Feline Vaccines
Vaccination Recommendations In Our Industry Have Changed Over the Years. It is important that all owners understand that not all vaccines require yearly boosters, but more importantly understand that routine physical exams and vaccines catered to your pet's lifestyle are vital to a long, healthy life. Yes, there are pets that can live 14-19 years with a few vaccines and no routine care. However, that lifespan is very unlikely to happen and their quality of life or how they feel on a daily basis would typically be worse compared to those pets that receive appropriate vaccinations and routine care.
To catch disease early and to intervene before small issues become big ones, we recommend that a full exam be done at least yearly in pets under 7 and twice a year in pets 7 and older. Comprehensive care leads to a higher quality, longer life for your pet. Proactive owners often spend less on overall care because early intervention can delay the onset, decrease the severity of, or completely prevent future problems.
To catch disease early and to intervene before small issues become big ones, we recommend that a full exam be done at least yearly in pets under 7 and twice a year in pets 7 and older. Comprehensive care leads to a higher quality, longer life for your pet. Proactive owners often spend less on overall care because early intervention can delay the onset, decrease the severity of, or completely prevent future problems.
Before your next vaccine appointment
FELV/FIV testing:
Any cat that has not been tested for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) or Feline Aids (FIV) should be tested. If there are already cats in the household and a new cat is being introduced, FELV/FIV status should be known for all cats involved. Because most indoor cats are not routinely vaccinated against FeLV, it is vital that new introductions be tested prior to their exposure to other established felines in the household. See links to FELV and FIV if you have questions regarding these diseases:
Any cat that has not been tested for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) or Feline Aids (FIV) should be tested. If there are already cats in the household and a new cat is being introduced, FELV/FIV status should be known for all cats involved. Because most indoor cats are not routinely vaccinated against FeLV, it is vital that new introductions be tested prior to their exposure to other established felines in the household. See links to FELV and FIV if you have questions regarding these diseases:
Indoor Only Cats:
- Cats who never go outside, even on occasion - Cats who live in a household where no other cats in the home go outside *Cats who live in a household with a large number of other cats, even with perceived harmony and very infrequent new introductions, will have a more suppressed immune system from the stress of a multi-cat household. This puts them at increased risk of disease. But, to counter that, they often have more "natural boosting of immunity" to disease due to the amount of exposures from other cats after vaccines. **All indoor cats should have their vaccines boostered 7 to 14 days prior to introducing a new cat to the household unless their previous vaccines were within the last year (excluding rabies vaccination). ***Annual fecal or deworming; flea preventative recommended if dogs in home |
 *fomite= object capable of carrying infectious agents like bacteria or viruses
Indoor/Outdoor Cats:
- Cats who go outside, even on occasion - Cats whose owner fosters or rescues cats, bringing them into the home, even if infrequently and even if all cats stay indoors; considers increased risk of exposure and decreased individual immune protection from certain diseases due to stress - Cats who live in a home with a large number of stray or outdoor cats around the home they may encounter at screen doors or screened windows (i.e. risk of *fomite contact, saliva or aerosol exposures) Outdoor only cats are vaccinated similarly to Indoor/Outdoor cats and more strict adherence to flea, tick and/or Heartworm medication as well as routine deworming is recommended for all cats that are either Outdoor only or Indoor/Outdoor. |
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Kittens:
-Panleukopenia + herpesvirus-1 (feline viral rhinotracheitis) + calicivirus (FPV, FHV-1, FCV): first vaccine at 6 weeks then every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 to 20 weeks old -Rabies: required by law in our surrounding areas, 1 year vaccination at 12 to 20 weeks of age -Leukemia: initial vaccine at 12 to 14 weeks of age with booster 3 to 4 weeks later Adults: -Panleukopenia + herpesvirus-1 (feline viral rhinotracheitis) + calicivirus (FPV, FHV-1, FCV): Booster at one year of age, then every 2 to 3 years as recommended -Rabies: Boostered annually or every 3 years depending on vaccine type -Leukemia: Boostered at one year then typically annually to every 2 years, depending on vaccine type and risk factors (non adjuvanted vaccines are used as available) The above are CORE vaccines. Non-core vaccines include Chlamydia, Bordetella bronchiseptica, and FIV etc. These vaccines can be discussed on an individual basis and are typically not recommended.
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