Should you? Shouldn't you? Vaccinating your companion animal is an intensely personal decision that should be made in concert with your veterinarian. But it sure helps to have a little guidance along the way.

For cats, the American Association of Feline Practitioners' 2006 Feline Vaccination guidelines are a well-regarded road map. The AAFP divides vaccines into core (recommended for all cats), noncore (may be appropriate, depending on the cat's age, breed, health status and lifestyle) and generally not recommended.

Cat owners should be particularly diligent about "killed" vaccines, which contain adjuvants, or additives, that have been connected with the development of injection-site sarcomas in cats.

Panleukopenia

Core

Similar to canine parvovirus, this highly contagious viral disease primarily affects kittens, attacking and destroying white blood cells.

As with all the core vaccines, revaccination every three years in an adult cat is recommended.

Rhinotracheitis

Core

Informally known as feline herpes virus, this upper-respiratory virus attacks the nose, sinuses, eyes, throat and trachea. Severe sneezing is an early symptom. Again, kittens are at highest risk. Previously infected cats can become carriers, and can shed the disease as well as develop it again, although usually not as severely.

Calicivirus

Core

Another highly infectious pathogen that causes upper-respiratory infection. Symptoms can be similar to a head cold in humans, and sometimes dehydration, pneumonia and lameness result. As with rhinotracheitis, once-infected cats can become chronic carriers.

Rabies

Core

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, reports of rabies in cats outnumbers any other domestic animal. Most states require administration of the vaccine every three years. Cat owners who are concerned about giving this killed vaccine because of sarcoma concerns have an option: A recombinant, or nonadjuvant, rabies vaccine is available, though it must be given yearly.

Feline Leukemia

Noncore

Though the AAFP does not mandate the FeLV vaccine for all cats, particularly those who do not go outside and have no exposure to outdoor cats, it does highly recommend that all kittens be vaccinated.

Chlamydia

Noncore

Don't anthropomorphize: This isn't a disease for promiscuous cats. It's yet another respiratory infection. There are questions about the vaccine's efficacy, and it is not recommended unless the cat is in a high-risk environment.

Bordetella

Noncore

This lower-respiratory problem sometimes affects very young kittens, but is uncommon in adults. Unless a young cat will be in an at-risk environment with lots of other felines, it is likely not necessary.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Noncore

Outdoor cats are at the highest risk for FIV, as it is commonly transmitted through bite wounds incurred during cat fights. Because vaccinated cats will show up positive if retested, they should be permanently identified. Vaccination does not necessarily prevent infection, as it does not cover all the FIV strains. The FIV vaccine is adjuvant, so the risk of injection-site tumors exists.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Not generally recommended

Caused by certain strains of the feline coronavirus, this viral disease does not cause symptoms in most cats. However, a small percentage develop FIP virus, which results in an intense inflammatory reaction in the abdomen, kidney or brain, and is often fatal. That said, FIP is not a highly contagious disease, it is relatively uncommon, and the vaccine's efficacy is a subject of some controversy.

Giardia

Not generally recommended

As in canines, the giardia vaccine does not prevent the disease - it only reduces a cat's ability to spread it. Also, this is a killed vaccine, with the potential to induce vaccine-associated sarcomas.

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