The Importance of Preventive Care for Cats
Up-to-date dog and cat vaccinations are critical when it comes to protecting your four-legged friend from a wide variety of contagious and serious diseases. This begins with their first vaccinations when they are only a few weeks old and continues with 'booster shots' regularly throughout their lifetime.
As the name implies, booster shots help to increase or 'boost' the immunity that the vaccine provides as it can decrease over time. Booster shots for cats are given on specific schedules. Your vet will provide you with an indoor cat and kitten vaccination schedule suitable to your cat's needs and local requirements.
Do indoor cats need to be vaccinated?
As mentioned above, local laws may require you to ensure that your cat is vaccinated against certain conditions even if they are strictly indoors. For example, most states require that cats over the age of 6 months be vaccinated against rabies. Once your cat has their shots your veterinarian will provide you with a certificate showing that your cat has been vaccinated as required.
It's also a good idea to have your cat vaccinated as they may slip out when you aren't looking and it's better to be safe than sorry. A quick sniff around your yard could expose your cat to one of the highly contagious viruses that cats are susceptible to.
If your indoor cat visits a groomer or spends time in a boarding facility while you are away from home, vaccinations are very important for protecting your pet's health. Wherever other cats have been, there is a chance of spreading viruses - make sure that your indoor cat is protected.
Are there different types of vaccinations for cats?
There are two types of vaccinations available for cats, 'core vaccines' and 'lifestyle vaccines'. Our Yucaipa vets strongly recommend that all cats - both indoor cats and outdoor cats - receive core vaccinations to protect them against highly contagious diseases they could be exposed to.
Core Vaccinations for Indoor Cats
The core vaccinations are provided on a standard cat vaccination schedule and recommended for all cats to protect them against common and highly contagious diseases including:
- Panleukopenia (feline distemper): FP is an extremely serious, highly contagious viral disease caused by the feline parvovirus. The feline parvovirus infects and kills cells that are rapidly growing and dividing, including cells in bone marrow, the intestines, or a developing fetus. The virus is spread through urine, stool, and nasal secretions. Infection occurs when susceptible cats come in contact with these secretions, or fleas from infected an infected cat. Although infected cats are contagious for only a day or two, the virus can survive for up to a year in the environment, so cats can become infected without ever coming into direct contact with an infected cat.
- Feline calicivirus (FCV): This virus spreads through direct contact with infected cats' saliva, nasal mucus, and eye discharge, as well as aerosol droplets spread when an infected cat sneezes. Feline calicivirus is a highly contagious virus that infects cats and causes mild to severe respiratory infections, eye irritation, and oral disease.
- Feline herpesvirus type I (FHV, FHV-1): This highly contagious and widespread virus is a leading cause of upper respiratory infections. The virus can infect cats for life if it is spread through the sharing of litter trays or food bowls, inhalation of sneeze droplets, or direct contact. Some will continue to shed the virus, and long-term FHV infection can cause vision problems.
- Rabies: Rabies is a contagious and often fatal disease that is easily spread between mammals and people. These vaccinations are required by law for cats in most states
Lifestyle Vaccinations for Indoor Cats
Lifestyle vaccines or non-core vaccines are suitable for some cats, based on their lifestyle. Your vet will advise you as to which non-core vaccines are recommended for your cat. Non-core vaccines include protection against:
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV): FeLV is a retrovirus that is spread through saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and milk of an infected cat; it may be transmitted through cats grooming each other. This condition weakens your cat's immune system and can lead to a lack of appetite, intestinal issues, lymphoma, leukemia, reproductive issues, secondary infections due to immunosuppression, poor healing, chronic respiratory infections, and inflammation of the gums
- Bordetella: The bacteria responsible for Bordetella can be spread through both direct and indirect contact. This condition causes upper respiratory infections that are highly contagious. This vaccination may be recommended by your vet if you are taking your cat to a groomer or boarding kennel.
- Chlamydophila Felis: Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that is spread through direct contact with an infected cat. This infection leads to severe conjunctivitis (eye irritation). Your cat will receive their vaccination for this disease as a part of the regular combination vaccine.
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV): FIV is a retrovirus that is spread through saliva, primarily through cat bites. This virus suppresses the cat's white blood cells, gradually weakening the immune system. Cats infected with FIV will begin to show symptoms related to immunosuppression including inflammation of gums, diarrhea, skin infections, upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, weight loss, poor condition of coat, seizures, behavioral changes
When should your kitten receive their first vaccinations?
You should bring your kitten in for their first vaccinations when they are between six and 8 weeks old. Following that, your kitten should receive a series of vaccinations every three or four weeks until they are about 16 weeks old.
Indoor Cat & Kitten Vaccination Schedule
The needs of each cat will vary when it comes to preventive care, but a standard indoor cat and kitten vaccination schedule can look something like this:
6 to 8 Weeks
- Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
10 to 12 Weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Feline Leukemia
14 to 16 Weeks
- Booster: Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia
- Booster: Feline Leukemia
Every 1 to 3 Years
- Rabies
- Booster: Feline Leukemia
When will your cat need booster vaccinations?
Booster vaccinations are typically given every one to three years. This depends on the type of vaccine. Your vet will be able to provide you will more detailed information and an indoor cat and kitten vaccination schedule to meet your needs.
When will my kitten be fully protected?
Your kitten is not fully vaccinated until they have received all of their injections, at about 14 - 16 weeks of age. Once they have received all of those initial vaccinations your kitten will be protected against the diseases covered by the vaccines.
If your cat enjoys spending time outside and they've only received their first vaccinations, you may want to keep them confined to low-risk areas such as your own backyard.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.