Protect your cat: Vaccinations are a must If you want to enjoy the company of a cat healthy and happy, one of the most important things you can do is protect her health. Vaccinations can protect your cat from many common cat diseases.
Weaned immunity from mother
When your kitten is 6 to 8 weeks, you should begin his vaccinations. Before that time, the mother's antibodies have been protecting him. Once he is weaned, however, it will need to develop antibodies of his own.
The visit Vital First
The first office visit is when your vet will give your kitten a complete physical examination. A stool examination is normally done to ensure that your kitten does not have to. Before vaccination, the veterinarian must do a blood test to check that the kitten is not already infected with feline leukemia. The vet can also test for feline infectious peritonitis. These tests are quick, and your veterinarian will have preliminary results in minutes.
If your kitten is not already infected with one of these diseases, the vet will give your kitten his first Feline Leukemia and FIP vaccines, assuming if he is at risk for these diseases. One cat that never leaves the house may not need these vaccines, in this case, your veterinarian may recommend against giving them.
That leaves the house or not, your kitten should receive its first vaccine FVRCPC. This combination vaccine protects kittens rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia and chlamydia.
Monitoring vaccines and Worming
In 2-4 weeks your kitten should again visit the vet at the age of 8 to 12 weeks. This time, he will get a second series of shots for FVRCPC, feline leukemia, and the FIP. If your kitten was wormed during his first visit, the vet will give him his second worming. If your kitten is at least 12 weeks and spent time outdoors, it should also receive its first vaccine against rabies.
third visit to your kitten to the vet is when he is 10-16 weeks, when he will receive his third vaccine FVRCPC. The kittens were too young for their first vaccine against rabies in their previous visit will receive at this time.
Visit the first anniversary
After completing his third set of vaccines FVRCPC, your kitten will not need more injections until he is 1 year. At that time, he will need booster injections against rabies and FVRCPC. If the shot against rabies is given to your cat within 1 year of his vaccine against rabies First, it will be good for 3 years. Your cat will need to return each year, however, for the vaccine FVRCPC. When your cat is 1 year old, he will also receive boosters for FIP and Feline Leukemia if he received these vaccines as a kitten.
Rare side effects
Most vaccines are quite sure of the time, but sometimes side effects can occur. Vaccines for Feline Leukemia can sometimes cause a form of cancer at the injection site. For this reason, veterinarians do not generally recommend the vaccine for cats who are not at risk. A tumor can sometimes occur on the site of other vaccinations, as well. This type of tumor can often be removed before it spreads. If you notice a lump developing at the injection site, call your veterinarian immediately. These pieces are generally a simple allergic reaction to injection, but a song can turn into a tumor that, if taken early, can be successfully removed.
The risk of catching a disease without vaccinations is much higher than the risk of side effects. Just as with humans, the shots are an unpleasant but necessary part of growing up healthy.
Posted on July 2, 2010.
