Vaccinations for your Cat
There are many vaccines that are available for your cat. The list of vaccines provides a description of the disease they protect against for cats.
Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital has made the change to administering our Core Vaccines to once-every-three years for each individual patient; this decision is based on age, health status, previous disease exposure, risk of future exposures, and home environment.
The doctors at Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital do not routinely use all of these vaccines but instead, prefer to discuss the importance of each individual vaccine within the context of the lifestyle of your pet.
Core Vaccines for our Feline Patients:
Rabies
Rabies is a disease that is transmitted from the bite of an infected animal. Any warm-blooded animal is capable of becoming rabid, but the bat is the primary carrier in the northwest. Signs of rabies include change in behavior (for domestic animals this usually means more aggressive, but wild animals may actually appear more docile), seizures, altered mental status, and any other neurologic signs. Rabies vaccine is given at 12-16 weeks of age, then again at 1 year, and then every three years after that. The vaccine is very important due to the severity of the disease (it is always fatal), the fact that there is no cure and because of the public health implications (humans can also get rabies from the bite wound of an animal).
FVRCP
(FVR=Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, C=Calicivirus, P=Panleukopenia virus)
This vaccine is given at 8,10,12,16 weeks of age and then yearly.
FVR (AKA Feline Herpesvirus)
This is a virus that is transmitted by aerosolization and in utero. It usually causes ocular and nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, sneezing, fever, and inappetance. There is a low mortality associated with this virus.
Feline Calicivirus
This is a virus that is shed from oral and nasal secretions as well as feces and contaminated objects. It can cause nasal discharge, fever, pneumonia, oral ulcers, vomiting and diarrhea, and arthritis. There is also a low mortality associated with this virus.
Feline Panleukopenia (Feline "Parvovirus")
This virus is shed in bodily excretions and secretions and can also be transmitted in utero. Clinical signs include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, neurologic signs, and a low white blood cell count.
Feline Leukemia (FeLV)
This vaccine is given at 8-12 weeks of age, is repeated in 3-4 weeks, and then yearly afterwards. It is typically only given to animals at risk of exposure to FeLV. The virus is spread via bite wounds, grooming or contact with infected cats. Thus, only cats exposed to infected cats (those that go outdoors or live with infected cats) are typically given the vaccine. Cats should be tested before the first vaccine is given. Those cats infected with FeLV may never show signs, may show signs when other illnesses weaken their systems or may be immuno-suppressed and be "poor-doers". Cats can also develop cancers secondary to the virus. There are no cures for the disease, but some treatments are thought to slow the progression of the disease.
The rest of the vaccines listed are not commonly given at LVH because of:
- The low prevalence of the disease
- Concern about adverse reactions or the unproven efficacy of the vaccines
They are listed here to make you aware of them as further information regarding these vaccines as it becomes available.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
This is a virus that is a mutation of a relatively non-pathogenic Coronavirus. It can cause severe disease and can manifest as a fever, inappetance, weight loss, a distended abdomen, trouble breathing, ocular disease, neurologic signs and just not feeling well. It is not completely understood how the virus is spread from one cat to another, hence the difficulty in formulating a vaccine. Part of the disease process is an immune-mediated process and it is possible that by building up the cat's immune system to the disease by vaccinating it, we may actually be making the disease worse. The vaccine has also not proven to be very efficacious. The vaccine that is available is a dropper to put in the cats nose that is done yearly.
Chlamydia
This is a bacterial disease that is transmitted by oronasal secretions. It can cause conjunctivitis, nasal secretions, and sneezing. It is an uncommon cause of upper respiratory problems in cats, and the vaccine is thought to be a common cause of vaccine reactions in cats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my cat need vaccines? She never goes outside.
Even cats that stay in the house 100% of the time can be exposed to feline diseases. A stray cat could sneeze through the screen door. The indoor cat may need to be hospitalized if it becomes ill or boarded if a family emergency arises. Even a trip to the veterinarian for a toe nail trim can be an exposure hazard for an unvaccinated animal.
Why does my pet need a rabies vaccine?
She never goes outside.
Rabies is an awful disease. It is a horrible way for an animal or person to die. Rabies virus is found in many of the wild life around our homes. An indoor pet can contract rabies from bats that make their way into our homes. A bat can squeeze through the tiniest opening in a screen over a window.
The bite from a bat is so small you may well not able to see it. Bats in the Pacific Northwest are assumed to be carriers of the Rabies virus. Unless you catch the bat and have it tested for rabies – you have to assume it is positive for the Rabies virus.
All people in the household would have to be inoculated against rabies. Your cat or dog, if not up to date on their Rabies vaccine, would have to be re-vaccinated and then watched for any signs of the disease process. If the pet has never been vaccinated for Rabies and the bat was positive for the virus; there is nothing that can be done to save that pet’s life.
Does my pet really need a vaccine very year?
We use multivalent vaccine which means they contain antigens against several diseases. Every element of these vaccines varies with respect to the length of the immunity it provides against its target disease. The length of protection will also vary from pet to pet. We are not sure that every pet needs to be vaccinated every year. What we do know is that for the some pets an annual vaccine protocol may give them the best protections again most major infectious diseases. For pets that are older, have health issues, and other factors; an individualized vaccine protocol will be developed by the Doctors at Laurelhurst.
Laurelhurst Veterinary Hospital
Vaccine Reaction Handout
Your pet has received vaccinations today. Most pets show no outward signs of effects of the vaccines but a small percentage will have a vaccine reaction.
Normal Reactions
Some pets, especially cats, will run a mild fever (102° – 104° F) and be slightly lethargic and not eat well for 36-48 hours after receiving vaccines. This is a normal response of the immune system to the vaccine and should not require treatment. Also, some pets may develop a small lump (up to the size of a quarter) at the site of the vaccine. If it occurs it should gradually get smaller and go away within 6-8 weeks.
Call the Veterinarian if your pet:
- runs a fever for more than 48 hours or has a temperature of over 104°F
- seems severely lethargic
- refuses to eat or drink for more than 24 hours
- develops a lump that does not go away after 4-8 weeks, continues to increase in size or bothers your pet
- vomits repeatedly
- if you are concerned for any reason after your pet has received vaccinations
Allergic reactions
In rare cases a pet may have an allergic reaction to a vaccine. These usually happen within the first few hours after the vaccine is given but may occur up to 72 hours after the injection. Allergic reactions usually require treatment.
Call the Veterinarian or seek after hours care at an emergency clinic if you notice any of the following:
- difficulty breathing
- hives ( red welts most visible on the stomach)
- swelling, especially of the eyes, lips or muzzle
- profuse vomiting or diarrhea
- excessive scratching, (may even draw blood) especially around the neck
- extreme lethargy, inability to waken