Vaccinating your cat is almost universally supported by mainstream veterinarians, shelters, breeders, catteries and governments.

The theory is that vaccines protect the cat from feline diseases. But is this true? Have we just been conditioned to believe it is true?

In most countries these involves the F3 (containing three vaccines), the F5 (containing five vaccines) and the other single vaccines.

The F3 usually contains the calici virus, the herpes virus and feline enteritis.

The F6 usually contains the above three, plus feline clamydia and feline leukaemia. The Aids vaccine in usually separate.

However, these can change over time and vary from country to country.

The rabies vaccine, common in USA and mainland Europe is usually offered as a one year protection or three years, although they are both the same.

One of the biggest problem with vaccines is that they contain toxins. Aluminium and mercury are used as adjuvants and preservatives. Both are heavy metals at levels that would not be encountered naturally.

Vaccines also contain foreign proteins.

The body is not naturally equipped to deal with or, more importantly, to eliminate, these toxins.

So they lodge in places.

Aluminium can lodge in the white blood cells, making the immune system toxic. They can also lodge in nerve cells, creating neurotoxic symptoms.

Mercury is also a neurotoxin.

The way the immune system works is not dependent on injecting toxins directly into the body.

When a kitten is born, mothers milk provides what is called passive immunity. The kitten continues to be protected while on mother milk  and that can go on as long as six months (with only occasional feeds at that age).

As the kitten grows and starts to eat solid food that the mother cat hunts and brings back, this food contains all the various nutrients to build a strong immune system.

The fresh raw meat, from a recent kill is rich in all the nutrients carnivores need. They have evolved on this diet for thousands, if not millions, of years.

It is impossible improve on this.

Some people claim that because our cats are domestic, they are different from the wild cats. To some extent that is true. But only in parts.

You can change the way a cat looks and in colour in a single generation.

You cannot change their digestion or their immune system in millions of generations.

Cats remain carnivores, whether wild or domestic. Their need for fresh raw meat and bones remains at the heart of their health.

No vaccine can replace this.

Cats are very sensitive to chemicals. They react badly to them. Keeping toxins out of their life supports a healthy immune system. 

A quality raw meat and bones diet is their natural diet. This diet supports a healthy immune system.

It's a healthy immune system that prevents illness. 

There may be occasions when a cat needs extra support. Having a homeopath as their primary health care practitioner means that any conditions are treated holistically in a way that supports their natural ability to heal.

If you focus on keeping your cats immunity in excellent order, that will do all that is necessary in preventing disease.

In addition, using homeoprophylaxis (HP) rather than mainstream vaccines, can provide additional, and non-toxic protection against disease. Contact me for details.

Catteries, or kennels, are often also breeders. Both breeders and catteries/kennels often have more experience with vaccination, simply due to the volume of animals they see.

One cattery owner who accepted both vaccinated cats and those who had received HP, told me that she had never had a problem with the cats who had been immunised by HP. But she frequently had problems with the conventionally vaccinated cats. They commonly showed signs of the disease they were supposed to be protected against.

No-one can tell you what to do. You choice is important. However, you can't make an informed choice unless you are, well, informed. This article is really only the tip of the iceberg  about vaccinating your cat. 

Keep learning, keep asking questions.

However, getting your cat on a good, quality, species-specific diet can support their health naturally as you ponder and learn.