Cat Vaccines Explained

Regularly vaccinating your cat is a very important part of their care as it protects them against some severe and potentially fatal diseases.  Vaccines are given annually, are very safe and this check up is also a good opportunity for your pet to have a full health examination by your vet.  

Primary Vaccines Courses

• The first vaccine in kittens is usually given at nine weeks old, followed by a second three to four weeks later.
• The principle of giving two injections one after the other is that each boosts the protection in the cats system and together they push it to high enough levels.
• It is important not to start the vaccines before nine weeks as every kitten is given some level of protection against the viruses by the queen via the colostrum and this don't start to decline until about this age.  If the vaccines were given any earlier this natural protection could destroy them  before they had a chance to work.
• A kitten will be protected from the age of about fifteen weeks onwards but it is advisable to keep them indoors until they are six months old.  By this age they should have been neutered, microchipped, which most vets will now advise doing while they are under the anaesthetic, they will also be grown enough to cope with any other cats in the neighbourhood and sensible enough to know how to get home.
• In adult cats the initial vaccine course can be started at any age and it is sensible to restart the vaccines in any cat with an unknown vaccine history or who has not had a booster for 18 months or more.

Annual Vaccinations

• It is important to ensure your cat is regularly vaccinated so they always have adequate levels of protection against disease in their bodies.
• Although best practice is to vaccinate cats annually, most vets will allow cats to go up to six months over this target before they advise the primary course is repeated.
• Also, all catteries and cat shows will require that the vaccines are up to date.
• There has been some evidence published recently which shows that for some of the diseases we vaccinate against, the protection lasts longer than a year.  However, more study needs to be done and for now the advise is still to vaccinate annually.
• These vaccines are very safe and the veterinary profession is continually monitoring the incidence of any adverse reactions, which currently stands at just 0.004%.
• There has also been some concern recently about 'Vaccine Associated Sarcomas', which are tumours that can grow at the site of a vaccine.  They are more common in the USA than the UK and they are very rare, even in the USA there is an incidence rate of only 10 in 10,000 injections.

Infectious Diseases Vaccinated Against

In the standard annual vaccinations we protect cats against Cat Flu, Feline Enteritis and Feline Leukaemia (FeLV).  It is also possible to vaccinate cats against feline 'Kennel Cough' but this is not done very commonly.  In the UK we don't inject cats against Feline Aids (FIV) but can be done in other countries such as the USA.  

Cat Flu

• Cat flu causes, as its name suggest, nasty flu like symptoms in cats.  These include snotty discharges from the nose and eyes, sneezing, mouth and eye ulcers and anorexia.
• There are two main viruses which cause the symptoms of Cat Flu, Feline Herpes Virus (FHV) and Feline Calici Virus (FCV).
• It is most commonly seen in young unvaccinated kittens who have picked up an infection from their unvaccinated mothers.
• The virus is passed in infected bodily fluids, such as nasal discharges, and can survive for some time in the environment.
• A severe infection, especially in young animals, can cause lasting damage, such as scarring on the surface of the eyes or destruction of the delicate internal bones of the nose, which can turn the cats into permanent 'snufflers'
• There is no specific treatment for Cat Flu infections and infected pets have to be nursed through the disease while their own immune system fights off the viruses.
• It is also possible for cats, once infected with either FHV or FCV, to become permanent carriers of the viruses and therefore be able to infect others.
• Both types of Cat Flu are covered in the standard annual vaccinations in cats.

Feline Leukaemia

• Feline Leukaemia is similar to human leukaemia in that it is a disease of the immune system but it is different because it is virally transmitted.
• It affects the immune system of a cat, leaving them vulnerable to infections of all types and can also cause the development of internal tumours.
• It is found in about 2% of healthy cats but up to 20% of sick ones, especially those with recurrent or chronic illnesses.
• It is not an easy disease to catch, a cat will have to have close and sustained contact with an infected individual to pick it up.  For by example sharing food bowls or mutual grooming. 
• Feline Leukaemia is diagnosed by a simple blood test.
• There is no treatment for the virus once it has been contracted and the average survival time after diagnosis is about two to three years.
• In this time the cat has a weak immune system so is often in and out of the vets with what should be minor problems but that can flare into significant disease.
• Cats do not have to be euthanased as soon as the disease is diagnosed, unless they are already very poorly but they have to be kept indoors and preferably not with any other cats as they will be infectious.
• Feline Leukaemia is included in the annual vaccinations but not as standard, so you may have to request it.
• If your cat is not covered against FeLV but you would like them to be, it is easy to start them on it.  It is just a simple course of two injections, just like the standard primary vaccinations and annual boosters after that. 

Feline Enteritis

• The common name for this disease is 'Feline Parvovirus' as it is very similar to the canine Parvovirus infection.
• It is not seen very commonly these days as the vaccines are so effective.
• It is a very infectious disease and will spread quickly through a population of unvaccinated cats. It also survives very well in the environment which can cause infections to flare from time to time.
• In adult cats it causes diarrhoea and vomiting (hence the similarity with Parvovirus) and also affects the immune system so they are vulnerable to other illnesses as well.
• If a queen is infected while she is pregnant, it can cause abortion and developmental abnormalities.  The most obvious of these is called Cerebellar Hypoplasia.
• Cerebellar Hypoplasia is where the balance section of the brain is malformed, meaning the kittens are very 'wobbly' walkers, or cannot walk at all.  Some can be very badly affected but others cope well and can lead a full, if slightly wobbly, life.
• Feline Enteritis is covered in the standard annual vaccinations.

Chlamydia (Feline Chlamydophila)

• Chlamydia is a bacterial infection which causes a nasty conjunctivitis in cats.
• It can also lead to abortions, arthritis and pneumonia but these are less common.
• It does not survive well in the environment and so is passed via direct contact between cats.
• It is more common in multi-cat households and vaccines which contain protection against it are often popular amongst breeders.
• Infectious can be treated with anti-biotics but the courses required are quite long, often a month or more and all the cats in the household, whether or not they have any symptoms, should be treated.
• Not all makes of vaccine will cover Chlamydia infections, so if you would like the protection, discuss it with your vet before your cat is injected.

Regular vaccination of our cats is vital.  It protects them against disease and is a chance for your vet to give them a full health examination.  Different cats will be at different risks from the diseases, for example exclusively indoor cats have a low risk of contracting FeLV while those in multi-cat households or breeding establishments will be vulnerable to Cat Flu or Clamydia infections.  So, it is always a good idea to discuss your cats individual requirements to ensure they have the right vaccine for them.

Please note, this is an advice only article.  If you have any questions or concerns about your pet, you should always contact your vet.