NOW WE DID HAVE AN OLDER CAT WHO HAD DIABETES AND THE VET INSTRUCTED ME HOW TO ADMINISTER THE MEDICATION. JUST PICK UP THE LOOSE SKIN ON OR AROUND THE BACK OF IT'S NECK AND INJECT IT INTO THE LOOSE SKIN, IT WAS NOT LIKE INJECTING IT INTO A VEIN. JUST BE SURE THAT WHEN YOU STICK THE NEEDLE INTO THE CATS SKIN, THAT YOU DON'T PUSH IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE AND THE CAT WILL NOT GET THE INSULIN AT ALL. THE QUALITY OF THE DRUG WAS EASY TO KNOW SINCE I OBTAINED IT THE FROM THE LOCAL HUMAN PHARMACY. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT IS EASIER ON SOME CATS OR KITTENS TO BE INJECTED AT HOME. I HAVE A WONDERFUL VET WHO IS VERY CAREFUL WITH MY CATS OR KITTENS AS THE PEDIATRICIAN IS WITH MY CHILDREN. FACT IS THE CATS & KITTENS NEVER SEEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE BEING GIVEN A SHOT SINCE HE IS SO GENTLE
—kat4552

When our kitten turned 6 months, I vac. him for Rabies - killed strain, (we own horses and vac., med, and draw blood). He within 4 hours had a 103 temperature and itched all over. He was ALLERGIC to the vaccine. Now our vet does it all, but, not Rabies, he said with a reaction that fast and bad for the 1st time, he may die as he is given or just vaccination. Anaphalaxis.
—Guest RoyalFlight

No I do not want to vacinate or give rabies shot to my darling kitty. She is an indoor cat, and does nor come in contact with any other animal. Is this good or bad?
—Guest yolanda t. rossi

After such a horrible large lump from a Rabies shot and very loose stool, I started researching about vaccinations. I've decided NO MORE after reading and researching. I now constantly check his right rear leg for lumps. My vet has agreed, since he's an indoor cat there is no reason to vaccinate him anymore.
—Guest Sandy

all my cats are checked and vaccinated by my friend vet. i am more comfortable by that. i think my cats and dogs are more safe.
—Guest allan

I don't vaccinate at all anymore. All I've read tells me it does more harm than good. It predisposes cats to some diseases and allergies and more.
—Guest calico

Hello! My husband and I currently have 6 cats, two of them we rescued from the neighborhood last fall. One, Phillippe, we took in becasue we noticed that his rear end had been set on fire. We have done both, as far as vaccinations go. I don't know how it is in other areas, but where we live, the vet prices have literally doubled over the past few years. The problem that we are finding is that we get our vaccinations from our local Tractor Supply store, but recently we have been having trouble finding the vaccinations. All of our cats are healthy and range in age from 10 mos to 10 years. We also find it to be less stressful for our cats to do it ourselves at home. I do agree with "imbennett" that a cats skin is much tougher than one might think, that is why I hold the cats while my husband gives the injections. I might also add that my hubby's mom had bred Persians and Himylains (not sure of the spelling, sorry) so he had grown up helping his mom vaccinate their cats!
—babyofourown

My male cat was neutered & vacc at age 5-6mo. He deceloped HCM and died at 2 1/2 years old
—Guest GG

I no longer have my cats vaccinated after their 1st shots. Think it's a money grabber by vets.My cats live long lives-3 20, 1-18 &my oldest 22-he just died in Dec(08) I now have 3 who are 5
—Guest karen

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