My cats do not go out, so I see no need to give them vaccines. They had one set of vaccines as tiny kittens, which were given to them at the cat rescue group where I go them from, but that's it. Yeah, I imagine state law where I lives also touts the rabies vaccine, but pray tell, how are my cats going to get rabies? It is rare in the US to begin with, and if my cats have no contact with wild animals or other domestic pets, where will they get it from? Plus it takes a bite that breaks the skin, from a rabid animal, to pass it along. I think these rules had a purpose in their day, but I'm not going to subject my cats to vaccines for diseases that they have no risk for. If they went out and wandered it would be one thing, but they don't.

I think there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccines, such as how long immunity actually lasts. I really doubt that it is necessary to vaccinate once a year. Having titers drawn is a good idea if you have a pet that should be protected. I would guess that immunity probably lasts for many years, if not a lifetime.

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My first cat Angel had been getting vaccines between her shoulder blades as recommended back in the day, and I'm convinced that that location was what led to her fibrosarcoma. She developed a tumor at the injection site that grew enough to make her look like a water buffalo. My husband and I had decided against surgery because the vet said that although they could remove the main body of the tumor, there were still "tentacles" from the tumor invading her organs. Rather than subject her to pain and suffering from radiation or chemo, we opted instead to let her live her life as best she could in what time she had left. She was fine up till the week before she died, then the tumor started eroding through her skin. It wasn't only painful for her, it smelled FOUL.

Finally at this point, she had lost enough weight (to say nothing of her appetite) that she could no longer get around. When she tried to jump on our bed and fell off, we knew she'd come to the end of the road. The next day, we had her put to sleep. She was only 6 1/2 in human years, but she packed a lot of living into her time before the cancer struck.

Our second cat was fortunate; he escaped such a horror partly because of the odds, and partly because of differing vaccine locations (such as his butt). He died last week at 11 1/2-we had him put down after he was diagnosed with complications related to diabetes and multiple infections (probably related to his system being attacked by diabetes).

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We only vaccinate for rabies, and then only every 3 years, as the vet instructs, excepting the vaccines they get for distemper as kittens. Even though our cats never go outside, the law states we must have rabies vaccinations, but at least they can go 3 years between. We have noticed that cats who get the feline leukemia vaccine often die of this...and feel that the drug companies use and abuse both vets and their patients by using them as guinea pigs, as well as to become rich and richer.
It is not only animals that suffer from vaccinations....do some research on the H1V1 Vaccine if you want to truly be frightened, as well as the new laws being put into place to force folks to get this vaccine, in some instances being 'tagged' after, and being put into compounds if they refuse (check out Boston, Mass laws). Interesting that the so-called swine flu, which costs $500 per test to be certain that is what it is) jumped to new numbers after giving children in the South the LIVE attenuated virus ( attenuated means things have been added to make it accepted readily into the immune system) up their noses, and it lived as a live virus for up to 24 hours- how fast can a live virus spread among kids? Silly question. Now WE are the guinea pigs. Refuse the shot...

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Fuzzball
03/07/08
My Cat fuzzball, who was 18 years old, recently died of a sarcoma. I first noticed it 8 months ago. He had a little limp. When I took him to the vet it turned out that he had a tumor in his upper right joint that connected to his body. The vet suggested that he was too sick for surgery and to allow him to live out his last days in peace.

However, the tumor became engulfed in a hygroma. This is a fluid filled sack that surrounds an area of trauma. Fuzzball continued to eat and get around for about 8 months. I had no money to have surgery done, and I trusted the doctor who advised against it. However as the hygroma began to grow, it eventually took over Fuzzballs entire leg. It looked a lot like a nerf football. He was only 8 lbs. and the hygroma was at least one lb. of this.

You might ask, "Why didn't you put him to sleep?" I suppose it was my own selfishness. I also never quit believing that this could somehow be cured. When I finally came up with the money to have something done I took him in for surgery. Initially the pathology said it was just the hygroma and did not detect cancer. Hygroma by itself is not life threatening, but it sometimes hides an underlying cause.

The doctor did not Xray his lungs before the surgery, and I will always feel guilty that I did not realize I should have done this. He was already anesthesized, shaved and his leg had been manipulated when the doctor discovered the bones were shattered in the leg and he suggested amputation. He then suggested a lung Xray, because if there was cancer there, then there was no point in doing surgery, and it may even make it worse.The Xray showed there was cancer in his lungs. By the time he came out of surgery he was 10x worse than when he went in.

He died two weeks later. I did not want to take him for euthanasia. I thought it would be better for him to die at home, because he hated the vet so much. He was fine until two days before he died. His leg was much worse after the surgery, but he was still eating. I fed him and gave him water by hand. I still thought he would pull out of it. It didn't happen though.

He stopped eating two days before he died. It was the most horrible thing I ever saw. It happened on the weekend, Presidents Day weekend, and I thought that if he is not better by Monday I will take him down and have him put to sleep. There was no time for that however. He died at 3 am on February 17. It was relatively quick, but horrible. I wish I would have known, because I would have put him out of his misery before this. I don't think I can ever forgive myself.

What is worse is when they did the bone pathology and I found out the cancer was myxosarcoma. This is an aggressive form of cancer commonly caused by vaccination. I thought I was doing the right thing for my cat by having him vaccinated. It turns out that cats over the age of 8 are at a very high risk of developing this cancer from vaccination. All the vet had to do was tell me after he had his vaccination to keep an eye out for the tumor.

I look back now and remember. I got the vaccination in 2005. By early 2006 I was telling the vet that Fuzz had some joint problems and was having a hard time walking. I am positive it had already begun at that point. It wasnt till 2007 that the limp became pronounced enough for them to suggest an Xray. By then it was already too late.

I would like to save one the person the pain I have suffered due to his loss. I know the caring people on this site will be able to understand this. It was like losing a son. He was part of my family for 18 years. It is especially hard to live with myself knowing that my actions contributed to his death.If anyone can learn anything from me to save their loved one, then I feel like I can get a small part of fuzzball back. And with that I hope to make my heart whole again.

Thanks for listening. Feel free to comment. I can answer questions about symptoms and maybe lead you to some helpful sites. Don't put all your trust in the doctors. Money was their motivation in my case. Part of what killed my cat was greed. It is detestable. Hopefully we can help each other. Take care. Robin

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I thought you would of interest, Jeanne.

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Not only could they lead to cancer but they can also lead to immune disorders such as ITP (Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) and Immune mediated Hemolytic Anemia which are FATAL. I had given my elderly Rottweiler Jack (he was 9 years old) his annual vaccine as I was instructed and within a week and a half he had a bleed in his eye which made me take him in to the vet only to find out he had these other immune disorders. He died within 6 weeks.

Truly think and do your own research about vaccinations. Why do they need annual vaccinations when say we need them once in a lifetime? Ask to have titers drawn on your animal instead and don't put your pet at risk for illness and you at risk for heartbreak.

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