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Essential Cat Vaccines: Rabies, Distemper, Feline Leukemia And Boosters
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Published: January 29, 2008
Listening to the pitiful wailing emanating from the cat carrier in the backseat can make a vet trip feel more like a guilt trip for the owner. However, ensuring their pets are protected from illnesses through regular vaccinations is well worth the stress for both cats and owners. To ensure proper feline care, owners must make certain their pets receive essential cat vaccines.
Cat vaccines are one of the most important responsibilities of a cat owner because they are a powerful way to prevent disease. They can generally be divided into core and non-core categories depending on the importance of their particular function. Although non-core vaccines might be necessary for some outdoor cats, core vaccines are required for cat health.
One of the primary cat vaccines is feline distemper, also known as feline panleukopenia. Caused by an extremely contagious and hearty virus called feline parvovirus, this disease can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea and possibly death. Cats often ingest the virus orally from infected cages, litter boxes or food dishes. The vaccine provides almost total immunity against feline distemper. These cat vaccines should be given at 12 weeks old and then a booster the following year.
Another member of the core cat vaccines is rabies. Commonly received through bite wounds from animals such as rodents, bats or skunks, this illness is always lethal. This virus can incubate for several months and will lead to very unusual behavior, especially serious aggression. Because no cure exists for this illness and it can infect humans, rabies is the only vaccination required by law in some states. This vaccine can be given when the cat is 12 weeks or older. Each state also has different laws regarding the appropriate schedule for boosters.
Feline Leukemia is another disease that can be detrimental without the appropriate cat vaccines. This serious virus can be transmitted through saliva or nasal discharge and food bowls. Similar to the human strain, feline leukemia wreaks havoc on the immune system leading to anemia, respiratory infections, anorexia, cancer and possible death. Outdoor cats are particularly susceptible to this sickness because of their guaranteed exposure to other cats. Vaccines can be administrated when cats are 10 weeks old, and subsequence boosters should be given to outdoor pets according to their vet.
These vaccines are only the minimum, and additional ones may be required depending on the cat's health and environment. Regardless of the vaccines, the sounds that cats make on the way to the vet are nothing compared to the sounds they make when they are ill. Therefore, cat owners should always keep their pets up-to-date with essential cat vaccines.
Sources:
"Feline Vaccines: Benefits and Risks." Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Taskforce. 2000-2006. 29 Jan. 2008. http://www.avma.org/vafstf/rbbroch.asp.
Shelling, Christianne. "Cat Vaccines." Catvaccines.com. 2002-2008. 29 Jan. 2008. http://www.catvaccines.com/feline_vaccination_guid elines.htm.
"Vaccination Recommendations for Cats and Kittens." Foster & Smith. 1997-2008. 29 Jan. 2008. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1& cat=1385&articleid=951.
Cat vaccines are one of the most important responsibilities of a cat owner because they are a powerful way to prevent disease. They can generally be divided into core and non-core categories depending on the importance of their particular function. Although non-core vaccines might be necessary for some outdoor cats, core vaccines are required for cat health.
One of the primary cat vaccines is feline distemper, also known as feline panleukopenia. Caused by an extremely contagious and hearty virus called feline parvovirus, this disease can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea and possibly death. Cats often ingest the virus orally from infected cages, litter boxes or food dishes. The vaccine provides almost total immunity against feline distemper. These cat vaccines should be given at 12 weeks old and then a booster the following year.
Another member of the core cat vaccines is rabies. Commonly received through bite wounds from animals such as rodents, bats or skunks, this illness is always lethal. This virus can incubate for several months and will lead to very unusual behavior, especially serious aggression. Because no cure exists for this illness and it can infect humans, rabies is the only vaccination required by law in some states. This vaccine can be given when the cat is 12 weeks or older. Each state also has different laws regarding the appropriate schedule for boosters.
Feline Leukemia is another disease that can be detrimental without the appropriate cat vaccines. This serious virus can be transmitted through saliva or nasal discharge and food bowls. Similar to the human strain, feline leukemia wreaks havoc on the immune system leading to anemia, respiratory infections, anorexia, cancer and possible death. Outdoor cats are particularly susceptible to this sickness because of their guaranteed exposure to other cats. Vaccines can be administrated when cats are 10 weeks old, and subsequence boosters should be given to outdoor pets according to their vet.
These vaccines are only the minimum, and additional ones may be required depending on the cat's health and environment. Regardless of the vaccines, the sounds that cats make on the way to the vet are nothing compared to the sounds they make when they are ill. Therefore, cat owners should always keep their pets up-to-date with essential cat vaccines.
Sources:
"Feline Vaccines: Benefits and Risks." Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Taskforce. 2000-2006. 29 Jan. 2008. http://www.avma.org/vafstf/rbbroch.asp.
Shelling, Christianne. "Cat Vaccines." Catvaccines.com. 2002-2008. 29 Jan. 2008. http://www.catvaccines.com/feline_vaccination_guid elines.htm.
"Vaccination Recommendations for Cats and Kittens." Foster & Smith. 1997-2008. 29 Jan. 2008. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1& cat=1385&articleid=951.
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