Cat vaccination
Vaccination protects against diseases which can cause your cat to become ill and may lead to the death of the animal. There are three major diseases which should be covered by a routine vaccination.
Feline Upper Respiratory Disease (Cat flu)
- High morbidity (risk of occurrence) but low mortality (death)
- 4 main infectious agents cause cat flu, these are: Feline herpes virus type 1, feline calicivirus, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Chlamydophila felis
- Purebred cats more prone to severe infection
- All ages susceptible but more severe in kittens, elderly cats and immunocompromised cats
- Cats become carriers once clinical signs no longer evident
- Upper respiratory tract is affected
- Clinical signs include inappetance, anorexia, pyrexia (high temperature), conjunctivitis, nasal discharge and salivation
Feline Infectious Enteritis (Feline panleucopenia)
- Seen in unvaccinated kittens living in close proximity (rescue centre’s)
- Protected first 3 months by maternal antibodies
- Gastrointestinal system and bone marrow are affected
- Clinical signs include pyrexia (high temperature), vomiting, dehydration, depression, anorexia and central nervous system signs
Feline Leukaemia (FELV)
- Kittens are more susceptible than adult cats and are more likely to become persistently viraemic
- Cats can be carriers of FELV
- Immune system is affected
- Divided into two categories neoplastic and non-neoplastic
- Clinical signs of neoplastic type is vomiting and diarrhoea, weight loss and lethargy. Non-neoplastic type clinical signs are immunosuppression, anaemia and reproductive disorders
When to vaccinate?
- Vaccination can begin at any age over 9 weeks old.
- Any combination of vaccination programmes can be initiated at the same time.
- Consult your veterinary surgeon as to your own cat's requirements.
- Some animals may be uncomfortable around the injection site for a day or two after the vaccination.
Feline Advisory Bureau information on cat vaccination and other topics.