Even if your cat is indoors most of the time, he is still at risk of contracting one of the many serious illnesses that claim a large number of the feline population. In order to help stave off illnesses, you should have your cat vaccinated by your veterinarian. Read on to learn about when your cat should be vaccinated and what diseases a cat is most likely to contract.
Kittens receive antibodies from their mother through the milk they eat. Once a baby is weaned from his mother’s milk the protection from these antibodies begins to lessen. After a kitten reaches 20 weeks of age, there is usually no protection whatsoever from feline diseases without the help of a vaccination.
Your cat will receive about three different vaccinations that, as a whole, make up the “core” vaccination. The diseases covered in the core shots are:
Distemper – a potentially fatal disease that most cats will be exposed to in their lifetime. Brain damage and other issues can remain permanently in a kitten or cat who contracts and survives the illness.
Rhinotracheitis – a virus that causes respiratory infection. Vaccination does not prevent a cat from contracting this illness, but it can tone down the symptoms.
Calicivirus – respiratory virus that can cause symptoms of runniness in a cat’s eyes and nose for the rest of its life, even after treatment.
Rabies – a horrible disease that attacks the central nervous system, which can be spread through bites or scratches and is capable of being contracted by any mammal, including humans.
You might ask your vet if there are any “non-core” vaccinations recommended for your cat. These are vaccines for illnesses that certain breeds of cat can contract, or for illnesses that affect a certain area of the country.
The age that veterinarians most prefer to start the round of core injections is between 6 to 8 weeks old. After about three weeks, a second injection will be given, and then a third about three weeks after that. The process of injecting your cat causes very little harm other than a stinging or itching sensation around the area the shot was given. Your cat may seem a little under the weather for a bit, but this is a normal reaction to the vaccine. If your pet seems to have a severe reaction to the vaccine, take him to back to the vet. While it isn’t very common, some animals can have reactions to inoculations. A booster shot will be required a year after he receives the core vaccines, and then every few years after that to keep up his immunity.
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