Kitten and Cat Vaccines

Now for the vaccination recommendations for our kitty friends.  Kittens, like puppies, we typically start the initial vaccination series between 6 and 8 weeks of age.  If a kitten is abandoned earlier and from an unknown background, we might start as early as 4-5 weeks.  Young kittens are especially susceptible to Feline Herpesvirus.  It manifests in them as nasal congestion and watery eyes, progressing to perforating corneal(eye) ulcers if left untreated.  We have seen many kittens over the years who have lost one or both eyes to this aggressive virus.  Vaccinating the mothers does seem to help decrease the severity, but kittens who are exposed to this will often still get sick.  Feline Herpes virus, similar to herpes virus infection in other species, can cause a persistent infection that will recur with stress.  Typically this only happens with cats who are unvaccinated when first exposed, and who had significant signs of disease.  That is one reason why kittens should not be exposed to other cats, although indoor and vaccinated cats are less likely to transmit the disease.  So Feline Herpes virus is one of the components of a good kitten/cat vaccine.  The feline core vaccine we use in cats covers Herpes, Panleukopenia, Calicivirus, and Chlamydia.  Panleukopenia or Feline distemper, is in the parvovirus family.  This virus affects the bone marrow's ability to produce white blood cells, which fight infections.  It also attacks the intestinal lining, and kittens (or unvaccinated cats) develop diarrhea and a secondary infection from the bacteria getting into the bloodstream.  Left untreated, about 90% of cats who get this disease will die.  Which is similar to the death rates of untreated Parvo in puppies as well.  Cats who get panleukopenia while they are pregnant will have kittens affected by a neurologic condition called cerebellar hypoplasia.  This affects the kittens' coordination and balance.  Panleukopenia is easily prevented by vaccination.  Calicivirus is another virus, like herpes, that is part of the upper respiratory complex.  It causes ulceration of the tongue and oral mucosa.  Many cats who get this disease also have herpes virus at the same time, and feel much worse for it.  Infections with this virus take several days to a week to resolve(with treatment) due to the damage it causes in the mouth.  Several years ago there was a very aggressive strain of Calicivirus that showed up in shelters across the country.  Many cats died from that outbreak, and it prompted the best vaccine companies to revamp their vaccines with the more virulent strain.  Thus, some brands of vaccines are better than others at preventing it, so be sure your vet is using the best vaccine possible.  Next on the list is Chlamydia.  This is a bacterial infection that is another component of the upper respiratory complex.  It causes sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose.  Chlamydia often occurs along with Calicivirus and herpes, and will increase the severity of the symptoms.  These 4 diseases are included in our core vaccine, and following the first dose, we recommend boostering your kitten every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.  After that, an annual booster is recommended.  Sometimes, depending on your cat's age, we may not need to vaccinate every year.
    At 12 weeks old, we recommend testing for Feline Leukemia Virus(FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus(FIV).  Some kittens are tested earlier, especially if they came from a shelter or humane society, and as long as they are negative, the test is accurate.  If the test is positive, it could be due to real infection or to maternal antibodies.  Remember we discussed these in the dog vaccine post, and they are the immune system protection your kitten gets from nursing its mother in the first day of life.  If the mother is FeLV or FIV positive, the kitten will receive those antibodies through the milk.  In some cases this leads to infection, but not always.  With FIV, the chances seem to be less that the kitten will develop the disease.  But anyway, if they are positive we recommend re-testing at 16 weeks, when it is more likely all the maternal antibodies are out of their system.  If they are negative and you are planning on having them be outdoors or indoors and outdoors, then they can receive their first dose of the leukemia vaccine.  They will need a booster in 4 weeks, and then an annual booster.  There is no vaccine available for FIV in cats, which is very similar to HIV in people.
    There is another disease called FIP or Feline Infectious Peritonitis.  This disease usually affects kittens of one year of age or younger.  It can present as a "wet" or "dry" form.  The dry form caused neurologic signs, like weakness of the back legs or paralysis.  The wet form usually appears as a swollen belly that is full of fluid, and the kitten is quite thin otherwise.  Once FIP presents itself in a kitten, it is always fatal.  There is a controversial and ineffective vaccine for this disease, and we do not recommend its' use.
    Rabies vaccination is recommended for all cats, and and can be done at 16 weeks or older.  The first vaccine is good for one year, and then here in Colorado, every three years thereafter.  The rabies vaccine we use is a licensed 3 year product, but in some locations annual vaccination is still recommended.
    So that is the wrap up of vaccines for your feline companions.  If you have any questions, give us a call, or we can discuss it further at your cat's next visit.