Disclaimer: I will be writing this series based on my years in the veterinary industry, and from my experience as an Registered Veterinary Technician.
I am NOT a veterinarian, nor should any of my writings or advice be used in place of a veterinarian.
Please contact your local veterinarian as every clinic and hospital and veterinarian does things different.
It's always good to do a second point of view, but the 'Internet' and 'Dr.
Google' is not a replacement for your veterinarian.
If you find something on the Internet that you feel is pertinent to your pet, it is always good to check your sources and above all, CHECK WITH YOUR OWN VETERINARIAN.
This series is meant to be educational to teach folks more about their pets veterinary needs, but always check with your vet before starting or changing any form of treatment.
Thanks! Alrighty, now we move onto cats...
Again we'll briefly cover them all, and remember some will depend on their lifestyle and risk of exposure.
Also, again a lot of vaccine information can be obtained from your vet, and there are a lot of websites that can tell you more detailed information, such as pets.
webmd.
com, or peteducation.
com.
This will just be going over the basics and explain why they are important.
FVRCP - This is a core vaccine that is highly recommended for all cats regardless of them being indoor or outdoor.
It stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia.
Some places will carry it with an extra C, which stands for Chlamydophila.
The first two are airborne viruses spread by nasal secretions.
Usually by nose to nose contact, but some indoor cats can get it from outdoor cat through a door or window screen.
This presents as an Upper Respiratory Infection; so sneezing and/or runny nose.
The most important part with a cat with a stuffed up nose is to make sure they keep eating/drinking.
Cats won't eat anything they can't smell.
Both are treatable, but the cat needs to be monitored in case of a secondary infection.
Also the cat can continue to carry the virus; FVR can sometimes flare up in times of stress, meaning the cat can transmit the virus to others, while Calicivirus the cat will be contagious for the rest of its life.
Calicivirus can also become severe, requiring hospitalization to combat fever and dehydration, and possibly vomiting or diarrhea.
Panleukopenia is very similar to Parvovirus in dogs.
So it causes bloody diarrhea and vomiting and severe dehydration, just to start.
Transmitted from infected stool, it also lasts for years in the environment.
Requires isolation and hospitalization of the kitten while IV fluids and other supportive care is given.
So, yup, you guessed it, it's a nasty virus that requires expensive treatment.
Chlamydophila - another virus that presents as an Upper Respiratory Infection This vaccine is given to kitties at 8 weeks of age and boosted every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.
Adult cats should get it every 1-3 years.
It's available in an injectable and intranasal form So is it really necessary? Well you could roll the dice with an Upper Respiratory Infection, but like DAPP, a $20-30 vaccine could save you SO much angst in the future, considering your cat will then continue to shed the virus for the rest of its life, making any other cat it comes in contact with at risk FELV - There is some debate on if this is a core vaccine.
This stands for Feline Leukemia Virus, and this will severely weaken the immune system.
It may not kill your cat, but will weaken its immune system that some cats will succumb to a secondary infection.
We call this the 'love' virus, because it is most commonly secreted in the saliva.
So mutual grooming between cats can transmit the virus.
Also nose to nose contact and shared food/water dishes.
Also bite wounds from fighting with an infected cat.
Other rarer but still probable ways of transmission includes blood, urine and feces, basically bodily fluids.
It also can transmitted from mother cat to their litter.
So is it necessary? If your cat is fine with staying indoor, you probably can skip it, but do so at your own risk.
If your cat is one that likes to wander out to do a thorough perimeter check and hit up the local cats for a game of alley soccer, or if you have cats coming up to your screen door and there is nose to nose contact, probably a good idea to get this, but as always discuss it with your vet first.
It's usually boosted 3-4 weeks after the first shot and then every year.
Of course prior to receiving this vaccine, it's important that your kitten/cat be tested for FELV and FIV beforehand.
This is a blood test, which only requires a few drops of blood.
Most shelters and rescue groups will make sure before adoption that cats are at least tested.
Then it can be up to owner to discuss the cat's intended lifestyle with their vet.
However, if you don't adopt through a shelter or rescue, and you are not sure about the cat/kitten's background; then it's a good idea to get the cat tested regardless of your intention to keep it indoor only or not.
Also some vets feel this blood test should be repeated once a year or periodically just to make sure.
FIV - Not a core vaccine and is hardly given in the US anymore as far as I know.
This stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, basically Feline AIDS.
It's transmitted through saliva and usually through bite wounds; and also from mama cat to kitten.
Again it destroys the immune system and usually the cat succumbs from secondary infections.
**FIV is NOT transmittable to humans.
And yes, really I've heard this question and knew a client who wanted to give up his cat for this misguided reason.
Again a FELV/FIV test was recommended to be done prior to vaccination and it's boosted once after 3-4 weeks then every year.
However, it is now common knowledge that the vaccine was not as effective as originally thought, and the AVMA released a statement that there was no way to effectively differentiate between a cat with FIV and a cat who had received the vaccine.
Also many shelters interpreted FIV as a 'death sentence' and would euthanize any cat that tested positive.
So as far as I know, this vaccine is no longer manufactured ***Cats that do test positive for either FELV or FIV does NOT mean they are at death's door.
Many cats with either of these viruses do go on to live happy lives, though usually shorter.
Cat owners who have a cat with these need to talk to your vet about keeping them comfortable, yet isolated from other cats.
Rabies - This can be a core/non-core vaccine, depending on where you live.
Some countries and even states will required it for cats.
Others, like California, do not require it, but highly recommend it, regardless of indoor or outdoor status.
Remember rabies is transmitted through infected saliva and blood, and can be found in wild animals.
So is it necessary? If your cat is indoor, you could probably take a chance without it, but if your cat does go outside and can be exposed to wild or infected animals, then you should get it to be safe.
Bottom line is 'mostly' the same, meaning it's better to vaccinate than have to worry when your cat gets sick later.
I actually did have a client bring in his sickly cat, who wasn't neutered and had never received any vaccines at all.
The client asked me what was wrong with his cat, and I had to be honest and say with zero vaccine history the possibilities were endless.
And of course the client couldn't afford several hundred dollars worth of diagnostic tests.
So all he paid for was a shot of antibiotics and he left.
Vaccines have been proven to help extend a cat's life.
Talk to your vet so you can make an informed decision.
And there you do, all the cat vaccines in a nutshell...
feel free to comment and share!