Keeping my five cats no matter what

[Lemony]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

"This is Bob Barker reminding you to control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered!!"

[frugalfarmwife]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

"This is Bob Barker reminding you to control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered!!"

LOLOLOLOLOLOL giggle, giggle!

But if'n I did that with the farm animals I'd go broke!

but yes, spay, neuter, geld. wether and castrate those PETS!

kj

[markitcat]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

RE: " Why spend the big bucks to keep their rabies, distemper, etc. shots up to date? Vets like to insist on that just becus it provides them an ongoing stream of revenue, but if the cats ALWAYS stay indoor, it's pointless to do so."

I figured this out a long time ago, but I've never said it out loud before because I thought some someone would accuse me of animal neglect.
I have four cats. They are all indoor cats. I haven't gotten any of them shots in years. If they need to go to the vet, I will take them, but I think it's ridiculous to pay all that money to prevent contagious diseases that they have almost no chance of catching. I say almost because I am allowing for the fact that some one could break into my house with an infected animal and expose my cats to rabies or distemper. Does anyone else have an opion on this?

[frugalfarmwife]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

RE: " Why spend the big bucks to keep their rabies, distemper, etc. shots up to date? Vets like to insist on that just becus it provides them an ongoing stream of revenue, but if the cats ALWAYS stay indoor, it's pointless to do so."

I figured this out a long time ago, but I've never said it out loud before because I thought some someone would accuse me of animal neglect.
I have four cats. They are all indoor cats. I haven't gotten any of them shots in years. If they need to go to the vet, I will take them, but I think it's ridiculous to pay all that money to prevent contagious diseases that they have almost no chance of catching. I say almost because I am allowing for the fact that some one could break into my house with an infected animal and expose my cats to rabies or distemper. Does anyone else have an opion on this?

I don't do rabies for my indoor cat but do keep up on other shots because I'm around other cats and you CAN carry disease on yourself/your clothing, feline leukemia is notorious for being carried on clothing/shoes from one place to another.

Now also as a large farm I can't catch/vaccinate all the barn cats, some are wild and came with the farm, they are a part of a farm, rat/rodent control. I do feed them and keep an eye out for them but they are not "pets". I also have most of the neighbors cats here daily

Vaccinations are needed, but I believe the pharmacutical companies push them to much to make the almighty buck. With the horses they push yearly vaccines and boosters soon before foaling. I had a mare foal a few years ago that was a total suprise (stallion got out the year before, lol) I had a blood test done on the foal to make sure the blood titres were ok, his immunities were off the top of the chart and the mare hadn't been vaccinated for two years. Foals are born with NO immunity and recieve them from the mares milk in the first 24-48 hours of life.

kj

[Ima saver]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

I am so glad someone brought this up. I don't keep up my dogs shots either and haven't for over 30 years. My poodle stays inside all day. I take her out to potty on a leash and that is it. I take her to the vets if she is sick. Of course I always get them all the puppy shots they need when they are puppies, but after that, I only do it when someone asks for her papers. I don't ever board my dogs either. My mixed bred dog has never had a shot and she is 15. I did have her spayed when I found her.

[nanamom]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

I used to give my dog the shots myself, a local store sold the serum. Rabies shots we got at a clinic for around 6-7 dollars. The serum was $4 per year. At the time she was around other animals and I felt that it was safer for her that way. I have no problem with not giving a cat or dog the standard shots except for rabies. I agree if they are indoor all the time why bother. I still would do rabies because people probably come into your house and too many are sue happy. Rabies is the only one we do now since she is almost 16 years old. I keep thinking she won't need another one and she keeps fooling me! (Thank God)

[Fern]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

I don't vaccinate my cats. Sometimes, vets around here will refuse to see your cat (for any reason) if their vaccinatoins aren't up to date. I have shopped around until i found a vet, one who deals exclusively with cats, by the way, who does not make vaccinations a requirement.

This concerns me a bit becus many animal shelters these days will not simply hand over an animal you want to adopt; they require references, and will call your vet(s) to see what your track record is as far as care and maintenance, and like someone else here said, it may appear that you've 'neglected' your animal, when that's not the case at all.

I once provided temporary foster care for a puppy that was being adopted, but not after the holidays cus the adoptees were traveling. The puppy had a terrible reaction to its vaccinatoin, a large, 3 inch in diameter swollen welt where the injection was given. It looked very painful and sore.

[Ima saver]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

I would probably do rabies shots if I had a big dog or a dog that has a tendenacy to bite or nip at people. My poodle is a kisser, not a biter. I was scared to get her spayed because I heard of one puppy that had just been spayed and something went wrong and they had to put it to sleep. I am too attached to my dog, but she will never have puppied.

[Ima saver]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

I would give rabies shots if my dog was big or a biter. My poodle is a kisser not a biter. I was afraid to have her spayed because I heard of one puppy that something went wrong and it had to be put to sleep. I will not let her have any puppies, I keep her inside.

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: Keeping my five cats no matter what

its been said that having animals increases your health to better. its been said they bring people out of commas. i had a doberman, he wasnt just a dog but a family member. my kids still talk aobut him and miss him. he was murdered oct 97. darien dont but he wasnt born yet. i say keep what makes you happy, as its good for your health.