Distempter shot every year in cats?

[waterflow]

I got a post card from the vets saying the 5 cats distemper shot was due next month. I thought it was once in a life time they got that shot but the lady said every year. Is it true? Will cost $135.00 for it. Not complaining but I’ve never had cats so not sure if that really needs be. In September they will need their rabies shot for sure which will cost the same. Thought about the rabies clinic but I can’t take all 5 at the same time by myself and they are all done at the same time to make it easy.

[Briza]

Hi Mary,
Yes, with both dogs and cats it is generally recommended that they get a distemper booster each year. Usually the vet will do a distemper booster along with a couple other booster things, can't remember exactly what.
For my dogs the annual boosters are abbreviated DHPP (D for distemper and P for Parvo, can't remember what the H is for) and I think for cats it is similar.
It was $28/dog this year for the DHPP, and $12/dog for the rabies vaccine b/c I had it done in office. 2-4 times a year my vet has a rabies vaccine drive on a Saturday outside his clinic where he only charges just $5 for the rabies vaccine and the other boosters are cheaper then, too...I usually try to make it to one of those because they are less expensive, especially when you have multiple pets! You could ask your vet if his/her clinic has the rabies vaccine drives...you can save a lot of money by getting the annual vaccines that way.
Also Feline leukemia shots,(similar to HIV for cats... very contagious, deadly, and no cure) are usually given annually. Especially important if your cats may come into contact with other cats (often strays) that may be carriers of feline leukemia. Feline leukemia is spread like HIV...through bodily fluids...often contracted by bites, scratches, sharing water or food bowls. A cat may live a long time with feline leukemia and spread it to other cats, but over time will become very ill.
I will admit that I have occasionally skipped a year here and there on the boosters without my dogs or cats picking up anything, but I think it is especially important when the animals are younger to get the annual boosters because they are more likely to pick something up when they are younger than when they are older.
A couple years ago the state where I live changed the law that rabies shots are only required every 3 yrs. I think many states have done the same, but not all. My cats I get vaccinated for rabies every 3 yrs now, but my dogs I still have vaccinated for rabies yearly, because sometimes I travel with them out of the country and don't want to have any problems at customs and immigration.
Hope this helps...you can also check to see if your state requires the annual or 3 yr rabies vaccine...sometimes my vet will try to slip one in early and charge me for it. I usually catch that on my bill and have the charge taken off.
Bri

[Briza]

Oh, oops I missed that you said youd do have a rabies clinic available...somehow I have managed to take 2 dogs and 2 cats by myself to those things...if you had two cat carriers (one for each hand:)) you could probably pack them in and there should be plenty of assistants to help you, even if you have 3 carriers...my experience has been that even the other pet owners there will help me, save my place in line if I have to run out to the car to get another dog or cat...like I said, will save you money!

[waterflow]

It's law to have the rabies done every year. Think it's a $100 fine or more if you don't. I don't remember ever taking our dogs for parvo pooster shots or had any vet tell us about them. I will take the cats for the distemper shots then. Better safe then sorry and she did say there was an outbreak in the city with it.
Ok, you just made me think how I can take all 5 for the rabies clinic. I have two carries that I can carry, the back pack carrier will hold one and of cours the pet stroller will hold the other two. I can picture that. :lmao: I did buy the stroller to help take the cats to the vets but now I'm wonder if I should do that. They might think I'm a brick shy of a load. :bonk:

[Briza]

NTW, Mary, there will be many other pet owners with multiple animals they are trying to control in addition to their human children ;) at every rabies clinic, so it goes without saying that those of us who have so many pets (or children) are, as you say, at least a brick shy of a load:biglaugh:
So yes, it is manageable and often hilarious, even if arms, leashes, carriers, pets, kids get all mixed up...from my experience everyone is in a good mood, both the clinic staff and the pets and owners, and there is always someone to lend a hand, especially those who have kids tagging along...children are always ready to help out...what child wouldn't want to help by pushing a stroller full of kitties or putting on a cat backpack?:) I had my own doll/cat buggy when I was a kid and all my neighborhood friends fought to dress up and push my cats in it. :lmao: We once had a basset hound dog, you know the ones that have really long ears and bodies but really short legs, and he wouldn't walk with us to the vet (only two blocks away) so me and my sis would load him into the little red wagon that could and tow him there. It was hilarious and we got some great funny looks from passers-by:biglaugh:

[Claredale]

Mary, I have two dogs, one is blind and the other thinks everyone wants to pet her. So you can imagine how fun it is to handle that deal. Last month was the first time I had to take Misty Blue (my blind Australian Shepard) to the vet. She just needed her nails clipped. Mollie needed the works. We have them set up where one goes for the shots, heartworm check, etc every 6 months. Misty Blue only weighs about 40 pounds or so, but she can make herself feel as if she weighs 100 pounds when you are trying to get her in and out of a car. Plus she is used to her surroundings so she wasn't too comfortable being in a strange place, but the assistants knew she was coming, so they were very helpful. They even had her walking on a leash when we picked her up. As Sharon says, she has us fooled because anytime we put a leash on her, it was like walking an alligator. She rolled around like crazy!

We have a couple pet stores that have free or low cost shots for pets about once a month. I never seem to catch it when they do, but they may help you out at least with the rabies shots.

[ICNDonna]

Somewhere we have a picture of five dalmations sitting in my husband's pickup truck! Four of them were ours, the other was a puppy that was sold, but hadn't gone to California to her new owner. My husband had taken them all to our vet for shots. If I can find the snapshot I'll try to post it.

Donna

[BrittanysDance]

Mary,

Yep, Distemper is every year along with a few others they require and Rabies, for the first year of a cats life is required as a first year shot - then once they are over a year old, they can get their 2nd year shot that is a 3 year Rabies vaccine and/or a booster. Then they wont require another rabies shot for 3 years :), but they will require Distemper annually. Here are the shots and tests cats require annually:

Generally, the first vaccinations (FPV, FHV-1, FCV) should be given at six-weeks-old and repeated every three weeks until the kittens turns 12-weeks-old. Then, they should be given a booster at one year, then boosters every three years thereafter. If the kitten is more than 12-weeks-old when given the very first vaccination, then generally it is given one dose, then a booster at one year, then boosters every three years thereafter.

Other available vaccines for cats are feline leukemia (FeLV); feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) which is a disease of abdomen that causes inflation of lining of abdomen and can cause organs in abdomen to fail, like liver and kidney; a fungal infection called ringworm and a bacterial disease that usually attacks respiratory system called chlamydiosis.

Feline Leukemia vaccine should be given to cats that are stray, outdoor cats, indoor/outdoor cats, multi-cat households, and FeLV positive households.

Traditionally, revaccinations (boosters) have been given annually. Studies show that the effectiveness lasts longer. FPV, FHV-1, rabies, and FCV can be boostered every three years.

Hope this helps you some, and as the others stated, it also depends on your state, local and county laws as well.

Hugs,
Brittany