So why should you even consider paying out for something that, on the face of it, your cat doesn't need? After all, they're not sick, injured or in pain, so why should you take the trouble to book a trip to the vet's surgery and then have an unwelcome bill to pay afterwards?

Death, is the reason. And the heartbreak you and your family will have to face should your cat catch one of the nasty viruses that will needlessly end her life.

In all conscience, can you willfully ignore the lifelong protection from these diseases that vaccination will give your cat?

So, why vaccinate your cat?

To make sure that she is protected from the most dangerous viruses .

To do all you can to give her a healthy life.

To ensure that other cats aren't exposed to infection.

To save having to face the decision to put her to sleep.

And as a bonus, keep future vet's bills to a minimum!

There are three main diseases to avoid:

Cat 'Flu or Feline Influenza

As with human 'flu, cat 'flu is highly contagious but, unlike human 'flu, accounts for a very high animal death rate.

Should your unvaccinated pet catch cat 'flu, you can expect to see inflammation of the eyes, nose and windpipe. Your lovely cat will experience unpleasant discharges and will feel very unwell. She'll also be running a fever and will have no interest in anything going on around her. Her appetite will disappear and she may suffer painful tongue ulcers. Your poor cat will be salivating, losing weight and condition, sneezing and struggling to breathe.

Each droplet of mucus breathed, sneezed or coughed out will carry the infection and the virus can travel through cat communities rapidly.

So, if an infected cat is being boarded in a cattery or is competing in a cat show, all the other cats are at risk. Even taking an infected cat to the vet's surgery poses a significant risk to other patients who will already be in a weakened state because of their own health problems.

Your cat may be fortunate enough to recover from cat 'flu. However, she can remain a carrier of the virus for the rest of her life and will remain a threat to every unprotected cat she comes across.

Feline Infectious Enteritis (Distemper) - Feline Panleucopenia

This disease is particularly dangerous to unborn or newborn kittens and it is not unknown for it to kill within minutes of symptoms appearing - it's that serious!

The cells of the gut wall, spleen, bone marrow, liver, lymph nodes and even sometimes, the brain will typically become affected and the incubation period is generally between two and nine days long.

Symptoms of distemper include vomiting, diarrhoea, apathy, a distinctive hunched posture and pitiful crying when handled. If your cat becomes sick with this disease, she has only a very slim chance of recovery.

This virus is passed on by direct or indirect contact between cats and often fleas can be a factor in transmitting the infection from one animal to another.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) The cat form of AIDS

This disease is harmless to humans but incurable in cats and is easily spread between animals by direct contact. Once infected, a cat may show no symptoms but will almost certainly go on to develop health problems that will end its life.

Outward symptoms of this disease are vomiting, weakness, diarrhoea, breathing problems and loss of weight. As this virus attacks your cat's immune system, any infection will quickly spread and overwhelm your cat's defences.

If your cat is found to be infected unfortunately she will need to be put to sleep straight away. The infection risk posed to the cat population as a whole is just too great. To prevent this happening, vaccination will give your pet the protection she needs against contracting FeLV in the first place. You will never be faced with the tragedy of losing your much loved cat to feline AIDS.

So, for any responsible cat owner who cares for their pet, there is simply no choice to be made. Vaccination is the only option, not only for the protection of your cat but also for the protection the cat population at large. If your cat is unvaccinated - get it done today!