A tremendous effort is underway to determine why and how these tumors occur and how they can be treated or prevented. Experts in feline medicine, immunology, and cancer treatment have teamed up to form the Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force. In the meantime, the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the Academy of Feline Medicine (AFM) have published guidelines for the vaccination of cats.  Refer to these guidelines when having your cat vaccinated:

·      Discuss with your veterinarian which vaccines he or she recommends. Vaccination protocols should be selected for individual patients on the basis of risk of exposure to specific diseases. It is impractical for any veterinarian to recommend a standard vaccination protocol for your cat without this discussion, because your pet's risk of acquiring disease varies with her age, health, extent of exposure to other cats, and the prevalence of different diseases in your geographical area.

·      Talk with your veterinarian about how frequently your cat should be vaccinated. Although veterinarians have recommended annual vaccination in the past, recent information suggests that some vaccines protect cats for longer than one year. Therefore, the AAFP/AFM guidelines recommend that booster doses of certain vaccines be given only every three years, depending on the cat's risk of exposure. Other vaccines may be recommended only for kittens, or not at all, depending on the cat's individual needs.

·      Don't be afraid to ask your veterinarian for more information if you're not sure what is best for your cat. Check your library, bookstore, and the Internet, and learn all you can about your cat's health. The more you know about feline health, the better decisions you can make for your cat. And your veterinarian will appreciate having a well-informed client.

·      Continue to have your cat examined by your veterinarian every year. The annual visit is a crucial opportunity for your veterinarian to detect any subtle health problems your cat may be developing, to discuss with you new treatments and procedures which may be beneficial to your cat (even if she's already in perfect health), to recommend changes in health care as your cat gets older or your lifestyle changes, and to discuss any concerns you may have about your cat's behavior.

·      Board your cats with veterinarians or pet sitters that don't require annual vaccinations.   Speaking up to boarding facilities that require annual vaccination is the only way change will occur.  Let them know that you believe the vaccinations you have given your cat are adequate and you will look for a boarding facility or pet sitter with a more reasonable approach.

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