How often to vaccinate your cat

Many veterinarians believe that annual vaccinations for cats cause allergies, anemia, seizures, thyroid disease, arthritis and cancer. Most already agree that cats should now only be vaccinated every three years for distemper, and if they have no exposure to feline leukemia, that they not be vaccinated against it because of the number of cats that develop sarcoma (cancerous tumors) at the vaccination site. Any cat can have an anaphylactic reaction to the vaccine, although it is rare. This reaction causes low blood pressure, slow heart rate and depressed breathing, which in turn leads to the brain not getting enough oxygen and unconsciousness occurs. If this happened away from the vet's office, it would most likely be fatal.

Some vets recommend annual blood tests called "titers" to check the antibody level in the blood, which will show if a booster is needed.

Here's something else to think about. There is now a mutated strain of the calicivirus called VS-FCV that can kill a healthy cat in 24 to 48 hours. The vaccination for regular calicivirus doesn't protect your cat from the mutated strain. It is very contagious, and can be passed cat to cat by contact, and you can bring it into your home on your hands, clothes and shoes. Symptoms are sneezing, high fever, mouth ulcers, nasal and eye discharge, anorexia, hair loss around face and feet, and facial and limb edema, but sometimes there are no symptoms because the virus strikes so quickly. There is a vaccine for this strain, so talk to your vet about it.

I really don't know what to do on the vaccination issue, as I don't want to needlessly expose my cats to problems from the vaccines, but I want to be sure they're protected. How do you feel about it; have you made any decision as to whether to allow vaccinations?