Cat and Kitten Vaccination Protocol
April 1, 2008
In this article we'll cover kittens and cats. As with dogs, veterinarians and immunologists have revised their thinking on duration of immunity and the need for boosters.
And cats have their own list of core versus non-core vaccines.
Core vaccinations for cats are for protection against highly contagious and often fatal diseases that are found throughout the US. The core vaccinations for cats are panleukopenia or feline distemper, calici and herpes virus and rabies. Non-core vaccinations include feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonitis, feline pneumonitis and bordetella.
As with puppies, kittens receive immunity from their mothers while nursing and this maternal immunity begins to wane after weaning. When you get a new kitten be sure to ask if she has received any vaccinations prior to entering your home.
Kittens should be boostered every two to three weeks up to fourteen weeks of age and then again a year following their last kitten booster. After that they should receive boosters for core vaccinations every three years unless your local community requires rabies boosters more often.
Again, your veterinarian can devise a vaccine program specifically for your cat which is particularly important for non-core vaccinations.
As with dogs there are some risks associated with vaccinations. Most of these are minor and should not really affect your decision about whether to vaccinate. The risks of contracting serious disease in an unvaccinated cat are far more common.
Over the last decade we have become aware of one serious side effect associated with vaccination that is worth covering in detail. Injection site tumors have received loads of attention because the results are so serious. The development of injection site tumors is one reason to consult with your veterinarian on which vaccines to give and how often to give them. Reducing the number and frequency of vaccinations will reduce risks associated with this medical procedure.
Again though, we should put this in context. Studies indicate that injection site tumors only occur at a rate of one in ten thousand cats. The risk of contracting feline leukemia is far greater than that -- especially if your cat has access to the outdoors and exposure to other cats.
Whether your cat is exclusively an indoor cat or not has great bearing on which vaccines she should receive. The reason feline leukemia is a non-core vaccination is that exclusively indoor cats are at far less risk of contracting this dreadful disease.
Talk to your veterinarian about which vaccines are right for your cat and think about making your cat an indoor exclusive critter. They'll be healthier in the long run especially if you keep them from getting overweight.
And that's the subject of another article.
This information is being provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as specific veterinary advice for your cat or dog. It should not be considered or used as a replacement for any qualified veterinary care.
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