I am reposting this for Melinda who posted in the rules section. Hopefully she'll see the replies here....
"I am a new Ragdoll kitten owner. Magee is almost 4 months old(and adorable!) My breeder told me not to get the feline lukemia vaccine. During Magee's first vet visit, the vet highly recomends that the kitten get this vaccine. He said that it is not a live vaccine, but Recombinant DNA, and would not be harmful in the least. What are other owners thoughts and experience on this matter.
Thanks, Melinda Schultz "
Please excuse me for posting this here, but you will get more input here probably.
Unless your ragdoll goes outside and will come in contact with other outdoor cats, then there is no need to give your ragdoll the FELV vaccine. This is actually one of the hardest vaccines for cats to have, and has been linked to causing Vaccine Associated Sarcomas. I never have and never will give my girls the Leukemia Vaccine.
Check out this page which has Vaccine Guidelines.
http://www.cfa.org/articles/health/vacci...lines.html
In the chart about half way down you'll see that the FELV is only indicated for those cats considered at High Risk for Exposure. That is defined as:
"High risk of exposure to FeLV: includes outdoor cats, indoor/outdoor cats, stray/feral cats, open multi-cat households, FeLV positive households, and households with unknown FeLV status. Low risk of exposure to FeLV would include indoor cats and closed multi-cat households that are tested negative."
I hope this info helps. And in addition -- make sure your vet doesn't give the shots in the scruff either. Check out the chart for where shots should be given.
*edited to put in the website I left out!*
Since I have been reading about it I am not going to let them give Zeke one. You have the right to say no. I am learning that and believe me being quiet it is hard for me to say no to anyone.
There may be local conditions that make the FeLV vaccination more appropriate. Find out if the vet is thinking of those things. Factors in favor of getting it are if the cat is a higher escape risk or if there are local conditions that might leave a cat outside or in a shelter, such as hurricanes, tornadoes or fires. It is felt that cats seem to develop some natural protection from FeLV and one who considers giving the vaccine to a kitten may want to stop after a few years.