Cassandra,
They are so so so cute!! I completely agree with everyone here! I wouldn't vaccinate. Plus, I'm not sure if anyone mentioned the risk of injection-site sarcomas which can result in leg amputation or death. I know it's a very small risk, but not one I'm willing to take for my kitties. Would anyone take that risk for their human children? Plus, I read somewhere that FeLV vaccine is only 80% effective anyway. Not sure how true the percentage is, but not worth the risk to the kitty (and stress) in my opinion. I have a kitten under a year old (or around a year), and I haven't vaccinated her for FeLV. I've had her tested twice though. I'm very happy for you and your new babies! How exciting for your family! Melissa _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of C & J Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 10:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Vaccinating kittens of unknown status against FeLV? Thank you all for your thoughts. I think I will tell the vet to wait on the FeLV vaccine, since its not necessary for them to have it right away. My two older cats have been retested, and still are showing negative on FeLV. I'm still unsure on the whole overvaccination issue, but i'm not yet comfortable with not giving any vaccinations at all. There are so many differing opinions on whether to give vaccinations. I'm thinking I will give them their first sets of shots, and that will be the end of the shots. The enclosure that we built is 6 feet high, but still needs to be reinforced before I let the kittens go in unsupervised. We will be putting a wire upsidedown U shape at the top, so that they will be unable to climb out. Since we fenced in a wild forrested area off our backyard, we also have to deal with some trees that are close to the fence...either cut them down or put plastic on their trunks to make them unclimable. Oh, and these are my kittens if anyone wishes to see them :) http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v43/Fyrwulf/?action=view <http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v43/Fyrwulf/?action=view¤t=SamiTiko 2.jpg> ¤t=SamiTiko2.jpg , Tiko is on the left and Sami is on the right. Cassandra ----- Original Message ----- From: wendy <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 4:17 PM Subject: Re: Vaccinating kittens of unknown status against FeLV? Hi Cassandra, Congratulations on your two new additions to your family! They are so lucky to have you! As far as vaccines go, what are your reasons for vaccinating the kittens? Even if they do go outside, I don't know that much contact can be had through a chain link fence, although I could be very wrong. How tall is this fence? Is it possible they could jump it or outside cats could? Do you have that enclosure thing that goes around the top that keeps them from jumping the fence or climbing over? I would wait until they are older to do vaccinations, when you can test them for FeLV. I am of the mind that if they are indoors only, I don't vaccinate at all. I would really like to see research done on this issue. Some people have cats who were vaccinated but positive and often they live for several years versus those that die in the their kittenhood who were not vaccinated. It's just a hypothesis right now, but what if the vaccine actually does help? When I have time, I'm going to write the professor at A&M and ask him about this and also about what percentage of anemia cases are attributable to hemobartonella. In the meantime, I would stick with not vaccinating a positive (or unknown positive) until we know better. :) Wendy "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world - indeed it is the only thing that ever has!" ~~~ Margaret Meade ~~~ _____ Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48253/*http:/mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC> in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. _____ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.0/927 - Release Date: 7/30/2007 5:02 PM
