Vaccinations are important for cats

A cat is an important member of your family. It is an owners responsibility to make sure that they are healthy, and part of doing that you need to make sure your kitten or cat gets vaccinated. This simple preventative measure will protect your cat and other cats from deadly diseases and viruses.

Veterinarians or trained team members administer vaccines in two different ways. Most commonly they inject the vaccine, but sometimes they put drops in the pet’s eyes, tongue or nose. This depends on the specific vaccination for the specific disease.

How do vaccines work

The pet’s immune system is triggered with scientifically designed vaccines. This stimulation teaches the immune system how to fight a disease and protects your kitty against infectious diseases. The vaccine will protect your cat against the effects of the disease in the event that they ever come in contact with the virus or illness.

What does a vaccine contain?

Some vaccines contain live organisms which simulate the disease. The scientifically modified organisms will trigger a good immune response by simulating the disease for a few days in a controlled manner as not to make cat ill.

There are vaccines which contain organisms that have been rendered inactive, combined with other agents to trigger an immune response in your cat’s body.

New and more advanced vaccines called, Recombinant vaccines are protein producing parts of an organism combined with a second organism. The organisms promote a good immune system in your cat’s body to prevent serious illness and reactions to illnesses.

Most important all vaccines have to go through a series of safety tests along with tests to determine effectiveness. The authorities that regulate the feline medicine industry only release vaccines that have been proven safe and effective.

There may be ‘herbal vaccinations’ that people may suggest to you, they have no scientific backing. It is not advisable to use these vaccines because they do not prompt the necessary immune responsibilities. Veterinarians only use regulated and scientifically proven vaccinations.

What diseases does my cat get vaccinated against

The regulations for vaccinations are not the same worldwide, different regions and countries will require different vaccinations. It all depends on what illnesses are found in those places. There are common vaccines that are available in most countries, it is in the best interest of your cat to consult your vet to get the right vaccines for your area. Kittens will have certain immunity that is provided by their mother’s milk but this wears off in time. Kittens will need to get their vaccines if they are to stay healthy. Booster shots are required annually in order to maintain the efficacy of some vaccines.

The most common vaccines are against:

  • Feline Panleukopenia virus also known as FPV, Feline infectious enteritis, feline parvovirus.
  • Feline herpesvirus
  • Feline calicivirus or cat flu
  • Chlamydophila Felis
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica

If you decide to take your cat abroad, speak with your vets well ahead and we can organise a vaccination schedule for that country. Note for some countries this can take several rounds of vaccine so you should discuss this with your vet as soon as possible.

There are two different kinds of vaccinations. Core and non-core vaccines. Cats all receive core vaccinations, even indoor cats, non-core vaccines are given to cats that are high risk for contracting a specific disease.

Discuss with your vet which vaccines your cat needs and set up a schedule to keep your cat in the best health possible.

The core vaccines are for

  • Feline panleukopenia virus is a severe virus that can be fatal. It is not uncommon for cats to die from this haemorrhagic disease.
  • Feline herpes and feline calicivirus is a virus that combines to become the main cause for respiratory infections known as cat flu.
  • Rabies is very common in dogs and it can be transferred to humans. This is a potentially fatal disease that causes serious symptoms which has led to regulations being in place to protect us and our pets. Cats are vulnerable to rabies too and can transfer it to humans.

Make an appointment with your cat or kitten to keep them safe.