Hiker3
Florida
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Joined: 01/21/2007
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Oh, gosh. So very sorry. Had a co-worker who lost her precious cat to this. She was devastated because she took her kitty to the vet "every year" like clockwork for shots.
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cynda
St. Louis, Mo. usa
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Joined: 07/20/2003
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Several years ago I purchased a black male Persian from a top breeder in the country. I knew by 8 months he had hip problems.
I got his Grand Championship, he won multiple Best Cat in Show. I knew I would never breed him. I had him altered and placed him where he went on to win Top 20 in the country in the altered class.
Not one judge ever realized he could not stand up correctly on the table.
He lived out his life quite comfortable even though he had hip problems. It doesn't have to be the end of the world.
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dturm
Munster, IN
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The injection site sarcomas can metastasize, but usually they are most aggressive locally. That is the reason we now vaccinate in the legs rather than along the back. There has been alot of study and information over the last 5 or so years, and the general conclusion is that there is a genetic predisposition in some cats to develop the sarcomas. It does seem to run in families. I don't think they have isolated the gene(s) responsible so our best advice now is to space vaccinations and do them as infrequently as necessary.
There is not one brand or type of vaccine implicated, and it can occur with any type of injection. They have pretty much ruled out adjuvents as a cause.
The amputation, while severe, can be a life saving procedure.
Doug, DVM
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catman2130093
Florida
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Joined: 11/22/2007
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Oh how I hurt for you guys! I don't know if Dr. Doug would agree with me, but since my two cats are now 10 and 11 years old, and indoor only cats, I have stopped all the vaccinations except for the mandatory rabies shot. I have always feared site specific carcinomas, and have been agressive in seeing to it that my cats got their shots in the leg and not on the back of the neck. My vet offers a three year rabies vaccine, so I take that option, eliminating still more shots. I think in my situation, the risk of either of my cats getting FIV (that shot is controversial anyway), or FELV, or the other diseases is small. To get back on topic, I was unaware that cats could develop hip dysplasia. I learn a lot here..
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dturm
Munster, IN
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The link below is the latest recommendations from the AAFP (american association of feline practioners) the group leading the study into injection site tumors.
Feline vaccination guidelines
A link to their web site is listed below.
AAFP
Doug, DVM
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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Thanks for that info, Dr Doug. It's a very concise list and I am going to be more conservative with routine vacs in the future.
Plans are being made for Willow's leg and hip to be amputated Wednesday. I have to just stay out of this, because I would find it unacceptable if she were my cat, but I am only the "grandma." The ultrasound did not show any obvious metastasis but the kids were told that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. The bad thing is that Willow has arthritis in her other leg. She's 8 yrs old. I would be willing to bet this does not turn out well, but would love to be wrong. It's a complicated issue because the kids are still hurting from having to put their beloved dachshund down last fall when he suffered a catastrophic back injury. Very tough...
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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I can imagine that they are still hurting and I feel so badly for them in this situation. It is a tough decision to make, I will be hoping for a good outcome for their cat.
Since losing my Toby to cancer that started as a tumor at his vaccination site, I have decided that past the age of 5 our indoor only cats do not get any vaccinations. That has worked well for us. It is a personal decision and not one I would ever recommend for someone with cats that go outdoors frequently or have exposure to other cats that do.
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Our kids had to put Willow down today. She suddenly started showing symptoms and her lungs were found to be full of cancer, metastasized from the injection site sarcoma. She'd had a leg and hip amputated in March this year. Bud made her a carpet covered ramp so she could get up on the bed and she had a few good months, but still... We've decided if our kitty Edna were to develop that type of cancer, we would not put her through that surgery. 
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Hiker3
Florida
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Joined: 01/21/2007
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So sorry to hear this news.
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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Very sorry to hear about Willow Judy. Please extend my condolences to your kids. It is so hard and they fought very hard trying to save her. My heart goes out to all of you during this time......
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