Recommended (Core) Vaccinations for Cats
Young kittens are protected from infectious disease by antibodies that they acquire from their mother either before birth or through her milk. However, this form of protection declines after the first two months of age. For this reason, your kitten should complete a vaccination program that protects her against the most common and serious infectious diseases. These “core vaccines” include feline panleukopenia (also called feline distemper), feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and rabies.
- Panleukopenia (also referred to as feline distemper): Panleukopenia is a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease. The virus that causes feline panleukopenia is extremely hardy and survives for long periods of time in contaminated environments. Signs of infection include sudden onset of high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. Cats and kittens are both susceptible, but mortality is much higher in young cats.
- Herpesvirus and calicivirus: Both of these viruses cause upper respiratory illness in cats. These diseases are highly contagious and cats may become carriers even after they have recovered completely from infection. Signs include lethargy and loss of appetite, discharge from the eyes or nose, fever and sneezing.
- Rabies: Rabies is a fatal disease that can be contracted by all warm-blooded species, including humans. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system and is most commonly transmitted through a bite from an infected animal. Some states now mandate rabies vaccination for cats and most require vaccination for dogs.
Non-Core Vaccinations
Non-core vaccines protect against feline diseases that are infrequently transmitted or that cause only mild illness. These vaccines include those that protect against feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline infectious peritonitis, Chlamydophila felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Giardia.
Because exposure to these diseases is limited for the majority of pet cats living in homes, non-core vaccines are only recommended in cats who are determined to be at risk of exposure. For example, cats who are frequently outdoors and exposed to stray cats or cats who are regularly exhibited at cat shows are at higher risk for infection than cats who live exclusively indoors. Consult your veterinarian to determine whether or not your kitten should receive more protection than that provided by the core vaccines.
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