Understanding the Importance of Cat Vaccines
Are cat vaccines necessary? What vaccines does my cat actually need?
I get the question a lot about what vaccines a cat really needs. Unfortunately, it can be more difficult to get cats into the clinic than dogs. Sometimes they're stressed out by getting into the car, and they don't like their carrier. We tend to push off their preventative care a bit more.
However, there are different viruses that cats can be exposed to, and it is very important to keep them protected. We call some of these our core vaccines, which we recommend to everyone. I definitely believe every cat should have these to ensure they're protected. The biggest one, number one, is the rabies virus. Rabies is a state and federal law. If a bat happens to get into your house and bites your cat, you may not even realize it. Now, your cat could have rabies, which can be transmitted to people. There's no cure for pets or people for rabies, so we make sure to keep everyone safe, animals and people, by keeping them up to date on their rabies vaccine.
The next one we do is sometimes called the feline or cat distemper, though it's not really a distemper virus vaccine. It includes a mix of three different viruses. One causes a lot of upper respiratory symptoms, like sneezing and eye discharge, called feline viral rhinotracheitis. Another, calicivirus, also commonly causes upper respiratory signs like sneezing and eye discharge, and affects breathing. The last one, panleukopenia virus, is very similar to the canine parvovirus, which can severely impact their immune system and cause serious gastrointestinal disease.
These are our core feline vaccines: rabies and the FVRCP (feline distemper vaccine).
I also recommend the feline leukemia virus vaccine, especially for all young cats when they first come in. This vaccine works better if administered at a younger age as it helps protect them as they grow older. If they are outdoor cats, it's important to keep their feline leukemia vaccine up to date. Feline leukemia is a virus spread through the saliva of cats. If your cat gets into a tussle with another outside, it could be transmitted. It can significantly affect the immune system and white blood cells. It's easy to prevent with the vaccine, but there is no cure for leukemia. We can help manage it, but there's no real treatment once the leukemia virus is present.
When should I start vaccinating my kitten?
If you just had a mom cat or adopted a kitten, you might wonder what age to bring them in. Typically, it is around six to eight weeks of age. Kittens receive a lot of antibodies and immunity from their mom when they're born and nursing. They get these antibodies from mom. At 6 to 8 weeks, they start weaning, and the maternal antibodies wear off. We need to boost their immune system to get it going again and help protect them from viruses. We start at six to eight weeks and then booster every three to four weeks until they're about 14 to 16 weeks of age.
Is it okay to get multiple vaccines done at once for my cat?
Pretty much, just like our immune systems, their immune systems are designed to be exposed to multiple things at the same time. Think about us; we are exposed to a multitude of different viruses and bacteria daily. Our immune system knows what to do when we're exposed to different things. That's what vaccines do as well. They mimic natural exposure and boost the immune system, so if we encounter these in the wild, we'll be protected with the necessary antibodies. The occasional time I might split up giving vaccines is if there's a history of reactions. Then I see the benefit of splitting them up the next time, as it helps determine which vaccine caused the reaction, whether it was rabies, feline leukemia, or the FVRCP/distemper shot. That's when I prefer to split them up more.
Is there anything I can do to prepare my cat before their vaccine appointment?
It can be very stressful for a cat; they don't like their carrier or the car ride. I recommend having the carrier out, maybe even the entire week before their visit, so they get used to it. Sometimes you bring the carrier out, and they think, "Oh goodness, what is this weird thing?" Leave it out and put some toys or catnip inside.
You might see Feliway at the pet store. It's a natural pheromone that moms release for their kittens. They have a product you can spray on things. Maybe spray a little blanket in their carrier, spray the carrier itself to make them more accustomed to it. Make it enticing to go into that carrier.
You can do these things to help them feel calm and accustomed, rather than just shoving them in there, which is too stressful. I would also suggest skipping their breakfast meal the morning of the appointment. We love giving our cats and dogs treats when they come in. The hungrier they are for treats, the more likely they'll take them and have a positive experience. Have you ever seen those little Churu liquid pouches? Cats love them. Most of our cats are just licking away as we give their vaccines. They don't even look back to see what I'm doing. The hungrier they are, the more likely they'll take treats and have a positive experience.
If my cat is going to strictly live indoors, do they still need vaccines?
Indoor-only cats do not necessarily need all the vaccines. However, if you have another cat that goes in and out, you do have to consider vaccinating the indoor cat. But if you have a cat that never goes outside and doesn't come into contact with any other cats that go in and out, they don't need to get all the vaccines. They would need to get the rabies vaccine, and I definitely recommend the feline distemper vaccine.
Are there risks or side effects associated with cat vaccines?
Yes, there are potential risks. The two vaccines that we have to be concerned about are the rabies and feline leukemia vaccines. A very small percentage of cats can actually develop a type of cancer from the vaccines. However, the vaccines that we use have an extremely low risk of this happening. Other considerations include cats being lethargic or sluggish after the vaccines. This could be from the vaccine, but it could also just be that they're exhausted from the car ride and the overall experience.
Despite the things we mentioned, don't let that discourage you. The benefits greatly outweigh the risks of any issues with getting your cats vaccinated. Please make sure they stay current, at least on the rabies vaccine, as it is required by law with good reason.
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