Veterinary Care – Read This Before Your Next Vet Visit

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Pixie Bob veterinary care need not be a mystery or scare you. Some veterinarians may tell you that your kittens/cats need more vaccines. That can be dangerous. Over-vaccinating causes severe adverse health issues.

What can you do?

There are few vaccines an indoor-only cat needs. Also, the frequency is far less than some veterinarians make you believe.

Let me introduce you to the AAFP – American Association of Feline Practitioners.

Who are they?

They are an association of cat veterinarians who are “dedicated to advancing the field of feline medicine and surgery by setting the standards of feline veterinary care through the publication of practice guidelines, position statements, and by providing continuing education.”

But what exactly does that mean?

The AAFP took notice of a large number of cats developing tumors and lymphoma at a young age. After years of research, they identified over-vaccination as the root cause. Furthermore, they discovered that cats develop immunity that lasts far longer than a year.

As a result, the AAFP developed a vaccine guide – the holy grail of today’s veterinary medicine.

Pixie Bob Veterinary Care – Core Vaccines

There are only two core vaccines. These are vaccines that must be given and are not subject to debate.

FVRCP(Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) and RABIES:

  • Rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory disease caused by the ever-present Herpes I virus.
  • Calici is a virus that causes ulcers in the mouth and, at times, the eyes. It leads to excessive drooling and an inability to consume food (it just really hurts).
  • Panleukopenia is the medical term for distemper. This is a dreadful and almost always fatal viral disease characterized by massive bloody diarrhea and vomiting.

Pixie Bob Veterinary Care – Other Vaccines

There are other vaccines your vet might try to talk you into. These are Feline Leukemia (FeLV), Feline Aids, FIP, Bortadella, Chlamydia, and Giardia.

Generally, FIP and Giardia vaccines are not recommended. They have dangerous side effects while not truly protecting your cat.

It would be best if you only considered these vaccines for a cat at risk. A cat at risk is one that you allow outside or gets in contact with outside cats. No indoor-only cat runs the risk of contracting Feline Leukemia, Feline Aids, FIP, Chlamydia, and/or Bortadella.

veterinary care
Kitty at the vet

If you board your cat when you are on vacation, the facility might require you to provide proof of Bortadella, Chlamydia, and FeLV. Boarding is quite stressful for a cat. I am sure that you are fully aware that stress lowers the immune system. We suggest hiring a trained, licensed, bonded, and insured pet sitter instead to care for your cat in its familiar surroundings.

You no longer vaccinate cats every year. Instead, the AAFP recommends vaccinating as follows:

  • Series of 3 baby vaccines
  • Booster one year after the last vaccine
  • After that, only every 3 years.

We recommend stopping FVRCP vaccines at the age of 10 years. It would be best if you continued Rabies as it is the law. The next time you visit the vet with your Pixie Bob cat, insist only on vaccinations meeting the protocol’s guidelines. You will be glad you did.