Outdoor cat yearly boosters

[Usayshady]

I have had my cat since he was 4 months old and he has always been extremely timid. Towards me, he is very affectionate and trusting, but will hide if anyone else comes in the house and is very jumpy in general. He is an indoor/outdoor cat for the record.

He has always hated going to the vet or having to go in the carrier for any reason, but it is usually relatively manageable. I took him to the vet last week for his yearly booster and it was the most distressed he has ever been, it was really stressful and upsetting for me too. He is generally a very happy cat, despite being timid, but loves exploring outside and gets lots of attention at home. The only time he is really distressed is when being put in a carrier or going to the vet.

My question is, how necessary really are the yearly boosters? Is it worth putting him through it when it is so distressing for him?

The vet has prescribed a sedative I can give him before any appointments, but I dont know how I feel about that. If the boosters are essential (I.e. he would be likely to catch a fatal disease without them) then there is obviously no question. Its not something I really have a lot of knowledge on, so looking for some advice.

He is due back in 3 weeks for another jag and I am feeling really anxious about it due to how distressed he was previously. The stressful vet trips may also be more of a concern as he gets older, as I don't want to put his heart under any pressure.

[Mollycat]

A lot depends on where you live and what dangers and other cats are around. There is a growing debate about the need for annual boosters, though if you live in a rabies zone the answer could be there. The great thing about an annual vet visit is things can be spotted before they become problems.

My last three in/out cats were not vaccinated at all. One passed as a very old lady in her sleep, one at 14 of a mouth tumour that a vet could have spotted but not changed the outcome, the third was put to sleep last year aged 23. But if they fight a lot with strays or unvaccinated cats, or you live in a rabies area, or a lot of foxes, coyotes, or other wildlife with transmissible diseases, your decision might be different.

My gut feeling in your scenario would be to work on helping him be less stressed, rather than chucking sedatives down his neck and allowing your anxiety levels to reinforce his fears. As he gets older those vet visits will become more important and starting work now on a better experience will make his old age so much easier for everyone.

[booktigger]

Can I just ask, if he went for his yearly booster, why is he going again in 3 weeks for another one? If done in time, yearly ones are just one appointment. Would it be possible to ask for a home visit to lessen the stress on him?

[Kay]

I used to pay extra for a home visit for yearly vaccinations, when I had a cat who got into a dreadful state when put in a carrier

not every vet will do this, but in my rural area vets are out and about visiting farms all the time, so a home visit is no big deal

the vet used to sit on the bed where my boy was asleep to give the injection, and I doubt he even knew anything had been done to him

[susand]

Home visits are an option if a cat is seriously stressed and that can’t be improved but I agree with Mollycat that it might be better to ‘acclimatise’ the cat to vet visits because at some point in the future he is going to have to go to the vet for something and it’s probably better that he gets over his fear now. If you have the luxury of a specialist ‘cat only clinic’ within easy travelling distance I’d opt for that but failing that, check out other vet surgeries in your area to see how ‘cat friendly’ they are. Some have a separate cat waiting area so kitties aren’t stressed by lots of dogs in the waiting room. Leaving your cat in the car until the vet is ready to see him is also something to think about. Get the vet nurse to phone you from the car park when you are ready to be seen (they should be used to doing this after the COVID lockdowns). Avoid surgeries with small, busy waiting rooms, where pets and people are crammed in with no “personal space”. Although I appreciate anywhere could get busy at some point, if a waiting room always seems to be packed with dogs on extendable leads bouncing around it’s probably not the best place for a nervous cat. My practice has a separate cat waiting area and a high shelf is available to put the cat carrier on as cats feel more secure being up high. If the waiting room is full of dogs and a cat is visibly distressed it is taken out the back by the receptionist to somewhere quieter to wait.

The journey to the vet is also something to think about. Covering the cat carrier with a sheet so he can’t see out is a good idea. It will stop he being stressed by all the traffic whizzing by. I keep the windows fully closed, for soundproofing and either don’t have the radio on at all or just on low playing classical music or something.

Getting the cat used to the carrier is also important. Get the carrier out and leave the door open the night before the visit, not 5 minutes before setting off. Put a few cat treats in there or his favourite toy, so he associates it with something nice. Put his blanket in there so it smells of him.

The cats I’ve had seem to follow a pattern of: first vet visit - terrified. Second vet visit -even more terrified. 3rd vet visit - better. There after - “yeah, whaddever, it’s fine.” Never totally relaxed but ok with it.