The most recent updates to the AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccine Guidelines have adjusted how veterinarians and cat owners approach vaccination and disease prevention. Now pet owner clients are included as essential members of their cats’ healthcare teams, cats have been defined into five populations and lifestyle has been taken into consideration. The result is a much more individualized approach to vaccination based on a cat’s risk profile.
Source: VETgirl Education Blog, December 2021. Link.
It is important that ALL homes with families who have permanent resident cats while also fostering cats for shelters and rescues be defined as a HIGH-RISK home. ALL permanent resident cats should be currently up to date on all necessary vaccinations with the proper immunity time given before any foster cats are allowed into the home.”
INSIGHTS: It is true a veterinarian is the best person to evaluate a cat’s individual vaccine needs, BUT that cannot be done without good lifestyle information from the cat owner. Many cat owners fail to tell veterinarians about feral cats they feed or whether the cat(s) share a home with dogs, other pets or pest infestations that may adjust risk factors.