Are yearly shots Necessary??

Hi,
I have 3 cats that will be 4 years old this September. One cat (Lucy) does not go outside at all. (She's too chicken) MY other cat (Boo) goes out on a leash in my front yard. He stays in my garden really- only for about 20 mins-45 mins 1-2 times a week in the summer when its sunny. My other cat (Cali) loves being outside. I let her out on a leash maybe 2-4 times a week when sunny. She lays in my garden and on my grass...she likes to watch the birds and bugs. LOL.
My question is....Do they really really need their shots??? All 3 need them?? How do you feel about Heartworm pills and the frontline for Cats? Think they all need it or 1 or 2 of them??? Please give me your opinions....Thanks. :y_the_best:

 

Milo goes outdoors except in the winter so he gets the whole works. Pumpkin, Monty, and Rene will venture in our backyard for 5-10 min. if even and I'm reluctant to give them any vaccines. They have been getting their Rabies shots because it's mandatory in NYS. Our ex-vet (left the practice) does not vaccinate her indoor kitties except for every 6-7 years. She said that most pets are overvaccinated. My S.O. had a 14 year old kitty that was not vaccinated regularly and he was outdoors almost daily. He died of natural causes. I won't give my furbabies any Frontline, etc. unless there are symptoms. I drontaled Milo and Vene and the gang a couple of times in the past few years.

 

My cats must have distemper cause of my fostering.
They don't get feline leuk yearly but do every 3 years again due to my fostering. Missy doesn't get it at all cause she gets so ill.
Rabies, as vene said, is also required here by law and I had a friend who missed a year with her cat. Her cat played with a bat - cat had to go into quarintine for 6 weeks and she had to have the rabies series. So I do pay attention to that.
My cats are inside only and I don't have to use any flea protection on them.
I think most of it depends on lifestyle.

 

i think Lex had the very basics waaaaay back .. like before he was mine...

as for Raz, when i first got him i made sure he had it all, just because of his special condition i didn't want to chance anything. and i gave him a Revolution for any fleas/bugs/nasties.

Now i just feed them good food, and keep close watch.

both fluff's are strict indoor kitties.

 

My cats get vaccinated (rabies and combo) every 3yrs even though they are indoor cats. Richie has chronic herpes so although I was going to stop getting the combo vaccine for all of the cats I decided to continue getting it since Richie joined my fur family.

 

serendipity and cinnamon (aka. speedbump) both get theirs yearly... but now I have to wonder!

they get organic food (eat better then us!) and do NOT go outside at all. I have to wonder if I am throwing my money away every year then?

The vet sends a thing in the mail every year with an appointment already made. they get a check up and the whole drug cocktail - the deworming, rabies, etc.

i would love to hear reasons why to and not to... i want the furbies to be happy - but I don't want to wste money or over drug them!
(and with vets you never know)