Do you vaccinate your outdoor/barn cats for FIV?

[vxf111]

Apparently sometime when I was not paying attention, vaccinating for FIV became not a thing that was commonly done anymore. Now none of the vets around me HAVE any of the vaccine. One flat out refused to give it. One said he’d find it if I really wanted it, but he didn’t recommend it.

This used to be completely routine, even for indoor cats. I’m not sure when the change happened. Receptionist (vet was already gone when I called back the better vet’s office) said once the vaccine is given, a cat will always titer positive. If a cat titers positive and is picked up by a rescue/shelter they will euthanize immediately.

That sounds… a little wonky to me. Won’t they scan for a chip first? My cat is chipped. And isn’t the risk of getting FIV greater and WORSE than the risk of getting lost, getting found by a rescue that doesn’t scan for chips, and them putting her to sleep before I find her?

Googling, it seems like the efficacy of the vaccines are questionable. That seems like a better reason to me. But I worry… isn’t some protection better than none?

What say you?

[vxf111]

It may not even be on the market anymore? Which would answer my question about what to do, I guess!

[wsmoak]

All of mine get FVRCP and Leukemia vaccines. I test for FIV when a new one shows up, and yes, would euthanize if it’s positive (but I’ve never had to do that.)

[MustangSavvy]

First off, there isn’t a vaccine for FIV. There is a test for FIV usually just a quick snap test. Secondly, you can vaccinate for feline leukemia which I do always recommend for indoor/out, outdoor cats. We do always recommend testing first prior to vaccinating. Thirdly, not all rescues immediately euthanize cats with FIV or FELV. My shelter adopted them out to indoor only homes with no other cats or other positive cats. Fourthly, I can’t imagine a rescue that wouldn’t scan for a microchip.

[vxf111]

@MustangSavvy

First off, there isn’t a vaccine for FIV. There is a test for FIV usually just a quick snap test. Secondly, you can vaccinate for feline leukemia which I do always recommend for indoor/out, outdoor cats. We do always recommend testing first prior to vaccinating. Thirdly, not all rescues immediately euthanize cats with FIV or FELV. My shelter adopted them out to indoor only homes with no other cats or other positive cats. Fourthly, I can’t imagine a rescue that wouldn’t scan for a microchip.

There is a vaccine for FIV. It was made by Fort Dodge/Boehringer Ingelheim. They apparently stopped making it in 2017.

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/de…903&id=5314578

I gave it to cats for many, many, many years. I am quite sure it existed and was sold in the US.

I expressed skepticism at the explanation I was given (that vaccinating the cat could lead to her being euthanizd by accident). I don’t need to be told that’s a wonky reason… I said it was a wonky reason for not giving a vaccine. I don’t know why they just didn’t say the vaccine was off the market. That would have been a simpler answer

I do vaccinate for feline leukemia (and rabies, and the distemper mixed vaccine). I used to always also vaccinate for FIV but I guess that’s just plain no longer done.