Recommended Core Vaccinations |
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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 Vaccines
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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Helpful Tip! |
| Recommended Vaccination Schedule |
| You kitten should receive his first core vaccines when he is between 6 and 8 weeks of age and should be
revaccinated every 3 to 4 wks until his is 12 to 16 weeks of age. A single dose of killed or recombinant rabies
vaccine should be administered when your kitten is between 12 and 16 weeks of age. A booster vaccine for the core
diseases and rabies should then be administered one year after finishing the initial series. Historically, veterinarians
have encouraged owners to vaccinate their adult cats annually. However, recent studies have shown that vaccine
protection lasts much longer than one year and that annual vaccinations are neither necessary nor beneficial for the
majority of cats. For this reason, the American Association of Feline Practitioners currently recommends that
adult cats receive booster shots at three year intervals rather than annually. Cats who are at higher risk of
exposure to disease, such as show cats or breeding cats, may still benefit from more frequent vaccination.
(NOTE: Regardless of the vaccination interval that is recommended for your cat, it is still advisable to schedule
annual health examinations with your veterinarian to monitor your cat’s general health and to examine him for
intestinal parasites, external parasites, and weight changes). |
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