Cat Vaccinations

Vaccination is crucial when it comes to the health of your newborn felines. It is a process where antigenic materials are administered to generate a complex biological reaction in the body, and make it immune to various pathological diseases and disorders. The proper use of vaccines fosters the health of your kittens by shielding them from various infectious diseases. Different factors are to be taken into consideration before vaccinating cats. Likewise, various complications might also crop up after the process. So, vaccinations should be given under proper medical supervision only. Here are some of the vaccines that your veterinarian might recommend for your kittens/ cats.

Rabies Vaccine
Administering doses of this vaccine protects your cat from 'rabies'. Since, humans are also prone to the disease; this vaccine is required by law. Generally a yearly dose of the vaccine is given to kittens, starting from four months. Some states also offer multiple year (mostly three years) rabies vaccinations. The legal requirements of the state should be taken into consideration before you go for either the one or the three year jabs.

FVRCP Vaccine
This is a combination inoculation given on a yearly basis. Here, FVR stands for 'Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis' which is an upper respiratory disorder caused by a feline type1, herpes virus. C stands for 'Calcivirus', which is also an upper respiratory disorder in cats. P stands for 'Panleukopenia' (Feline Distemper); which is communicable feline enteritis (inflammation of the intestines). Beginning at around 8 weeks of age, kittens require three jabs of this vaccine.

FeLV Vaccine
This vaccine guards against 'Feline Leukemia'. It is a chronic and highly communicable disease that affects the immune system and other vital organs of cats, and may even lead to cancer or death in severe cases. It can also be hereditarily passed by infected mothers to their kittens. Generally, two FeLV injections are given three to four weeks apart, beginning at 9-12 weeks. An annual booster every year is administered for continued protection from thereafter.