VACCINATION AND HEALTH ARE NOT THE SAME THING

Every once in a while, someone tells me, “I take very good care about health of my animals. They are up to date on all their vaccinations.”

Whenever I hear this, I think about how strongly we have learned to associate vaccination with health. Somewhere along the way, these two ideas almost became interchangeable: if an animal has received every recommended vaccine, we assume that means we are taking good care of its health.

My approach is different.

For me, the foundation of a healthy cat is a strong, well-functioning immune system and good overall condition. That begins with excellent nutrition, a calm and low-stress life, exercise, fresh air, good living conditions, and appropriate veterinary care when it is actually needed. My cats receive high-quality food as well as fresh meat, have daily access to fresh air, live in a comfortable environment, and I pay close attention to their condition and well-being.

I am not against vaccination. I am against treating vaccination as something automatic — as though giving every available vaccine is itself a definition of responsible health care. Vaccination is a medical intervention, and I believe every medical intervention should have a reason. The cat’s age, lifestyle, environment, exposure to other animals, travel, and actual risk of disease should all be considered.

Here in Connecticut, rabies is the vaccination required by law for cats. Rabies is also a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to people.

Other feline vaccines may be recommended by veterinarians and professional organizations, but they are not Connecticut’s general legal vaccination requirement for pet cats. I think that distinction is very important. “Recommended” and “required by law” are not the same thing.

My personal approach is very conservative when it comes to vaccination, especially with very young kittens. I do not believe in automatically giving an animal every available vaccine simply because it appears on a routine schedule. Vaccination is a medical procedure, and I believe every medical procedure should have a clear reason and a favorable risk-benefit balance for that particular animal. Even professional feline vaccination guidelines recognize that vaccination decisions should take the individual cat’s lifestyle, environment, life stage, and risk of exposure into account.

For me, the priority during kittenhood is building a strong foundation for lifelong health through excellent nutrition, a low-stress environment, fresh air, exercise, and careful attention to the kitten’s overall condition. That is the philosophy I follow in my cattery.

A cat that travels, goes outdoors, attends shows or boarding facilities, lives with animals whose health status is uncertain, or has other meaningful exposure risks may have very different needs from a cat living in a controlled home environment. Even current feline vaccination guidelines recognize that lifestyle and individual risk factors matter when developing a vaccination plan.

I also consider vaccination an immune challenge, and therefore I don’t believe in placing unnecessary demands on the immune system when there is no clear benefit for that particular animal. My philosophy has always been to build health first — through nutrition, environment, low stress, fresh air, activity, and careful observation — and then use medical interventions thoughtfully when there is a genuine reason for them.

This is the approach I follow in my cattery, and it is one of the reasons I often say:

“Vaccination and health are not synonyms.”

I know people have very different opinions about this subject, and I’m genuinely interested in hearing yours. How do you approach vaccination for your cats? And if you have ever had an experience — positive or negative — that changed the way you think about vaccination, please share it in the comments. ❤️🐾