Services | Feline Vaccines
Many feline diseases can now be prevented through vaccination. The following are the most common diseases for which vaccines are available.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INDOOR CATS
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) and *Caliciviris (FCV): Either by themselves or together this syndrome is commonly referred to as Upper Respiratory Infection or "Cat Flu". While usually not very serious (except in kittens), it is a very common infection in unvaccinated cats and can cause long-term problems.
Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper): This is among the most widespread of all cat diseases and is extremely contagious. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, depression and collapse. This disease is almost always fatal, especially among kittens. Even older cats that recover from this disease may never totally regain their health.
Pneumonitis (Feline Chlamydia): A bacterial infection causing painful inflammation and swelling around the eyes, pneumonitis is the third common respiratory ailments in cats. Signs include sneezing, fever, loss of appetite, nasal discharge and inflamed eyes.
The vaccination for the above diseases is called the FVRCP vaccine and is very effective if given properly. It is recommended for kittens to build immunity, beginning with a series of vaccines at 6 weeks of age given every 3 to 4 weeks, until the kitten is 16 weeks old, followed by a 1-year booster. Cats over 6 months of age only need 1 vaccine and then a 1-year booster. After the 1-year booster, the FVRCP becomes a 3-year vaccine.
Feline Leukemia (FeLV): This is a widespread virus that is fatal in most cats, due to the immunosuppression caused by the viral infection. Because the virus can take many months before it causes disease, infected cats can appear completely normal and healthy. Some cats have few infections with few effects and others have persistent infections varying in severity, which may be fatal over time. Vaccination is recommended at 9 weeks of age, then boostered 3 to 4 weeks later. Indoor cats should receive a 1-year booster, but then no longer need to get this vaccine. Outdoor cats should receive the FeLV vaccine annually.
Rabies: Rabies is almost always fatal because it attacks the brain and central nervous system. Rabies is zoonotic, which means it can be transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected animal. The rabies vaccination is given at 12 weeks of age or older, then again in 12 months and then annually. The rabies vaccine is suggested for indoor and outdoor cats, as bats are the number one carrier of rabies in Arizona and can end up in houses as easily as indoor cats can escape outside.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OUTDOOR CATS
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): This is a feline virus that reduces the ability of the immune system to respond to other infections. Transmission of infection requires fairly direct contact or saliva from a bite of an infected cat. Vaccination is given after 2 negative "paired" FIV tests, in a series of 3 vaccinations given every 3 to 4 weeks and then annually. This vaccine is only given to outdoor cats or to indoor cats that live in the same home with an outdoor cat. Because the vaccine protects against the most common strains of the FIV virus (but not all— it is similar to the human flu vaccine), it is not 100 percent effective, but may significantly decrease your cats risk to FIV infection.
FeLV/FIV Testing—Why we recommend testing your cat
Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are associated with illness and death in more cats than any other communicable agent. Signs of infection may not be apparent in young kittens or newly exposed adult cats. Because the feline leukemia virus and the feline immunodeficiency virus can take many months before causing disease, infected cats can appear completely normal and healthy. And because your cat is acting healthy, he or she can pass the virus to other cats before they ever show signs of the disease. For this reason, we suggest a blood test to make sure your cat is not infected. Testing for FeLV and FIV is relatively simple and requires only drops of a sample. A rapid blood test can be performed that is able to detect viral proteins of FeLV and formation of antibodies against the FIV virus in the blood of an infected cat. This test is very accurate and reliable. We can test for both Feline Leukemia and FIV while you wait and have the results before you leave the clinic. Both are very common diseases in Flagstaff.
Canyon Pet Hospital requires a current negative FIV test prior to giving the FIV vaccine. Current FIV tests pick up antibodies for the FIV virus in your cat's bloodstream. Antibodies are produced by your cat in response to both the actual disease and the vaccination. This means that once vaccinated, we will be unsure if FIV antibodies in your cat's bloodstream are from actual infection or from the vaccines we have administered. If we are unsure of your cat's FIV status prior to vaccination and your cat becomes ill, it will make it almost impossible for us to know if FIV virus is contributing to or causing your cat's clinical signs and it will make it that much more difficult to determine the best course of treatment. The most reliable way to make sure a cat is negative for FIV is to do "paired" FeLV/FIV testing. This means running an FeLV/FIV test, then returning in 2 months for another FeLV/FIV test. During that 2 month time period, your cat must be kept indoors and away from unvaccinated cats so as not to expose the cat to the possibility of obtaining the virus. With 2 negative FeLV/FIV tests 2 months apart, we can more confidently administer the FIV vaccine.