Cat Vaccinations
Because the health and safety of your cat is important to you, you want to make sure that he or she gets all the vaccinations they need to protect them against disease.
Just like humans, nursing cats who have been vaccinated will pass on some level of immunity to their litter, but as the kittens are weaned they will need to depend on their own natural antibodies to protect them. If you have adopted a stray or you are not sure that your kitten has had its shots, you should take him to a veterinarian right away to be checked out.
There are several vaccinations that your veterinarian will recommend for your cat beginning in kittenhood. These include protection against the following serious illnesses:
• Rabies
• Feline calicvirus (FCV)
• Panleukopenia virus (distemper)
• Feline herpes virus (rhinotracheitis)
Typically, a kitten should start to receive these vaccinations when they are between 6 and 8 weeks old. The exception is the rabies vaccine which is more often administered when the cat reaches about four months.
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If you have a cat that will be allowed to roam around outside, your veterinarian might also want to vaccinate your pet against other common cat illnesses such as:
• Feline chlamydiosis
• Feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS or FIV)
• Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
A cat who spends time outdoors needs extra protection against diseases and infections that they could pick up from stray, ill or unvaccinated cats or other wild animals. As an extra safety precaution these vaccinations may be given as a part of your cat's regular schedule of vaccinations even if he is an indoor cat. Ask your veterinarian what he or she recommends.
Vaccinations are usually administered under the skin in the back of the neck and do not cause your cat any pain. It is rare for a cat to suffer adverse reactions or side effects but you should watch your pet closely for a few days after he is vaccinated just in case. He may be tired or sluggish after his vaccinations but should bounce right back to his old self within a day or so. If not, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Don't forget that after the initial series of vaccinations, your cat should be taken in yearly for boosters to continue his protection. You should also complement your cat's vaccinations with a treatment that offers complete protection against fleas, tics, worms and other parasites that pose a threat to your cat's overall health.
If you are likely to forget when vaccinations or doses of medications are due, write them on your calendar, in your diary or set a reminder on your smart phone so that your pet never goes unprotected.
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