All About Cat Vaccinations

There is a lot of controversy these days about vaccinations, with a growing faction of vets and others who feel that pets are being over-vaccinated, with serious consequences. Rabies vaccinations are mandated by law - cats, dogs, and ferrets must be vaccinated. The pet's first vaccination is good for one year; subsequent vaccinations are good for 3 years, although many vets now prefer to give cats the safer, one-year version to reduce the possibility of developing vaccination site sarcoma (cancer).

If a pet has never been vaccinated for distemper, the shots are given in a series in order to build immunity. the final shot in the series is good for one year, and pets have traditionally been vaccinated annually after that. however, research shows that distemper vaccinations provide immunity for much longer than a year, and some vets are going to three-year schedules.

Canine distemper is much more of an issue, since dogs are generally more in contact with one another (walks, dog parks, boarding, training). If your cat is indoor only, it's highly unlikely that she will be exposed to feline distemper or the cat cold viruses, unless you have contact with outdoor cats or shelter cats. Also, if your cat is indoor-only, there's no need for a feline leukemia vaccination.

However, if your cat goes outside, all of these vaccinations are essential. To avoid over-vaccinating, you can ask your vet to do blood titers to measure the level of antibodies in the blood to determine if a booster is needed.

The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Cat

Can spaying or neutering benefit your cat? Definitely, because leaving a cat whole (and not breeding them, which should only be done by responsible and knowledgeable people) can cause a ton of health problems.

An unspayed animal also means more trips to the vet, which can be very expensive. Not everyone can afford this, so either the cat suffers or has to be needlessly put down. And some issues are fatal and cannot be cured.

Neutering also keeps your cat from wandering in search of a mate and looking to breed, which puts him at risk of one or more of the following: being hit by a car, running into mean, nasty people, possibly being beaten up by another cat, or catching diseases.

Fixing your cat also keeps kittens from being born. An accidental litter can be tough to find a home for, as shelters are already over crowded.

Yes it is surgery, but it is no different than you having your tonsils out, because they become infected. It is surgery, but it benefits your health, and spaying or neutering does the same for your cat.

A Spayed or Neutered Cat is a Healthier Pet

Spaying and Neutering is done not only for population control but it also keeps a cat healthier in the long run! An intact female can get two dangerous conditions called Pyometra (an infected uterus) and Mastitis (infection of the mammary glands.) Both are dangerous, especially Pyometra, which can kill a cat if not caught fast enough. Intact females are also prone to mammary cancer. With every heat cycle a cat goes through, their risk for developing cancer shoots up.

Intact males are a lot more prone to testicular and prostate cancer. They also have the desire to roam, and intact males get into a lot more fights than neutered cats. Fights with other cats can lead to serious injuries that can become infected and abcessed. Intact males will also spray their territory.

Reasons to Choose a Holistic Vet

I adore my holistic vets. They prescribe herbs or alternative treatments like acupuncture instead of drugs whenever possible/appropriate. They are typically better educated in nutrition than conventional vets. And this may just be my vet's style, but he is much more likely to stay hands-off and let the body heal itself if it can. He encouraged my interest in a raw diet, and regularly recommends home cooked meals to his clients. He's also against vaccinations when they can be avoided. In short, he favors natural processes over drugs or poisons.