Download Feline Vaccinations

Feline Vaccinations
All cats should be vaccinated to prevent against harmful and potentially life-threatening diseases. The types of vaccines your cat
should be given will vary based on the life style of your cat. If your cat lives in the house and does not come into contact with
other cats, only the basic vaccines are necessary. If your cat spends time outside and around other cats, the proper precautions
should be taken with the necessary vaccinations.
Rabies
Rabies is a disease nearly everyone has heard of. It is contracted when an animal is bitten by another animal that has been
infected. The disease is carried in the saliva. Rabies vaccinations are required in many states for cats. Even if you have an
indoor cat, they should be vaccinated in case they get out, or by chance an animal were to get into your house. In nearly all
cases, an animal will need to be put down if it has been infected with rabies.
Panleukopenia Virus
The more common name for this virus is distemper. It is a highly contagious disease which is why vaccination is recommended.
Symptoms include fever, seizures, loss of appetite, and possibly death. Kittens are born with a natural immunity for the first few
weeks of their lives. Vaccinations should start at around 8 weeks old and there are a series of 3-4 follow up vaccinations given
approximatley 3 weeks apart. Your cat should also receive a vaccination every 1-3 years going forward.
Rhinotracheitis
Caused by the herpes virus, Rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory infection that is highly contagious. The infection could prove
to be fatal in young kittens, so the vaccination is highly recommended. The vaccine lasts for about 3 years, so follow up
vaccinations are necessary.
Calicivirus
Calicivirus is a virus that causes an upper respiratory infection. It is very contagious through contact with infected cats.
Symptoms include fever, gum disease, mouth ulcers, sneezing, among others. More advanced forms of the virus are more
severe and can cause fatality. Cats do not need to exhibit symptoms in order to transmit the disease to other cats. The contagious
nature of this disease makes it important for your cat to receive a vaccination.
Feline Leukemia Virus
This is another virus that is spread through direct contact with an infected cat. For this reason the vaccine is highly
recommended for outdoor cats, or cats that are frequently in contact with other cats. Indoor, solitary cats should still be
vaccinated to prevent against the potentially fatal virus, but are not at as high a risk to contract it. Like all vaccines, there are
some potential side effects. A small percentage of cats developed cancerous sarcomas where they were injected with the
vaccine. Have a conversation with your vet if you have any questions about the vaccine.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
This is a disease that has no cure and is fatal in most instances. The good news is that for households with only 1 or 2 cats only
1 in 5000 cats are affected. The vaccine for this disease has not proven to be very effective to this point, so most cats will not
require this vaccination.
Chlamydiosis
This disease is much more prevalent in cats that live in a multiple cat environment. The most obvious symptom is usually
conjunctivitis, and the disease is carried in the eye discharge of infected cats. Adverse reactions to the chlamydiosis vaccine
occur at a higher rate than most vaccines, so if you have an indoor cat it is usually not recommended. Speak with your vet if you
have any questions about this vaccine.