Joann (Atlanta, Ga) on 11/16/2011:
My 5 year old cat received a feline leukemia booster yesterday. He was acting himself prior to the vaccine. I did this because I have a rescue cat which MAY be leukemia positive; because of this I have given boosters to the other cats.
This morning, I found him hiding in the closet. He is growling and not very approachable. He will not eat now. I have never seen him like this.
Because of have other cats, I have isolated him and will observe him.
I have had other cats which developed acute reactions to vaccines, including myositis, and swelling and fever. I am very concerned, because vets will assure you there are few problems, and I truly believe they think this is so in many cases; and yet read articles on the internet, and they state quite the opposite.
The truth of the matter is whenever something foreign to the body is introduced, and we really don't know what is in the vaccine, problems can happen. It is difficult to believe what the pharmaceutical companies state because this is easy money.
Sallie (Arnold, California Usa) on 12/15/2010:
For the second time, following vaccinations for Rabies and Feline Leukemia, my Siamese Cat has developed alopecia. This time it is much more serious involving almost all of her
stomach and parts of her front and back leg (on the same side)-which is on her right side. Her left side (including front and back leg) are not effected. She is beginning to lose weight too. She has been to the vet twice for this and no one has any idea what is wrong with her and state that vaccinations don't cause skin reactions - but they have twice with her. Now I
don't know what to do - except NEVER WILL I HAVE HER VACCINATED FOR ANYTHING AGAIN.
Kyrie (Dickinson, North Dakota) on 09/29/2009:
Well I got my kitten vaccinated about three weeks ago now, and she has been slowly losing the use of her back legs. It was the panleuk combo vaccine (not sure what brand) and I didn't notice it at first. She just stopped jumping around. I assumed it was because she was depressed at the loss of our other cat a short time before, as she was also sleeping more. But now? She doesn't seem to have any feeling. You can pinch the left hind leg and get no response, and the right one twitches but little else. I am not sure if this is a reaction to the vaccine but it seems too coincidental not to be considering she is an indoor only cat. If anyone has any advice please let me know!
Jennifer (Rockville, Maryland/ USA) on 03/13/2009:
my kitten has diarrhea. iv had her about a week and a half... she is six and a half months old and we adopted her from a rescue shelter... when we first got her she was fine, then about 3 days ago we took her to get her 2nd distemper and her 2nd leukemia booster and ever since she has had really bad smelling diarrhea, i was wondering if maybe it was a side effect and will it go away in like a week of so... or if it was the food i have been feeding her... the first 2 days i had her i gave her fancy feast kitten food, but then i started giving her regular fancy feast (i guess for cats) but yesterday morning i mixed a little of the kitten food with the regular food, and she eats purina kitten chow through out the day... (i leave her bowl out) do you think she is allergic to her food (hard or dry) im just unsure. thank you!
jen
Monica (Whittier, CA) on 02/19/2009:
My 6 month old Bengal kitty received her booster vaccination yesterday along with a leukemia shot. She is a very active and playful kitten and was fine when we came home yesterday. This morning she awoke very lethargic and obviously in pain. She cried out when I picked her up even hissing, which she has never done before. She's just sitting on my bed looking at me with sad eyes. Any advice would be helpful.
Jessi (Fairfield, IA USA) on 12/23/2008:
You asked people to write and tell you if they had an experience with a side effect from a pet vaccination. My brown-and-black-striped tabby cat had problems with the leukemia vaccination. I don't remember if it started with the first vaccination or with the booster, but I believe it was with the first vaccination. What happened is, every time she got her anti-leukemia shot, she would be very ill for 3 days: TOTALLY lethargic, like a wet dishrag. After about 3 of these incidents, I said, "No more vaccinations for this cat!" She didn't respond as badly to the other vaccinations they give cats, but I decided to take her off those, too. She's an inside cat, and it was ridiculous to keep giving her vaccinations because she wasn't ever exposed to other cats. After seeing what she went through, I wouldn't give her a leukemia vac even if she were an outside cat. There was something very wrong going on inside my little girl from that shot, and I'm sorry I ever let them give it to her.