Question for cat owners

We do not do the shots anymore since our male cat had a Heart Attack right after getting shots. My wife gave him CPR as I was driving back to the Vets. She actually revived him, he lived 3 more years and finally stroked out.
Since our cats NEVER go out, the NEW Vet thought passing on the shots was OK.
They have more than enough fun inside, and when we carry them outside, after 5 minutes they are more than ready to come back to a nice safe home!!!

 

My experience suggest a couple of things to be cautious if kitty is on the deck. Heartworm comes from infected mosquitos. Of course outside on the deck kitty may have issues with fleas and ticks which carry feline diseases. Finally, while kitty is on the deck, I suppose there's always a chance for a rabid animal issue. These are all reasons while feline innoculations are important.

We've had cats for 35 years. We just got another cat this week after a 6 year void since the loss of our last cat. He's already been to the vet for his shot routine, check-up and the big snip-snip!

 

You can probably skip the shots, but treat your cats with Revolution. It is a topically applied systemic anti-parasite treatment that will work for fleas and worms.

We followed the same path as you, doing no treatments, until this year when our house was infested with fleas. Our cat became sick with fleas and worms, with all of the sick-cat bad behavior: pooping inside, using potted plants as a cat box, and generally acting sick.

We treated the cat with Revolution. She is now great, and back to being her normal ornery self. Two months of spraying and vacuuming the house and we seem to have won the flea battle. Don't make the same mistake.

Tom

 

I get the minimum shots for my guys because around this state we've had more wild animals testing positive for rabies, and if my cats ever somehow got out and got lost and had a run-in with a rabid animal and became fatally ill I couldn't live with myself. Also, since I am friends with people who do rescue, and who sometimes have unvaccinated kittens, I get at least a few distemper shots for each of my cats. I have seen how fast panleukopenia can spread - and it's sad results. Just my 2 cents.

 

After the first year with our kitty, no more shots or vet-applied toxins.

Of course, our kitty is strictly indoors only.

Is it a screened deck they are out on? Can other cats "visit" it, where they might pick up parasites? Can they catch mice/birds out there, and possibly pick up other infections or parasites from them? If no... as in a screened porch, then they are probably fine.

 

The only vaccine an indoor cat might need is a distemper shot. This is because you can potentially transmit this to your cat from your clothes, shoes, having had contact with an infected cat... With an unvaccinated cat, you should cleanse your hands before touching your cat if you've had contact with another cat.

There's also a very good chance that your cats' past vaccines are still doing their job, and I don't consider them unvaccinated cats. You can get an antibody test if you want to check this out. I believe, with evidence, that vets vaccinate far more than is necessary.

They can get tapeworm from fleas, but only if they ingest them.