Vaccines That Your Cat Needs

Kittens / Cats

 Vaccinations

Panleukopenia (Destemper), Rhinotracheitis (Upper Respitory), Calicivirus, Chalmydia, and Feline Leukemia.

Boosters - Kittens receive three sets of these shots three weeks apart starting at age 6-7 weeks.
Rabies Vaccine - At 4 months of age kittens also receive their Rabies vaccine as do all adult cats.

What are these Vaccines for?  

Rabies (transmittable to humans):

is caused by a virus which can infect warm-blooded animals, including cats, people, wildlife, and farm animals. Outdoor cats are at risk of contact with rabid wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cats are the domestic animal most commonly found to be rabid. Cats are closely associated with people and rabid cats often become aggressive. These two factors increase the risk of human exposure. Bites are the most common means of transmission. Rabies is lethal if not detected and treated immediately. Rabies attacks the central nervous system, resulting in paralysis and death. Flu-like symptoms progress to hyperactivity, disorientation, hallucinations, and convulsions. In the last stages of the disease, the victim lapses into a coma and dies of respiratory arrest. There have been only two documented human deaths in the U.S. from rabies contracted from cats since 1960. However, the post-exposure treatment of persons bitten or scratched by cats infected or suspected to be infected is enormously costly and inconvenient. 

 Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV):

compromises a cat's immune system and is the leading cause of death due to infectious disease in cats. The virus is shed in feces, milk, and tears, but spread between cats primarily via saliva by grooming, licking, biting, and shared food dishes. Clinical signs range from chronic diseases to cancer. Once infected with FeLV, the cat may develop immunity and become resistant to future infections; become a "latent carrier" of the disease; or become persistently infected and die within three years. Death can be sudden or lingering and painful. A vaccine exists but is not 100 percent effective. There is at least one reported transmittal of FeLV to a mountain lion. Feline Panleukopenia (feline distemper (FPV) is extremely contagious either by direct cat to cat contact, or indirect means, i.e., transmitted on clothing, humans or inanimate objects. FPV causes vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. FPV disarms the cat's immune system, making it vulnerable to other diseases. Without intensive medical treatment, death will result. A vaccine is available.

 Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP):

is a progressively debilitating, difficult to diagnose, and fatal viral disease. FIP is transmitted via feces, urine, or nasal/oral secretions by direct contact with infected cats as well as use of common food, water dishes and litter pans. It can infect liver, eye, brain, kidneys, lungs, lymph nodes, heart, and the blood vessels in the lining of the body's cavities, causing fluid accumulation in the abdomen or chest cavity. No cure exists. Although a vaccine is available for FIP, its use remains controversial.

 Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) :

destroys a cat's immune system, and is often fatal. It is most commonly transmitted by cat-to-cat bite wounds and found most often in unneutered free-roaming males. FIV leads to chronic infections of the mouth, upper respiratory tract, intestinal tract, eyes, and skin. Currently no vaccine or cure is available.

 Feline Viral Upper Respiratory Disease, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV) :

are extremely contagious, with death occurring most often in very young or older cats. Congested cats can't smell and often won't eat, so death results from starvation or dehydration. Transmission is via aerosol contact between cats. These viruses are extremely stable in the environment, so transmission via inanimate objects is common. Other clinical signs include fever, mouth ulcers, eye infections, blindness, lameness and diarrhea.