Protect Your
Cat With Vaccinations
by: Ron King
If you want to enjoy the companionship of a
healthy and happy cat, 1 of the most
important things you can do is to safeguard
its health. Vaccinations can protect your
cat from many common cat diseases.
Weaned From
Mother's Immunity
When your
kitten is 6 to 8 weeks old, you should begin
his vaccinations. Before this time, the
mother's antibodies have been protecting
him. Once he is weaned, however, he will
need to develop antibodies of his own.
The Vital
First Visit
The first
office visit is when your veterinarian will
give your kitten a complete physical
examination. A fecal exam is normally done
to assure that your kitten doesn't have
worms. Prior to vaccinations, your
veterinarian should do a blood test to be
sure the kitten is not already infected with
Feline Leukemia. The vet may also test for
Feline Infectious Peritonitis. These tests
are quick, and your veterinarian will have
preliminary results in minutes.
If your kitten
is not already infected with 1 of these
diseases, the vet will give your kitten his
first Feline Leukemia and FIP vaccines,
assuming if he is at risk for these
diseases. An only cat who never leaves home
may not need these vaccines, in which case
your veterinarian may recommend against
giving them.
Whether he
leaves the house or not, your kitten should
receive his first FVRCPC vaccine. This
combination vaccine protects kittens from
rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia
and chlamydia.
Follow-Up
Vaccines And Worming
Within 2 to 4
weeks your kitten should visit the
veterinarian again, at the age of 8 to 12
weeks. This time he will get a second round
of shots for FVRCPC, Feline Leukemia, and
FIP. If your kitten was wormed during his
first visit, the vet will give him his
second worming. If your kitten is at least
12 weeks old and spends time outdoors, he
should also receive his first Rabies
vaccine.
Your kitten's
third visit to the veterinarian takes place
when he is 10 to 16 weeks old, when he will
receive his third FVRCPC vaccine. Kittens
who were too young for their first Rabies
vaccine on their previous visit will receive
it at this time.
The First
Birthday Visit
After
completing his third set of FVRCPC vaccines,
your kitten will not need any more
injections until he is 1 year old. At that
time he will need Rabies and FVRCPC booster
shots. If the Rabies shot is given to your
cat within 1 year of his first Rabies
vaccine, it will be good for 3 years. Your
cat will need to return each year, however,
for the FVRCPC vaccine. When your cat is 1
year of age, he will also receive boosters
for FIP and Feline Leukemia if he received
these vaccines as a kitten.
Rare Side
Effects
Most of the
time vaccines are quite safe, yet
occasionally side effects can occur.
Vaccines for Feline Leukemia can sometimes
cause a form of cancer at the site of the
injection. For this reason veterinarians
usually do not recommend the vaccine for
cats who are not at risk. A tumor can
sometimes occur at the site of other
vaccinations, as well. This type of tumor
can often be removed before it spreads.
Should you notice a lump developing at the
injection site, call your veterinarian
without delay. These lumps usually are a
simple allergic reaction to the injection,
but a lump can develop into a tumor, which,
if caught early, can be successfully
removed.
The risk of
catching a disease without vaccinations is
much higher than the risk of side effects.
Just as with humans, shots are an
unpleasant, but necessary part of growing up
healthy.
