Whiskers and wellness – Your ultimate guide to cat vaccinations and their importance
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Pets are susceptible to diseases, and vaccinations play a crucial role in maintaining their health and extending their lifespan. Cat vaccines effectively prevent the incubation and spread of serious and potentially deadly feline diseases. Keep reading to understand the types and importance of cat vaccination to ensure the safety and well-being of your pet.
Why Should My Cat Receive Vaccinations?
- Vaccinations are essential for protecting your cat against specific infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. By preventing these illnesses, vaccines have saved countless cats from suffering and premature death. To maintain this protection, it’s crucial to continue vaccinating cats throughout their lives. Additionally, vaccines protect people from diseases like rabies that can be transmitted from cats to humans.
Even indoor cats need regular vaccination because they can still encounter diseases in various situations, such as travel, boarding, interactions with other cats, or exposure to viruses carried on clothing. Your veterinarian can assess your cat’s individual needs and determine which vaccines are necessary and how often they should be administered for optimal protection. The vaccines required will depend on factors such as your cat’s health, age, lifestyle, and prevalent diseases in your area.
Core Vaccines for Cats
- The American Association of Feline Practitioners Vaccination Advisory Panel recommends the following core vaccines for all indoor household cats:
Panleukopenia
- Panleukopenia is a highly contagious and potentially lethal condition, causing symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes sudden death, especially in kittens.
Feline herpesvirus
- It leads to upper respiratory infections with symptoms such as fever, sneezing, nasal and eye discharge, and lethargy. It is more common in kittens.
Calicivirus
- It causes upper respiratory infections with symptoms like sneezing and nasal and eye discharge. It can lead to mouth sores and, in severe cases, pneumonia, particularly affecting kittens.
Rabies virus
- It is a fatal infection that spreads through bites from infected animals like skunks, raccoons, and bats, and it also poses a risk to humans.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
- It spreads through saliva, nasal secretions, and other bodily fluids, leading to immune suppression, anemia, and cancer, with a high mortality rate in infected cats.
FeLV vaccination is crucial for kittens and is considered non-core for adult cats with no exposure risk to FeLV-infected cats.
Non-Core Vaccines
Deciding whether to vaccinate a cat with non-core vaccines requires careful evaluation of its lifestyle, age, health, exposure to other cats, vaccination history, and any ongoing medical treatments. Each vaccine carries its risks, which must be weighed against the potential benefits specific to each cat’s situation.
Additional vaccines may be recommended based on a cat’s risk of exposure to infectious agents due to factors like outdoor access, shelter living, or living with infected cats. Consult your veterinarian to determine if any of these vaccines are suitable for your cat:
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
- It spreads through bite wounds primarily among outdoor cats, compromising their immune systems and making them susceptible to various infections. Due to their limited effectiveness, FIV vaccines are no longer available in North America.
Bordetella Bronchiseptica (kennel cough)
- It causes upper respiratory infections and is transmitted through direct contact with infected nasal and oral secretions. It’s prevalent in densely housed environments like shelters and multi-cat households.
Chlamydia Felis
- It causes conjunctivitis and upper respiratory infections in cats, particularly in environments with confirmed infections. Vaccination helps control its spread in multi-cat settings.
Schedule your pet’s veterinary check-ups with Autumn Trails and Veterinary Center. We provide multiple veterinary services, including pet vaccination. We are located in Charlottesville, VA. Appointments are conveniently available; call us at (434) 971-9800.
