Vaccination information for cats and kittens
All cats, including indoor ones, should be vaccinated annually as they too are prone to contacting serious diseases, including:
Cat Flu – can be described as being similar to human flu which affects the respiratory system. Two common viruses, Feline Herpesvirus (FHV) and Feline Calicivirus (FCV), are responsible for most cases of Cat Flu and symptoms include sneezing, sore eyes, a runny nose and coughing. In general, cat flu can last up to 10 days. Due to the many strains of Cat flu out there it’s impawsible to prevent the disease but annual vaccination is the best method of prevention.
Feline Infectious Enteritis, FIE, (also called Feline Parvovirus or Panleukopenia Virus) causes severe damage to the lining of the intestine and also travels via the blood to the bone marrow and lymph glands. It is a very serious, highly contagious virus which sadly has a high mortality rate. Infected cats experience sudden, severe diarrhoea and vomiting.
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) is a virus that attacks the cat’s immune system, and is the most common cause of cancer in cats. Symptoms of the disease can develop over time and signs include progressive weight loss, fever, poor coat condition and inflamed gums. There’s no treatment for feline leukaemia, so vaccination is vital.
Chlamydophila Felis is an infection of the eyes which causes conjunctivitis. The infection can affect all ages of cats but is especially prevalent in kittens. Symptoms include runny, sticky eyes, sneezing and nasal discharge. Chlamydophilia can be treated with antibiotics but we recommend vaccinating against it to prevent infection.
Due to their weakened immune system kittens can be more prone to picking up nasty diseases.
That’s why we recommend getting your precious new bundle of joy vaccinated as soon as possible – usually with their 1st vaccine being administered as early as 9 weeks of age. The 2nd vaccine is then given 3-4 weeks later.
That we have three amazing value healthcare plans that include your cat’s vaccinations? Check out our healthcare plans here.
