Why Vaccinate?
Cats can be affected by various infectious diseases. In the UK 4 feline diseases can be vaccinated against:
- Feline Infectious Enteritis or FIE (Feline Penleucopenia Virus or Feline Parvovirus): these viruses cause a severe and, in many cases, fatal form of enteritis
- Feline Leukaemia or FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus) : this disease affects the immune system, rendering the cat vulnerable to other infections or diseases and to the risk of developing anaemia and cancer. FeLV is a common and fatal disease
- Cat Flu: it is possible to vaccinate against 2 of the common causes of Cat Flu (Feline Herpesvirus and Feline Calicivirus). Cat Flu is generally much less serious than Enteritis or FeLV but nonetheless can, in extreme cases, be fatal
- Feline Chlamydia (Feline Chlamydophila Virus) - this causes persistent conjunctivitis
A combined vaccine is now available for Feline Infectious Enteritis, Cat Flu & FeLV
What vaccines does my cat need?
All cats should be vaccinated against Feline Infectious Enteritis and Cat Flu because these viruses are very common and can survive in isolation in the environment. Disease can be severe and even fatal.
The Feline Infectious Enteritis virus is widespread and if your cat is not vaccinated he/she is at great risk of contracting it.
The 2 Cat Flu viruses that can be vaccinated against are also widespread and are very commonly contracted, especially by young cats. Cat Flu can have severe flu-like symptoms e.g. blocked nose, conjunctivitis, loss of appetite, sore throat, mouth ulcers etc. In the extreme, Cat Flu can be fatal (though this is not common).
Unfortunately, vaccination for Cat Flu is not absolutely protective because it does not cover certain strains of calicivirus, meaning that some cats will still become infected despite having been vaccinated. However, for the majority of cats, vaccination will mean that Cat Flu is avoided altogether; and for those cats who do contract it, the vaccination usually prevents any severe form from developing.
The FeLV vaccination is usually recommended for cats who are likely to come into close contact with other cats because the virus is normally transmitted by contact with other cats and cannot survive in isolation in the environment.
Note that your cat is also at a higher risk of infection from FeLV (as well as FIV, from which there is no vaccination) if they are not spayed or neutered since these diseases are transmitted via bodily fluids.
Entire (un-neutered) tom-cats are more likely to roam and thus cross other, competing, tom-cat territories. The increased likelihood of confrontation in turn increases the risk of fighting and thus the transmission of disease (via biting etc).
Females that have not been spayed will attract tom-cats from miles around. Thus the risks of being infected increase significantly due to the possibility of transmission during mating.
The Chlamydophila Virus is only transmitted by direct or close contact between cats. A cat that lives exclusively indoors may therefore never be exposed to the virus.
You should consult your vet for advise on which vaccinations are suitable for your cat - which will depend on the cat and on the area in which you live.
Read about Mayhem. She was barely 6 months old when she was diagnosed with leukaemia. The tragedy is that the death sentence faced by Mayhem could have been avoided by vaccination and a spay operation.
At what age should vaccinations be given?
Vaccinations are given in a 2-stage process. Newborn kittens are protected against disease because of antibodies in the queen's milk. However, these antibodies also prevent vaccinations from being effective in very young kittens. Hence, most vets will recommend that the first stage of vaccinations are given at approximately 8-9 weeks old, with the second dose given at 12-13 weeks old. If there is a particular risk of infection, your vet may recommend vaccinations be given earlier.
Does that cover the cat for life?
No. As with most vaccines, protection is not indefinite and subsequent 'booster' injections will be necessary to maintain protection. These booster injections are needed annually, commencing one year after the initial vaccinations. Some vaccines seem to give protection for much longer than a year and consequently some vets will advise less frequent booster vaccinations. However, the majority of vaccination manufacturers are only able to prove that their vaccines remain effective for one year and hence most vets will recommend that boosters are given annually. Consult your vet for details.
Boarding catteries & vaccinations
An unvaccinated cat is at a higher risk of contracting something in any situation where there many cats in close proximity. Hence boarding catteries are high-risk situations for infection with Feline Infectious Enteritis and Cat Flu in particular. A professional boarding cattery will ask for sight of your cat's vaccination card before allowing the cat to stay on its premises. If your cat needs to be put in a boarding cattery but requires a booster then ideally this should be done at least 1-2 weeks before staying at the cattery to ensure full protection.
