Cat Lovers Need to Know...

Important Information for Cat Owners

Ask your vet to use the

2006 American Association of Feline Practitioners

Feline Vaccine Advisory Panel Report's recommended injection sites for feline vaccines:

Rabies virus vaccine is recommended to be given under the skin, on the outside of the RIGHT hind leg below the "knee" joint. Consider a non-adjuvanted product. Currently, the only available non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine is Merial's Purevax Rabies.

Feline Leukemia (FeLV) virus vaccine is recommended to be given under the skin, on the outside of the LEFT hind leg below the "knee" joint. If your cat is a strictly indoor adult cat that is never exposed to any outdoor cats, FeLV vaccine may not be necessary.

Ask for a non-adjuanted product. To avoid an injection completely, we recommend Merial's adjuvant-free transdermal product, Vet-Jet.

Upper Respiratory (FV-RCP) virus vaccines are recommended to be given under the skin, on the outside of right forelimb below the "elbow" joint, avoiding the "scruff" area. This vaccine is available as an injection or in the form of a nasal spray. Consider a non-adjuvanted product. Currently, the only available non-adjuvanted respiratory virus vaccines are Heska’s Bivalent or Trivalent Intranasal, Pfizer’s Bivalent Intranasal, or Merial Purevax Feline-3 injectable vaccine. It is also important that you know that "modified live" respiratory virus vaccines are also adjuvant free.

If your cat is an indoor cat and does not need the FeLV vaccine, we recommend that you request this injection be given in the Left rear limb, rather than over the right shoulder. If your vet does this for you, make sure that this is well-documented on your pet's medical record for future reference!

NO INJECTION SHOULD EVER BE GIVEN IN THE SCRUFF! (Between the shoulder blades)

Consider only non-adjuvanted vaccines!

Important Information about the FIV Vaccine!

The FIV vaccine was released in July 2002. This vaccine is not available without adjuvant, and it will cause your cat to test positive for FIV infection.

Should your cat then be picked up by Animal Control and taken to a shelter, it is likely that you cat will be tested for FIV. Most shelters will euthanize stray cats that test positive for FIV. There is no way for a shelter to tell the difference between a cat that is acutally infected with the virus and one that is vaccinated against it. In our view, this is a significant drawback to this vaccine.

It is very important that you have an in-depth discussion with your vet prior to consenting for this vaccine. Should you consent for this vaccine, it is also very important that your cat be tested prior to vaccination and that the results of this test are negative.

The recommended injection site for this vaccine is underr the skin, on the outside of the LEFT hindlimb, below the "knee" joint.

To read the AAFP guideline for the FIV vaccine Click Here!

Things to consider and discuss with your Vet

If your cat is sick, has ever had a vaccine reaction, or has an immune system disorder - Most experts agree that cats with these problems should not be vaccinated.
Is your cat at risk for the disease that the vaccine is designed to prevent? Not every cat needs every vaccine. Discuss your cat’s age, health and environment with your vet prior to consenting for any vaccinations.
Ask your Vet about possible side-effects of each vaccine- Understanding that a vaccination is a medical procedure that may have harmful side effects is an important part of your decision to vaccinate. These side effects can range from a mild allergic reaction all the way to triggering one of these cancers.
Refuse “scruff shots” in the loose skin on the back of your cat’s neck. Scruff shots are no longer considered to be the prevailing standard of care! With the exception of fluids to treat dehydration, NO shot should ever be given in the scruff of your cat’s neck. Because it is so close to your cat’s ribs, heart and lungs, successful treatment of VAS in this area is very difficult.
Be sure that your Vet records the manufacturer, lot number and injection locations on you cat’s medical record - You or your vet will need to report this information if your cat has a vaccine reaction or develops VAS. You can also ask for a copy of the vaccine information to keep for your records!
Learn how to report a vaccine reaction – All vaccine reactions need to be reported to both the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics and the Vaccine Manufacturer. VAS/ISS is not only under-diagnosed, but also under-reported. Reporting adverse vaccine reactions will lead to better and safer products and a more accurate assessment of the incidence of VAS/ISS. To find out how to report a vaccine reaction, visit the "Report a Reaction" page on this web site.

This web page was prepared by VAS Awareness and the VAS Cat Show Group, Supporting Members of the Cornell Feline Health Center. The information in this brochure may be reproduced only in its entirety. All rights reserved, Copyright 2007.

The information contained in this brochure is intended for general reference purposes only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Veterinary medical information and treatment standards change rapidly and while we make efforts to obtain the most reliable, up-to-date information, some information may be out of date or even unreliable. This information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified professional. (12/2007)