What is being done?
At City Cat Clinic we are very concerned about the potential relationship between vaccinations and cancer. To address the issue, we initially discuss the appropriate vaccinations needed for your cat. If you own a kitten, we recommend a series of two to three Feline Distemper vaccines to establish a good immune response to the virus. The next year, along with a complete physical examination, we recommend one more Feline Distemper vaccination. This vaccination given at one year is then protective for three years. If your cat has been vaccinated for multiple years in a row, the veterinarian and the owner decide what is an appropriate vaccination schedule for your kitty. The Rabies and Feline Leukemia vaccination are given as needed mainly for cats that go outside unsupervised. The Rabies vaccine given at City Cat Clinic is specially designed with cats in mind. City Cat Clinic is dedicated to what is best for your special cat and strives to take the time to discuss what specific vaccines, if any, your cat should receive. As an additional precaution, we administer all vaccinations as far down the leg as possible, should a tumor develop. This allows for more therapy options if the need arises.

What should I look for?
It is possible for a small, firm painless swelling to form at the site where a vaccine or injection was given. The swelling usually goes away after 4-6 weeks. Rarely, however, the swelling may progress to a sarcoma, a soft-tissue malignant tumor. It is very important to notify your veterinarian of any swelling in the shoulder or hind leg. These lumps can appear any time after a cat is vaccinated, sometimes years after the specific vaccination. Rabies and Feline Leukemia vaccinations have been implicated in the formation of sarcomas.

We're here to help.
Please don't hesitate to ask the veterinarian or staff any questions regarding your cat. Together we can all come to the best decision for your special kitty.