Keep Your Cat Healthy with Routine Vaccinations

In the United States it is a requirement to immunize felines to safeguard their health and to also ensure the safety of humans who come into contact with feline pets. Legal requirements for immunizations may vary from one state /region to the next, but every state, at a minimum, requires a rabies vaccination for cats. Both Kansas and Missouri require an annual rabies vaccination. It is highly recommended that cats also receive recommended core vaccinations because of their higher risk for potential exposure to various diseases.

Generally, adult cats should receive annual booster vaccinations, especially if they like to venture outdoors or spend much time outside the home, exposed to other animals. Petworks recommends that even indoor-only cats still get their annual vaccinations. Indoors cats who “accidentally” escape outdoors are at risk of getting into fights with other animals. Despite an interior lifestyle, indoor cats are still instinctual hunters. They will often stalk and kill any vermin that they encounter in their home. It is not uncommon for these proud hunters to display their prey to their owners. This includes dead mice, voles, rats, and even bats. For this reason, cats are the number one reported domesticated animal infected with rabies in the United States1. Please protect your kitten or cat from this deadly disease by making sure that they are vaccinated.

Potential Diseases Petworks Can Provide Feline Vaccinations For:

• RABIES: is a lethal disease that is spread through the saliva to other animal hosts, including humans. Rabies affects the central nervous system causing symptoms of confusion, agitation, hallucinations, fever, and difficulty swallowing. If left untreated, Rabies is fatal to both pets and humans. (Special note: If you find a bat in your house, seek immediate medical treatment. Bats can transfer Rabies through saliva from licking as well as biting.

• FELINE UPPER RESPIRATORY COMPLEX: is an immune suppressant virus that highly contagious to cats. It is generally transferred via saliva from a bite from an infected cat to a non-infected cat. It can sometimes be contracted through saliva through mutual grooming or mother transmitting it to her kittens. Common symptoms of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV are gingivitis, fever, weight loss, skin infections, seizures, behavior, persistent diarrhea, and a lower immune function, making them significantly vulnerable to other diseases. Once a cat contracts FIV, there is no cure, but many cats live long, happy lives even with this devastating disease. However, they should live separately from other non-infected cats. Vaccinations help prevent the spread of FIV.

• BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA: also known as kennel cough, refers to several airborne viruses that are highly infectious to other pets. One kitty sneeze can spread Bordetella to other animals in the surrounding area, making places like kennels, multi-cat homes, and groomers potential hot zones of this set of viruses. Bordetella symptoms include congestion, cough, and lethargy. Bordetella is most dangerous to cats who have suppressed immune systems like young kittens.

• FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA: is a highly contagious virus that can be deadly to kittens and cats with suppressed immune systems. It is spread through secretions in urine, feces, saliva, and even transferred from flea bites. Feline Panleukopenia symptoms include fever, lethargy, nasal discharge, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe dehydration. Thanks to its prevalence, almost all cats are exposed to this virus at one point in their lives. Vaccinating your cat, especially when they are a kitten, is the best way to protect them from contracting Feline Panleukopenia.

• FELINE CALICIVIRUS: is a highly infectious virus that is transmitted via airborne particles, direct contact with saliva, or contaminated food or bedding. It is commonly characterized by an acute upper respiratory infection, sneezing, eye discharge, tongue ulcers, and fevers. In rare cases, cats will experience a condition called limping syndrome as they suffer from severe inflammation in their joints, making it difficult to move. Secondary bacterial infections frequently accompany Feline Calicivirus.

• FELINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS: are cats number one lethal virus. It is transmitted from saliva from bites, mutual grooming, infected mother to kittens, and rarely through shared food and water bowls. Symptoms include severe weight loss, lethargy, fever, and unusual patterns of breathing. The best way to prevent this deadly disease from claiming your kitty is to vaccinate them for their protection.

• FELINE VIRAL RHINOTRACHEITIS: or FVR is a highly infectious disease transmitted via eye and nasal discharge from an infected cat. Symptoms of FVR consists of goopy eye discharge and upper respiratory infections. FVR is most dangerous to young kittens but can be easily treated with early vaccinations.

• CHLAMYDOPHILA FELIS: is the name for several bacteria strains that cause conjunctivitis or an eye infection in cats. Symptoms generally include goopy eye discharge. Extremely common in cats, infecting up 30 percent of the feline population, Chlamydophila Felis is easily treated with antibiotics. It can be prevented through immunizations. The bacterial strain Chlamydia Psitacci can cross-contaminate humans but can be avoided by carefully handling infected cats and good handwashing.

Petworks is a full service Vet Clinic, we provide all types of services focused on the health and wellness of kittens and cats: microchipping, spaying/neutering, dental care, cold laser therapy, in-house labs, radiology and laser surgery to mention a few.

If your kitten or cat is in need of scheduled routine vaccinations Petworks makes it easy for busy pet owners by administering vaccination(s) during other scheduled visits to the clinic for services like grooming, boarding, and daycare, this helps cut down on the burden of extra clinic visits to support required inoculations.

How Will My Cat Feel After Getting Vaccinated?

Many cats, like people, may feel mild side effects after receiving vaccinations.  Most side effects pass quickly.

Normal symptoms are MILD and DO NOT last long, and can include:

• Mild Fever
• Decreased Activity
• Decreased Appetite
• Discomfort at Injection Site

These symptoms may start within a few hours and generally last only a couple of days.