When vaccinating cats, I often don’t have as much time as I would like to talk about each vaccine and the diseases it covers. This article is a more in depth look at feline vaccinations.
What age should kittens receive their first vaccines?
Kittens receive their first shots around 6-8 weeks of age. Vaccine boosters are given every 3-4 weeks.
FVRCP or Feline Distemper
This is a combo vaccine that covers Feline Viral Rhinotracheites, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia virus.
Feline Panleukopenia is also called feline distemper. This virus used to be a common cause of kitten death but the vaccine has done a great job of controlling this disease. Because most cats now get vaccinated for this virus, we only rarely see it as a cause of death in kittens. The most common symptoms of the disease are depression, dehydration, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, nasal discharge, and collapse. Pregnant mother cats may either lose the kittens or the kittens could be born with an underdeveloped cerebellum. These cats will have motor function problems lifelong. Unfortunately, I occasionally still see patients with this cerebellar affliction from feline panleukopenia virus.
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is also known as herpes virus type 1. This disease is still prevalent among house cat populations and causes upper respiratory infections and conjunctivitis or inflammation around the eye. Cats that have been infected with this virus will continue to carry the virus in a latent or dormant form. The virus will reactivate during stress or illness. Treatment includes antivirals such as famciclovir or preventatives such as L-lysine. It is very important to reduce your cat’s stress. If your cat has a more severe outbreak, your vet may give antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections. The vaccine helps to reduce the severity of symptoms and is usually boostered every one to three years in adult cats.
Calicivirus causes respiratory and oral disease in cats. Exposure is most common in households with multiple cats, animal shelters, pet stores, and catteries. The vaccine reduces the severity of disease if your cat is exposed.
Rabies
Rabies is required for indoor and outdoor cats in the United States. Other countries will have different requirements.
Kittens are generally vaccinated against rabies at 3-4 months of age and then boostered every 1 to 3 years depending on the vaccine manufacturer.
The rabies virus has an almost 100% mortality in mammalian species once infected. The vaccine is very effective.
Feline Leukemia Virus
This virus is a tragic disease as it causes anemia and cancer in young cats. Cats persistently infected with this disease usually die within three years of diagnosis. The disease most commonly infects kittens, meaning that the cats who die of this disease are usually between 1 and 3 years of age. The virus is transmitted most commonly through grooming and saliva. Outdoor cats are more exposed to this virus, so most veterinarians will vaccinate any cats that are outdoor or indoor/outdoor. Finally, because of young cat’s susceptibility to this virus, many veterinarians will vaccinate kittens as well as outdoor cats.
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