Conference misery::feline_v1

    I believe you are talking about the new FIP vaccine.  I personally
    won't give any new vaccine to my cats until the experiences of others
    are known.  Many times problems occur with new vaccines and I'd prefer
    to wait until they are deemed absolutely safe and effective.
    
    My vet feels that purebred cats are at the highest risk for contracting
    FIP and that it is endemic mostly in catteries or any area where there
    are a large number of cats co-existing together.  Studies have also
    shown that the risks increase when many of the cats living together are
    also related to one another.
    
    I think that Heather will be safe being an only cat and you needn't
    worry.
    

    I've never heard of this FIP disease... what is it?
    
    I've got three indoor/outdoor cats at home, all "mutts".  Only one
    wanders from home (wanders = further than a few houses away) and he's
    also my hunter.  
    
    Thanks,
    Mary
    

      Re .2
    
      "Feline Infectious Peritonitis"
       It's apretty bad disease...
      
    
       A word of caution: With the slow, steady but inevitable northward
    progression of RABIES, all animals that are free-roaming are in some
    risk. At MINIMUM, be SURE that your animals are up to date with their
    rabies vaccines!! Even with that, however, a rabid wild animal can and
    will become extremely agressive and can attack another animal without
    provocation and severly injure or kill......
    
    JM

    re: .0
    
    I got my group the vaccine;  I thought about waiting until the vaccine
    was out for a bit longer, but I had one month's worth of a serious
    respiratory ailment making the rounds among them back in January;  some
    of the cats were very sick and took a while to recover, and everyone
    had come down with it, some more than once.
    
    If that had been FIP, I would have lost all of them.  Based on that, I
    decided to get the vaccine.  So far, no problems.  Also, it's not too
    bad to give yourself (unlike needle shots) instead of having the vet do
    it, if that's an option.

    For more discussion on the FIP vaccine, check out note 4357.  For more
    information about FIP itself, type "show key/full FIP" at the notes
    prompt for a list of notes about FIP.
    
    Just to be sure that we are all talking about the same thing, the FIP
    vaccine is for protection against FIP, Feline Infectious Peritonitis. 
    There are other vaccines that are administered intranasally.  They
    include vaccines against upper respiratory infections.
    
    To define the risk a bit more...it is true that FIP can infect
    catteries and multicat households, but it is not just a disease of
    purebred, or inbred cats.  FIP affects all cats, including lions,
    tigers, bobcats, etc.  Any cat that has access/exposure to other cats, 
    can be at risk of catching this illness.  If your cat goes outdoors, it 
    is at risk of catching FIP.
    
    We have been waiting for years for a vaccine that will help prevent the
    spread of FIP.  I am hoping that this new vaccine will do that.  But,
    until Cornell University completes their independent study of the
    vaccine for FIP, I will not be using it on my cats.  In fact, my vet is
    not offering it to her clients until the study is complete and the
    findings published.
    
    Jo

    
    My vet has the vaccine available but is not recommending it.  It is 
    administered only by request.  He feels that there is not enough
    documented evidence of its effectiveness as well as contraindications.
    
    

    I know of two multicat households (one is a cattery) that will be
    using the FIP vaccine - or have already administered it.  I've asked
    them to keep me posted as I've VERY interested in using it myself.
    
    While we're talking vaccines - there is a new FLV vaccine available
    specifically for catteries.  It is supposed to be much safer for
    breeding females.  Revival carries it and if anyone wants more
    info on it let me know.
    
    I used it to give Bonnie her FLV booster and I'm immunizing CC with
    it.