No other cat has taught us about the power of titer testing more than our Annie Bell Olivia.
We found Annie on the side of the road – frozen in fear, curled up at the base of a tree. Was she was lost? Abandoned? She had a collar on, so we knew she had humans in her past. We took her home to a safe space in our garage to warm up and spent the rest of the evening making posts on all the lost pet pages we could find.
The next day we took her to the vet to have her checked and scanned for a microchip. There was none – and no one responded to any of our posts about her. It broke our hearts to realize she must have been dumped. But she would never again be abandoned – we knew she was meant to be part of our family.
Back to the vet visit…
Annie tested negative on her snap test and seemed in good health – just a little skinny. The vet estimated Annie to be about 7 months old and confirmed that she was not spayed, which likely meant she was also not vaccinated. We agreed that was most probable – but could not agree to her initial vaccines. Our past experiences with over-vaccination had taught us a difficult lesson, and we would not make the same choices with Annie. Even if it seemed to make sense.
One of our beloved cats, Pooh Bear, suffered from autoimmune disease as a result of being over-vaccinated. It was awful. His disease mainly presented with vascular inflammation. He would bleed from his mouth, ears, and eyes during a flare-up. While we were able to manage his symptoms with the help of many holistic vets and practitioners, this ultimately shortened his life. The pain of that experience made us determined never to put another cat through unnecessary vaccinations.
Knowing there was an alternative, we asked Annie’s vet if she could run a titer test to check her existing immunity levels before administering any vaccines.
The Titer Talk with our Veterinarian
To our surprise, Dr. Anna had never been asked to run a titer test before. She mentioned it was likely an unneeded expense – as Annie was probably not vaccinated. The vet tech even tried to talk us out of it, insisting that the law does not recognize titer tests. We would be spending much more money on testing rather than just getting the rabies vaccine.
But we weren’t making this decision based on the law or cost – we were making it for Annie’s health.
Thankfully, Dr. Anna was open-minded and willing to work with us. She registered herself with the lab to be able to conduct the titer test for Annie. When the results came back, we were all astounded. Annie’s immunity levels were so high that Dr. Anna said she would feel comfortable signing off on international travel! She even mentioned that Annie may never need a rabies vaccine. Ever again. The relief we felt in that moment validated everything we believed: Titer tests are an invaluable tool. The power of titer testing is protecting our cats from unnecessary and potentially harmful vaccinations.
What We Learned:
- Trust Your Instincts – When it comes to your cat’s health, you are their best advocate. Don’t be afraid to challenge the norm and ask for what you feel is right for your feline family member.
- Titer Tests Matter – These tests provide essential information about your cat’s immunity – preventing unnecessary vaccines and reducing the risk of vaccine-related illnesses.
- The More We Ask, the More Accessible Titers Become – If more cat parents request titer tests before vaccinating, the demand will eventually drive the cost down, making it a more affordable and safer option for pets everywhere.
Our journey with Annie’s reaffirmed our belief that questioning standard veterinary protocols is not just okay—it’s necessary. If we had simply followed standard advice, Annie would have received a vaccine she didn’t need, increasing her risk for adverse effects – like our sweet Pooh Bear. Instead, she remains a happy, healthy cat with strong natural immunity.
If you’re considering vaccines for your cat, we encourage you to ask about titer testing first. It could save your cat from unnecessary risks and help pave the way for a healthier, more informed approach to pet care.
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