Important Cat Vaccinations for Pets: Preventative treatment is a vital part of your pet’s health. By ensuring your animal gets all the vaccines they need at the right times, you can prevent them from contracting common diseases and maximise the quality and longevity of their life. Below we provide more information on the necessary and recommended vaccinations for your kitten or cat.
Core Vaccines
At Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital, we offer a set of three core vaccinations. The feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus vaccines both prevent a common respiratory disease, often simplified as ‘cat flu’. This disease is easily spread between cats through coughing or sneezing and can affect cats of any age, but kittens are particularly susceptible. This vaccine should be boosted annually to prevent re-infection.
The third vaccine in our core set is for feline panleukopenia, which is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease. Fortunately, the vaccine is very effective at providing immunity and the disease is no longer very common.
Additional Vaccines
We also offer optional vaccines for feline leukaemia – which suppresses your cat’s immune system leaving them susceptible to infections – and feline immunodeficiency virus, which is a very slow-acting infectious disease, also affecting the immune system.
When Should My Pet Be Vaccinated?
Kitten vaccinations begin at between 6-8 weeks of age and will be boosted regularly during their first few months. Young kittens will inherit maternal antibodies to give them protection against disease, but this fades as they grow so it’s vital to arrange vaccines at the right time. For adult cats, your vet will advise you on how often they need to receive vaccinations as this will depend on their age and lifestyle. To make sure your pet is fully covered for all preventative care, you can purchase one of our wellness packages, which include vaccinations and other preventative treatments in one simple, affordable bundle.
Does My Indoor Cat Need Vaccinations?
While it may seem counterintuitive, indoor kittens and cats will still require vaccines, especially the core vaccinations against feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia.
It’s important to remember that these diseases can be fatal, making complete protection absolutely necessary. If your curious cat wanders outdoors, ends up in a shelter or comes into contact with another cat, they may be exposed to dangerous diseases. Many kittens also contract diseases at a young age before you meet them or even in utero, meaning the possibility of a disease recurring in unprotected cats is always possible.
What Are the Risks of Vaccination?
In general, there are very few risks associated with common vaccines. It’s possible for your pet to experience a mild reaction at the site of the injection, but more serious side effects are unlikely. When caring for a kitten, it’s important to keep them inside until ten days after their final vaccination to ensure they are fully protected. Vaccines are only effective when necessary boosters are given annually.
If you’d like to arrange vaccinations for your pet, call Port Kennedy Veterinary Hospital now on 08 9524 6644 or visit our contact page for more ways to get in touch.
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