When Should You Vaccinate You Cat?
What is a vaccine?
Is a substance that is made from dead or living pathogens. It is then injected into the body through inoculation, which causes the body to create antibodies. This makes your cat immune to getting the disease in the future.
What vaccines does your cat need, and what is the time frame? What are the most common vaccines and what special vaccines might be needed?
Vaccine Types
Several years ago the VAFSTF (Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force) published a list of vaccines that were highly recommended for all cats. These included:
* Feline Panleukopenia Virus Vaccine (aka “Feline Distemper”)
* Feline Calicivirus
* Rhinotracheitis AKA Feline Herpes Virus
* Rabies Vaccine
While the vaccines above are recommended for the health of all cats, there are others that are more dangerous and present a higher risk of adverse reactions. For this reason, they are recommended only in certain instances.
These vaccines contain:
* Chlamydiosis - Recommended for households with multiple cats or where chlamydiosis infections have been confirmed, after vet consultation.
* Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) - A controversial vaccine, the AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners) currently recommends against its use.
* Bordetella - A recently-approved vaccine is not yet ready for common use, but may be used for multiple-cat environments on a case-by-case detail.
* Gardiasis - This vaccine is in a similar state to that for Bordetella, being too new for general use but can be approved when exposure is clinically significant.
There are many different times when vaccination may not be appropriate, depending on your cats health. Cats that probably shouldn’t be vaccinated include, sick cats, those receiving cortisone therapy, or kittens under six weeks unless in extreme conditions. Cats over 10 years old typically don’t need booster shots. Finally, it is believed that pregnant cats may experience still births as a result of some vaccines.
You should always consult a veterinarian before making vaccination decisions.
Kittens are often first inoculated between six and eight weeks of age. This first round of shots consists of the FVRCP, which can be a three-in-one shot and vaccinates against feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), calicivirus, and panleukopenia virus. A booster dose is administered three to four weeks later and booster rounds continue until twelve weeks old. Rabies shots, however, are not given until twelve weeks of age at the earliest.
If you adopt an older kitten or cat, their initial vaccinations are normally given in one or two doses that are three to four weeks apart.
Once your cat has been vaccinated, they are usually put on an annual schedule of vaccinations. It is important for you, the pet owner, to maintain these vaccinations. Although your vet’s office keep records and do their best to remind you, it’s ultimately your responsibility to ensure your cat’s best health.
More recently, pet owners and veterinarians have been forgoing the annual vaccination schemes, demanded to fears about Vaccine-Related Sarcoma. This condition is most regularly caused by the rabies or FeLV vaccines. Vaccine-related sarcomas occur when cancerous tumors grow at the site of a vaccination. A small, painless lump often develops at the site of a vaccination; in rare cases, however, it progresses to a sarcoma. Pet owners are encouraged to check a vaccination site for several months after the vaccination, and schedule a vet appointment if the swelling has become a solid lump.
If your cat spends all his time indoors, forgoing annual vaccinations may be a possibility. However, in general this is not recommended and should only be considered under certain circumstances. Even if your cat will not be getting annual vaccinations, they should still see a vet for a check up. Be sure to thoroughly research any vaccination related decisions and discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your veterinarian.
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