Feline Vaccinations
FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA
Feline Panleukopenia, also known as Feline Distemper, is a highly contagious viral disease. Feline Distemper can affect any cats at any age, but mostly affects kittens. The virus targets those cells in the blood that help protect against infection. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrha, and dehydration. Feline Distemper often times resembles Canine Parvovirus in appearance but is not contagious to dogs. Feline Distemper can be treated but can be fatal in young kittens. Even after being treated for the disease, cats can continue to shed the virus and be infective for up to 6 weeks later. Feline Distemper is a "Core" vaccine found in nearly all annual boosters and needs to be given yearly. It is the "P" in the FvRCCP booster that your vet gives.
FELINE VIRAL RHINOTRACHEITIS
Feline Rhinotracheitis is the most severe and widespread upper respiratory virus to which cats are susceptible. Feline Rhinotracheitis is very contagious and is passed from cat to cat through sneezing and coughing. Rhinotracheitis can affect cats of any age and usually affects all cats in a household. Symptoms normally include a lot of sneezing and discharge from the eyes and nose. Many times, cats will run a fever and not eat. In severe cases pneumonia can occur. Though Rhinotracheitis can be treated, cats can remain infective for quite a long time. Feline Rhinotracheitis is a "Core" vaccine found in nearly all annual boosters and needs to be given yearly. It is the "FvR" in the FvRCCP booster that your vet gives.
FELINE CALICIVIRUS
Feline Calicivirus, is another major respiratory virus that is highly contagious. Calicivirus can resemble Rhinotracheitis in many ways and often will affect the same type of cats. Feline Calicivirus is also passed from cat to cat through sneezing and coughing. Clinical signs involve sneezing and eye and nose discharge much like Rhinotracheitis. Blisters or ulcerations on the lips and tongue are also seen with this disease, as are more serious complications such as pneumonia. Even if treated, many cats become carriers of the disease for life, even if they themselves no longer show signs of the disease. Feline Calicivirus is a "Core" vaccine found in nearly all annual boosters and needs to be given yearly. It is the first "C" in the FvRCCP booster that your vet gives.
RABIES
Rabies is by far the best known of all diseases that cats can carry and the most serious of those that can affect humans. Rabies is a virus that is shed in the saliva of infected cats and is thereby transmitted through bites. Rabies in cats is identical to that in dog's and a complete description of it from the Canine Disease Section is available here. Cats are actually more at risk than dogs for Rabies due to a few reasons: They are more likely to roam at night and be exposed to nocturnal wild animals that carry Rabies (skunks, raccoons, and bats.) The fact that rural cats outnumber rural dogs in most areas and that more cats are not vaccinated compared to dogs also increases their risk of contracting the disease. As with dogs, a Rabies vaccination is mandatory in most communities and cats should receive their first vaccine at 16 weeks of age. The next Rabies vaccination should occur one year later along with the annual booster shot. In some communities a three year Rabies vaccination is approved and is then given every three years afterwards. However, currently the Kansas City area is utilizing a yearly vaccination schedule for Rabies and it needs to be renewed annually.
FELINE LEUKEMIA
Feline Leukemia is a devastating viral disease that is the leading cause of disease and death in cats. In addition to commonly being fatal by itself, the disease can break down a cat's protective immune responses so the cat cannot fight off infections it normally would be able to resist. Feline Leukemia can occur at any age and can even be seen in very young kittens since the disease can be passed to the baby from an infected mother. Feline Leukemia is spread by direct contact with infected cats. The virus is typically passed in the saliva, so licking, biting, and sneezing are common forms of transmission. Symptoms of Leukemia includes anemia, unexplained weight loss, reduced appetite, and general poor health. Since an infected cat can carry the disease for some time before succumbing to it, a blood test can be given to detect if your cat has Feline Leukemia. The veterinarians at Gladstone Animal Clinic recommend testing all new adopted cats and kittens that owners don't know the family history on (for example: strays, kittens from shelters, etc.) Any cat that has the disease is also a carrier, and in some cases may be only a carrier of the disease and not currently have the disease. For this reason, quarantine of the affected cat is very important. Feline Leukemia is a necessary vaccine given to cats that either go outside or that are around other cats that go outside. Like other vaccines, it needs to be given annually, especially if the cat spends any time outdoors. Since Feline Leukemia is only transmitted from cat to cat, it is not a risk to cats that stay exclusively indoors and are not around cats that go outdoors. Therefore, the Feline Leukemia vaccine is not a "Core Vaccine"; however, it is strongly recommended for cats that are outside or around other cats. Due to the severe nature of this lethal disease, all cats that are ever outdoors should receive the Feline Leukemia vaccine yearly. Kittens receive their first vaccination at about 12 weeks or age, and get reboostered 3 weeks after the first shot. Your veterinarian will help you decide if your cat needs this vaccine or not.