I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Kam -- I agree about the catteries -- which is a very good reason never, EVER to purchase a pet cat or dog at a pet store. The Aby breeder here has a long history of breeding show cats. Our Abby didn't make the "grade" as her ears weren't spaced far enough apart (gag me, please!) so she wasn't quite good enough for the Cat Fancy Assoc. here or in the U.S. I like to think she's much happier with us. Our cats stay indoors and haven't had any rabies shots in about 7 years.

However, one never knows what might befall our beloved pets -- or us and our own 2-legged loved ones.

Sandy -- As my mother used to say "Don't borrow trouble, dear".

Having said that, for several months after Coco died, I checked Toffee's tummy to see if there was any swelling (even though he came from a different breeder and my vet said FIP wasn't contagious "as far as we know"). I should have remembered my mother's good advice.

Alexandria - you are within your rights to ask the breeder if any of their lines have had problems with FIP and who sired (is this the right word?) them. The queen and the tom can both contribute to the problem. They may not answer, but if they're reputable, I think they will. I just read today, how Birman and Burmese breeders are cooperating with researchers on FIP, because of known FIP genetic susceptibility in some of their breeder cats, and subsequent generations. Like humans, they are working on the cat genome and want to isolate the gene that makes some cats more susceptible than others - it only makes sense for breeders to contribute to this.

Not sure if mice can get rabies. I think it was Voles and Moles that don't. Bats certainly. Gads, if they get i your house, you want your cats to be vaccinated. Or maybe you should get vaccinated? (Seriously - there is a good and easy to take vaccine for humans now, though it might be expensive. Our wildlife biologist had to get it for her work - as do all Vets.) You know, if you ever find a bat in your house after you've been sleeping, you must assume you've been exposed as the bites are hard to see or know if you were bitten. Are you worried now?? (Sorry)

The distemper shot I would not discontinue. That one is very easy to bring into your home, on the soles of your feet. I don't think it has any associated problems, not like rabies and feline leukemia. Well, feline leukemia is just less necessary for adult cats, but it does cause a reaction in some cats (like it did in my Emma).

C4C - yes my Emma started rattling this morning and sneezing more than usual....ofcourse it is worrisome for the other cat, but as you know, there is really nothing we could do anyway about FIP.

Kam - I might call the breeder. Nice lady. Tonkinese do not seem to have the same susceptibility to FIP as Burmese. On distemper, there is some question as to whether those shots contribute to renal disease - AND - cats given the shot as kittens do not need boosters.

http://truth4pets.org/2012/05/cat-distemper/

My beloved Mozart had chronic renal disease before he developed the cancer that ultimately killed him - but the renal disease would have done it within a year or so.

C4C - you are so right - but what can I say? I'm neurotic. I mean, really really neurotic - at least as far as my loved ones go. A lot calmer about myself.

Jackie - wishing you boring news.

All the pictures ate stunning this morning.  I too love those deer.  We have ( how he got here I'll never know ) an albino deer.  Lots of people have spotted it, including myself, but not seen too often.

Have to work today, but I'm going with my cousin after into the city ( across the river from us to St. Louis, Mo ) and go to the Brentwood Mall.....the closest Trader Joe's I know about.  Sigh!!!!  They have such good tea this time of year ( Peppermint ) and since its seasonal.....I try to get a hold of some extra.  It is non-caffeinated but has vanilla and a couple of other flavors and it far better than any other Peppermint tea I've tasted.  I'm not a tea aficionado by any means but I got rid of every other Peppermint tea I had in the pantry after tasting this one.

Will likely hit a couple of other stores as well...... cousin had a rugged thanksgiving so is up for some hard-line shopping.  Not really my cup of tea ( I've never been much of a shopper ) but she does not want to go along and is always so good to me I don't have the heart to say no.

Suzie, sure hope you enjoy NZ.  I can't imagine being married 60 yrs. can you ????

Jackie   

Alexandria - I'm equally neurotic when it comes to my animals. But, once one has a situation vis a vis a vaccine, one gets hyper alert. I once made an appointment with a Vet 100 miles away (sans cat) who had a Phd in virology to see how I could avoid vaccines with my Emma - she spiked a fever of 106 after her second round of the usual and it was touch and go for a day or so. And the local Vet said "oh, I've never seen this reaction to vaccinations before." (She had the shots the day before the fever. Really Vet?? It's all over the literature about Feline Leukemia and reactions.)

Yes, totally forgot about Distemper (FPV). The virologist also said, along with rabies, the antibodies remain for many years after the initial vaccine.

As far as rabies, my younger local vet suggested I do a blood titre and I suppose a titre for FPV too, to see if they still had protection. There is no doubt, we over vaccinate cats and we have to measure the risk, either giving or withholding. My only concern about NOT vaccinating is with rabies. It's the one disease that felines and humans can share. Still, I haven't given Emma a Rabies for 3 years and may do a titre in a couple of years. Her exposure is so minimal, though.

living most of our life on a farm, we would have the dogs done when the vet came to do the horses. He said that after 4 or 5 years they only need them every other year.

My cats were indoor pets. They had there initial shots and then the next ones. After that they didn't get them. With a couple of exceptions, they lived until late teens or early twenties. I do think that we over vaccinate.

GG - birds What kind - I had a parakeet for 12 years, always left cage door open, with swing on top of cage - where bird spent ALL it's time..miss the sweet chirping in the morning. Haven't been able to find anyone who breeds them near me, don't like the ones in pet stores, they're too old, and don't like that they've had to be shipped. Figure when I'm supposed to have one, it will appear

Has Jackie reported about mammogram, did I miss it?

The problem with vets is that it's also a business. I like my vet, but one of the vets working for him has pushed all sorts of unnecessary medicines. I like the idea of doing a titre check for rabies antibodies - but it is the one booster I am weighing getting. Still remember the trauma from watching Ol' Yellar.

Don't have my results back yet.  Long day today and I didn't get to the mail-box but I think since I had it late on Monday it probably won't show till tomorrow.  After work today we drove over the river to Missouri and went to Brentwood.....that is the closest Trader Joe's.  This time of year they have the special peppermint green tea and so I bought three boxes.  I don't drink a lot hot tea, but the TJ's peppermint is fantastic.  Do drink plenty of iced tea in summer though.

Bushed so I'm going to go park myself in ye old recliner.

Jackie