Vaccinations
In recent years the issue of feline vaccinations has become a bone of contention for owners and breeders alike, do we - or don't we vaccinate? Do we vaccinate annually or biennually? Do we use medical vaccines or Holistic Vaccines? Extensive research has taken place in recent years and not all the results have been made common or public knowledge.
Firstly we would NEVER use or recommend Holistic Vaccinations on our kittens or cats and non of the main cat associations GCCF, FiFE or TICA will accept a kitten/cat in a show unless vaccinated with Medical Vaccinations only. There are arguements on both sides, but at present research shows that the safest route IS Medical Vaccinations.
However recent research HAS shown that if a kitten has it's dual vaccinations at 9/12 weeks old and a booster at 12 months old, then it can be upto 3 years before it requires its second booster, not every 12 months which we are led to believe at present. This is however for INDOOR cats only and NOT for cats that have free access to the outside. This is due to the amount of vaccine antibodies residing in the body. Humans get vaccinated about every 10 years (apart from Flu/Swine Flu/Pneumocococcal) so why should felines be any different. Pharmaceutical Companies would lose exceptionally large quantities of money if everybody suddenly stopped vaccinating their pets every year. Every Veterinary Practice makes profit on medications so again although the research and facts are out there in cyberspace, you have to look for it although you can PRESS your vet for the facts.
Now there are illnesses and diseases which DO require vaccines as there is no other known cure for them, however some of these are one off vaccinations and others DO require annual boosters no matter what. If your cat has contact with another cat not residing in your home then vaccinate ANNUALLY no matter what. Such diseases could be Feline Leukaemia, Feline Avian Flu H5N1 (www.dr-addie.com), Feline AIDS to name a few.
The Advisory Panel Report by the American Association of Feline Practicioners AAFC and the American Academy of Feline Medicines AAFM (1998 - amended 2000) recommended no more than 3 years between vaccinations for Feline Enteritis (cat flu) and no more than 3 years for Feline Calici Virus and Feline Herpes Virus - 1. This should then be assessed annually. The duration between vaccinations is a minimum not maximum time scale as determined by the 2002 report compiled by the Veterinary Products Committee Working Group - VPCWG on Feline/Canine Vaccinations. (www.fabcats.org/catgroup).
It is known to owners and breeders alike that occasionaly (albeit rarely) and usually only under the age of 6 months that kittens can have a reaction to a vaccination,
(SAR's - Suspected Adverse Reaction/s). This percentage at present is about 550 cases per annum of which only 39% are actual vaccine reactions which is about 230 cases per year. All cases should automatically be reported to SARSS - Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme by your vets, but not all do so you can notify SARSS yourself.
(www.fabcats.org/catgroup). These reactions can be a simple swelling at the injection site to the more life threatening total lifelessness and inability to move eat or drink by itself thus requiring 24 nursing care for upto 48 hours or more.
As for Snoozicoonz, we triple vaccinate ALL our kittens and cats and they receive a booster at 12 months old, then at 36 months unless they are re-homed in between in which case we would administer boosters according to the new owners requirements. All of our Show Cats receive boosters and additional Feline Leukaemia Vaccinations every year whilst they are being shown, this is to maximise protection from cross infection in a multi cat environment and to reduce any risk of cross contamination when they are brought home. All of our show cats are then quarantined for 48 hrs after every show, more importantly the females and any newly introduced kittens/cats into our home are quarantined for 7 days to ensure there is no stress activated infection being introduced.
We work extensively with our long term Veterinary Practice and constantly attend research events and conferences at the Royal Dick in Edinburgh, whilst carrying out extensive online research on a regular basis. We ensure at all times that our feline family remain healthy and illness free which is why they have regular vet checks. We are aware that a cats body can only take so much 'vaccine' at any one time and vaccinating a cat against 'everything' in a short space of time can overload its immunity system.
We do STRONGLY advise all our new kitten/cat slaves that if their cat is to have outdoor access which could result in contact with other cats/cat urine/deposits then they should maintain ANNUAL vaccinations and additionally vaccinate against Feline Leukaemia and Feline Aids.