For cats a combination of feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia is usually administered with rabies as a separate vaccine. Other vaccines may be recommended for high risk individuals such as feline leukemia, FIP and FIV and Chlamydia. For details on each disease please see below.
The doctor and/or breeder may recommend you to adjust the vaccination protocol (especially in certain breeds) like giving individual vaccines or avoid some vaccines. Another possibility is to pretreat your pet with an antihistamine to prevent allergic reactions to some vaccine components. The doctor will advice you in this respect.
Vaccines can be killed, recombinant or attenuated virus, the doctor will choose the correct vaccine for your pet.
In some cases the doctor may recommend an antibody titre test for each virus instead of the yearly booster vaccine. These tests provide an idea on the protection your pet has. If the titre is low you may need to booster but, if the titre is high no vaccine would be required. Because of the cost, this is usually advised for dogs and cats who had experienced health problems.
Kittens and puppies should be vaccinated at 8 weeks and receive boosters at 12 and 16 weeks of age. For rabies the 1st vaccine should be at 12 weeks and booster 1 year. After 1 year all vaccines are yearly except for rabies which is given every 3 years.
FELINE (Diseases that can be prevented through vaccines)
Distemper (Panleukopenia)
Widespread, often fatal.
Symptoms: fever, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea
Rhinotracheitis
Most severe widespread upper respiratory infection in cats. Can lead to a lifelong disease.
Symptoms: moderate fever, loss of appetite sneezing, tearing, discharge from eyes and nose, open mouth breathing, coughing
Calicivirus
Affects upper respiratory system. Infected cats can become chronic carriers of the virus with life-long clinical signs of sneezing and runny eyes.
Symptoms: sneezing, runny eyes, moderate fever, ulcers and blisters on the tongue
Chlamydiosis
Causes a relatively mild upper respiratory infection, affecting mucous membranes of the eyes.
Symptoms: tearing, sometimes sneezing, nasal discharge
Leukemia
Considered the number one infections disease causing death in domestic cats. Attacks the immune system and leaves cat venerable to a variety of secondary infections. Also may cause certain types of Cancers. Death usually occurs within 3 years of infection. There is NO CURE! Transmission occurs through contact with other cats.
Rabies
This virus attacks the nervous system and results in fatality. ALL MAMMALS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE (including humans). Vaccines often required by municipal law and are needed to travel outside of Canada. It is a major health hazard. Most often carried by bats in this area. This vaccine recommended for ALL PETS, indoor and outdoor.
