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How long can you leave it between yearly jabs?

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 10:43 am
by vanilla
How long can you leave it between yearly jabs? Do you have to do it on the dot of the anniversary? How many days can you leave it after it has been due?

Planning on going away but it will be when he has his jabs :/

Re: How long can you leave it between yearly jabs?

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 11:09 am
by Ruth B
Mine regularly go 13 months between boosters, Freyja can go even longer if I fail to get her in the carrier, it can be up to a month before she relaxes enough to try again. A vet my family were friends with actually said the boosters are effective for up to 18 months most of the time, but pharmaceutical companies tend to err on the side of caution (and profit) and only guarantee them for 12 months, it could cost them a lot if they said 18 months and then some animals became ill at 17 months.

So as long as your not planning on being away for several months you should be fine to leave it until you get back. The only problem might be if you plan on using a cattery, they might want the jabs done before you go.

Re: How long can you leave it between yearly jabs?

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 11:18 am
by Mollycat
How long is a piece of string?

Catteries normally expect jabs to be up to date and some will ask to see proof, they may not like it if it's gone over or going over while the cat is in their care so they may expect you to get it done before you go.

However this is a very short sighted and outdated approach. It is ok to go over, by how much I think it's normally accepted 13 months is fine but after that is a topic of hot debate in the medical profession. Some suggest regular jabs for five years may be enough to immunise the cat for life or for several more yearsif not for life.

Slightly off topic, research on feline hyperthyroidism currently has 3 hypotheses for the dramatic increase in cases diagnosed since the 70s - canned cat foods especially fish flavoured; flame retardant furniture treaments, and overimmunisation.

Unless the cattery is really arsey about it, going a couple of weeks over should not be any issue for your cat's health.

Re: How long can you leave it between yearly jabs?

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 3:56 pm
by vanilla
Thank you so much for your replies. Luckily not going to a cattery as family will be coming over. xx