Vaccinations for a Happy, Healthy Feline

Happy May! We hope everyone, human and feline alike, is staying safe and healthy this month. With all the changes happening in the world due to COVID-19, we felt it was important to talk about vaccinations and why they are essential to keeping your cat protected, healthy, and happy.

Vaccines help protect your cat from a whole host of viruses and bacterial infections, helping to keep your cat stay healthy and keep more of their nine lives intact. Not only that, but these vaccines can also help protect the rest of your family by preventing the spread of zoonotic diseases (illnesses that can spread among different species, including humans) like the fatal rabies virus.

The most important, core vaccinations we provide for our feline patients are for cats are: 

• Rabies for felines over 16-weeks of age
• FVRCP: Feline Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (also known as Feline Distemper) 
• FeLV/FIV: Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. We recommend all kittens be tested for FeLV/FIV around 8-12 weeks of age and again 90 days later, to catch potential false negatives. All kittens should be vaccinated, which includes two vaccinations three weeks apart at 12 weeks of age or older, then again at age one.

While our indoor cats might reign supreme in social distancing and self-isolation, they also require a regular vaccination schedule to keep them safe. Viruses and bacteria can enter your home through open windows, on the bottoms of your shoes or clothes, and though unwelcomed house guests like mice, birds, and bats. If your indoor cat is a regular Houdini that likes to make a break for it at the slightest crack of the door, they also are at risk for exposure even if their freedom is short lived.  

In addition to a vaccination schedule, our feline friends should also be receiving preventatives for intestinal parasites, ear mites, fleas, ticks, and heartworm disease. These pesky parasites transmit diseases that can not only infect your cat, but you and your human family as well. Parasites can make their way into your home easily and once infested, treating and eliminating parasites can be both stressful and expensive. Prevention is much less costly in the long run and is the best way to protect both yourself and your cat. 

Keeping a regular vaccination and preventative schedule is essential to the health and wellbeing of your kitty. Vaccinations typically start around 6-8 weeks of age, and most vaccines will require additional doses or boosters throughout their lifetime. Keeping a regular schedule for vaccinations is easy with yearly wellness checkups. Schedule your appointment with us today by calling 763-559-8787!

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