Mriana,

Well, I know you don’t live in CA, so technically I’m not licensed to give medical advice to you, but FWIW I think we have to try and tailor the vaccination protocols to the individual situation of each pet. Ask 10 vets and you’ll get at least 8 different opinions. I generally recommend a kitten series of distemper (FVRCP) vaccines and rabies, then a 1 year booster. Outdoor cats should also get feline leukemia vaccine. After that, outdoor cats should probably get vaccinated every 3 years for distemper and either annually (with Purevax, which is my preference) or every three years with traditional adjuvanted leukemia and rabies vaccine. After about 8-10 years, the evidence that additional vaccines are protective is weak, so I generally recommend no further vaccinations. Indoor only cats should at most have a FVRCP very 3 years, since casual exposure to upper repiratory viruses from ferals can lead to infection (the disease is usually not serious, but the vaccines is pretty safe as well).

One can make an argument for rabies vaccination every 1-3 years (depending on vaccine type), but I think it’s a tough risk/benefit analysis. We know the traditonal vaccines cause fibrosarcoma in 1:8000-10,0000 vaccinations, and we don’t know exactly what the risk of getting rabies from a chance encounter during a rare escape from the house, but it’s probably quite low. The Purevax is supposed to be safer, but we don’t have the data yet to prove it. And while protective titers are established for rabies and most URI viruses, meaning you could do a blood test every year to see if vaccination is really necessary or not, we don’t really know what a protective titer is for FeLV and some of the other infections we vaccinate for.

So while I strongly defend the use of vaccinations, I don’t want to give the impression that there are no risks or that we don’t need to make choices, with imperfect information, about what exactly each patient should get. If anyone is interested in the technical details, HERE is the most recent set of guidelines on vaccination from the American Academy of Feline practitioners.

My girls have gotten all but the Feline Leukemia one.  The vet for some reason avoids that vaccine for 2 or less indoor cats and cautiously recommends it for 3.  Over three, he suggests it. Not sure why he tries to avoid that one.

As for Scarlette, even with a distemper shot, she is still prone to bronchitis and upper respiratory infections.  The vet says it’s because she is 1/2 Persian and Persians are prone to respiratory problems due to the inbreeding to cause the flat face.  Scarlette’s litter was not inbreed though, but rather a mistake of the previous caregiver, who gave her to us, against my better judgement, at 4 weeks.  It was either take her or they would… well… basically kill them by having them fend for themselves.  :( I fed her the cat’s mother’s milk you can get at Petsmart and other places dedicated to pets for a couple weeks and slowly weaned her of it, but that first year was hell due to all the respiratory infections she got and vet bills because of it. The second year was slightly better.  I was afraid I couldn’t take care of her, but I’m happy to say she is now 8 years old.  :D The distemper vaccinations didn’t help prevent those types of infections.  Also, she is my first Persian I’ve ever raised and unlike the Siamese, Burmese, Tonk, and alike (all short hair of course) that I raised before, I had a lot to learn about raising a Persian those first two years.  She has had only occassional repiratory infections after the second year, but she still breathes funny once in a while and the dr says that is common in Persian breeds, even without an infection.  Believe it or not, she even snores. 

I can’t remember any of my other breeds, not even the other two I have currently who are part Siamese (2 yrs now) and Calico Tabby (All American short hair and 8 yrs old, four months older than Scarlette) having respiratory infections like she has had.  So, distemper only works for a specific respiratory infection.  At least from what I can tell and I really don’t recommend any flat-face or semi-flat faced breed of cat unless one is prepared to learn a lot about the breed, preferrably BEFORE getting such a breed, and be prepared even after getting such a breed for related medical expences.  Personally, I have come to the conclusion, that breeding a cat (and maybe even a dog) to get such facial features is inhumane.  Breed a siamese with a Tonk or another siamese, for example, for the breed itself and not for some crazed deformed “exotic” look like a flat-face. Breed bangels if you like, I don’t care, but not for some genetic “defect” you think is so appealling.  Those “exotic” features come with a price that vaccines won’t “fix” or prevent.

That, however, is another topic though and a side rant about breeding animals.  Yes, I know.  I breed cats (Scarlette is spaded though because of the landlord at the time), but I’m very seletive in the cats I breed.  Persian, I have decided, will not be one of them and prefer Tonks over Siamese due the Show physical requirements of siamese now days (anorexic look for starters).

Again, OT, but back on topic, sadly vaccines for pets don’t cover all illnesses.  :( However, what they do cover is worthwhile, esp in the early years, as Brennen pointed out.  BTW, Brennen, thanks for the link too.  I was concerned about being very late this year with their shots.  :(

Cat license?  Sounds like a sketch from Monty Python.  There is an actual sketch about a fish license.  Eric the Fish.  This is off topic but it made me find the link to the video and improved an otherwise dreary day, worth a watch-- John Cleese and his facial expressions at his best ("It’s people like you what causes unrest"): 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5MnyRZLd8A