Ask A Pet Pro

Helping pet owners get health help For their pets

Questions about leukemia vaccine for cats

I have two indoor only kittens that I am going to have fixed and vaccinated. These cats will be strictly indoors, will not be around other cats, and I want to minimize the vaccines, etc. I give them.

My questions: Should I even vaccinate them at all? They have not been neutered yet so I wanted to get everything done at the same time. I’ve heard of the following and would like opinions on them: Nosodes, which I have heard as recommendations for vaccine replacement, and the feline leukemia vaccine.

What information can you tell me about this?

Thank you for your help.

Share

5 Responses to “Questions about leukemia vaccine for cats”

  1. Dr. Mark Logan, DVM says:

    You should carry through with your spay/neuter plans, hopefully at your veterinarian’s office, where you will be counseled on why you should vaccinate your cats and not use homeopathic substitutes which are clinically unproven. Secondly, your veterinarian will likely recommend FeLV and FIV testing, but FeLV vaccinations are likely not necessary given the risk factors (especially indoor exclusive environment). Thereafter, you should visit your veterinarian at least once or preferably twice yearly and listen to his/her recommendations for further immunizations, based on your cats’ risk of exposure.

    Dr. Mark Logan, DVM
    Baysea Veterinary Hospital
    Cape May, NJ

  2. Mike Keem, DVM - E. Aurora, NY says:

    Nosodes are QUACKERY and have no PROVEN benefit for their use in animals. In my practice, we recommend FeLV vaccination for ALL kittens. When the owners return in one year for their annual exam and booster vaccinations we discuss the “lifestyle” of the cat. If they are isolated strictly indoors, the FeLV/FIV status of other cats in the household is known, and the owner has no other household cats that go outdoors, there is absolutely no reason to continue FeLV vaccination. The reason we recommend it for ALL kittens, is that many cats intended to stay indoors actually become indoor/outdoor cats. They are at risk therefore of contracting FeLV, and need to be protected through vaccination.

    Mike Keem, DVM
    Aurora Pet Hospital
    East Aurora, NY

  3. Lori Coughlin, DVM, Arlington Heights, IL says:

    There are many opinions about vaccines, so take everything you hear and determine which works best for you. We recommend the distemper (RCP) vaccine series and rabies for all cats. The rabies is the purevax yearly, as it is safest for now. The RCP is given every 3 years after the 1 year booster. We don’t vaccinate indoor cats for leukemia, but there is a school of thought that recommends you give the initial 2 shot series when they are young (and most susceptible), and if they stay indoors, do not repeat the vaccines later. I know very little about nosodes, aside that they are used by homeopathic vets and they are a very tiny amount of the thing you are trying to protect the cat from (ie a rabies nosode would contain a minute amount of the virus in the hope it would stimulate the immune system to protect the cat from th disease). I don’t know how they work and do not have any information on the success rate. I give intranasal vaccines for the RCP in kittens, and well-adjusted adult cats!
    i hopw this helps and good for you and getting your new kittens spay and neutered and protected against disease!!

    Dr. Lori
    Lori L Coughlin, DVM
    Lori L Coughlin, DVM
    Arlington Heights, IL

  4. Philip McHugh, DVM, NC says:

    make an appointment to see your vet ASAP. your cat may have worms, etc.
    don’t waste your $ on nosodes.

    Phillip McHugh, DVM
    Park Veterinary Hospital
    Durham, NC

  5. N. Lee Kolos, VMD - PA says:

    Some veterinarians recommend leukemia vaccine for all cats. I am one (of many!) who does not. Strictly indoor cats are at very, very low risk for leukemia since the virus does not live very long outside of the body and you cannot carry it home to your cat. I try not to use more vaccines than necessary and therefore do not recommend feline leukemia for strictly indoor cats.

    N. Lee Kolos, VMD
    Kolbrooks Veterinary Clinic
    Bellefonte, PA

Leave a Reply


WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.