The Truth About Vaccines in Cats Part 1 - Are Vaccines Secret Heroes or Enemies?

There’s no doubt that our cats are our companions, and caring for them comes with responsibilities just as important as caring for a baby. We are not their owners or parents, but rather their lifelong companions. Since our furry friends cannot communicate their needs and problems directly, the responsibility lies with us to ensure their well-being. That’s why it has become my mission to inform you about some of the common medical practices that are often misunderstood, particularly vaccinations.

Vaccinations are a crucial and highly debated topic in veterinary medicine. Pet owners are frequently caught in the middle of these discussions, making it a stressful decision-making process. Recently, there’s been a significant increase in chronic illnesses among our pets, both in terms of the variety of conditions and the number of cases. This alarming trend calls for a deeper, more scientific examination of the situation. Many of these diseases, such as chronic skin/ear allergies, digestive disorders, thyroid/adrenal/pancreatic imbalances, seizures, dental issues, degenerative arthritis, kidney/liver failure, and even cancer, are linked to weakened immune systems.

According to scientific research, the overuse of vaccinations and

nutrient-deficient, toxin-laden commercial pet food are considered two major contributors to the decline in our pets' health across generations. Yes, you heard that right—vaccines, which we often view as essential protectors, can sometimes become our pets’ worst enemies when administered excessively.

Core Vaccines - Optional Vaccines

Vaccination in cats is an important practice to build or strengthen immunity against pathogens like viruses or bacteria. Vaccines are essential in safeguarding your cat’s health and preventing many diseases. However, it’s also important to understand that no vaccine is 100% safe.

The most common vaccines for cats target viral, rather than bacterial, infections. While it's challenging to build long-term immunity against bacterial infections, vaccines against viruses are generally more effective in creating lasting immunity. Vaccines are categorized as either core or non-core, based on their necessity. Core vaccines are not legally mandatory (except for the rabies vaccine in certain countries), but they are highly recommended. The “FVRCP” combination vaccine and the FeLV (feline leukemia virus) vaccine fall under the core category due to their importance.

FVRCP Vaccine is a combination of three vaccines that most people are familiar with. It doesn’t fully protect against Herpes and Calicivirus, but it plays a key role in reducing clinical symptoms. The Panleukopenia virus in this group is the most dangerous, with a high mortality rate among infected cats. Despite its importance, if your cat is an indoor-only pet and doesn’t have contact with other infected cats, this vaccine might not be absolutely necessary.

FeLV Vaccine protects against feline leukemia, a complex disease that affects the bone marrow. It’s not highly contagious, and most cats have a natural immunity by the time they reach one year old. Some veterinarians recommend vaccinating all kittens, but for adult cats, FeLV vaccines are usually only necessary if they are exposed to FeLV-positive cats. Personally, none of my cats have ever received the FeLV vaccine because they live indoors and are not at risk of exposure.

Rabies Vaccine is legally required in many countries because of its fatal nature, both in animals and humans. Since rabies is almost always deadly, vaccinating your cat against it is a legal obligation in most places.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has updated its vaccination guidelines to reflect that frequent vaccinations may not be necessary. These guidelines are based on scientific research into the Duration of Immunity (DOI), yet some veterinarians continue to follow outdated practices, often for commercial reasons.

Therefore, when making decisions about vaccinations, it’s crucial not to blindly follow veterinary advice but to consider other factors.

Factors to Consider:

• Age of the Cat

• Risk of Disease Exposure

• Prevalence of the Disease in Your Region

• Cat’s Overall Health

• Vaccine Efficacy

• Vaccine Type (Adjuvanted vs. Non-adjuvanted)

• Titer Testing

• Benefit/Risk Analysis

• Duration of Immunity (DOI)

To wrap up, I’d like to leave you with this question to ponder...

How often do you get vaccinated for diseases ?Annually? Every three years?

So why don’t more people question the annual vaccination reminders sent by veterinarians for their pets?

A cat’s immune system is not more forgetful than a human’s. In fact, it has an excellent memory.

To be continued…