Protect Your Cat With Vaccinations
Protect Your Cat With Vaccinations
by: Ron King
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If you want to enjoy
the
companionship
of a healthy and happy
cat,
1 of the most important things you can do is to
safeguard its health.
Vaccinations
can protect your cat from many common cat diseases.
Weaned From Mother's Immunity
When your
kitten
is 6 to 8 weeks old, you should begin his
vaccinations. Before this time, the mother's
antibodies
have been protecting him. Once he is weaned,
however, he will need to develop antibodies of his
own.
The Vital First Visit
The first office visit is when your
veterinarian
will give your kitten a complete physical
examination. A fecal exam is normally done to assure
that your kitten doesn't have worms. Prior to
vaccinations, your veterinarian should do a blood
test to be sure the kitten is not already infected
with Feline Leukemia. The vet may 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 1 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.
An only cat who never leaves home may not need these
vaccines, in which case your veterinarian may
recommend against giving them.
Whether he leaves the house or not, your kitten
should receive his first FVRCPC vaccine. This
combination vaccine protects kittens from
rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia and
chlamydia.
Follow-Up Vaccines And Worming
Within 2 to 4 weeks your kitten should visit the
veterinarian again, at the age of 8 to 12 weeks.
This time he will get a second round of shots for
FVRCPC, Feline Leukemia, and 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 old and spends time outdoors, he should also
receive his first Rabies vaccine.
Your kitten's third visit to the veterinarian takes
place when he is 10 to 16 weeks old, when he will
receive his third FVRCPC vaccine. Kittens who were
too young for their first Rabies vaccine on their
previous visit will receive it at this time.
The First Birthday Visit
After completing his third set of FVRCPC vaccines,
your kitten will not need any more injections until
he is 1 year old. At that time he will need
Rabies
and FVRCPC booster shots. If the Rabies shot is
given to your cat within 1 year of his first Rabies
vaccine, it will be good for 3 years. Your cat will
need to return each year, however, for the FVRCPC
vaccine. When your cat is 1 year of age, he will
also receive boosters for FIP and Feline Leukemia if
he received these vaccines as a kitten.
Rare Side Effects
Most of the time vaccines are quite safe, yet
occasionally side effects can occur. Vaccines for
Feline Leukemia
can sometimes cause a form of
cancer
at the site of the injection. For this reason
veterinarians usually do not recommend the vaccine
for cats who are not at risk. A tumor can sometimes
occur at the site of other vaccinations, as well.
This type of tumor can often be removed before it
spreads. Should you notice a lump developing at the
injection site, call your veterinarian without
delay. These lumps usually are a simple allergic
reaction to the injection, but a lump can develop
into a tumor, which, if caught 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, shots are an unpleasant, but
necessary part of growing up healthy.
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