920 Lawrence Road • Kemah, Texas 77565 Phone: 281.334.2273 • Fax:281.334.9669

Feline Vaccinations

Vaccinating your cat against major diseases is one of the most important steps you can take to see that your feline companion enjoys a happy, healthy life. As your pet's health care provider, we will recommend when your pet should be vaccinated and which diseases to vaccinate against. To help you learn more, we have compiled a list of vaccinations and when we recommend your pet receive them.

Rabies:

Of all animal diseases, rabies is probably the most feared. The rabies virus attacks the brain and is almost always fatal. Most pets are exposed to rabies by bites from wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. Bats and skunks are the natural carriers of the disease, meaning they are not harmed by the disease but can infect other animals. The disease can be transmitted to humans through saliva of an infected animal by a bite or scratch. Vaccinations of all dogs and cats are the most effective means of control of this deadly disease. Click here to view the National Animal Control Association’s policy on rabies.

Feline Panleukopenia:
Sometimes called "feline distemper", causes severe vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. It is the most widespread disease of cats and causes high rate of death, especially among kittens. The disease is caused by a virus and is highly contagious to other cats.

FELINE RHINOTRACHEITIS:

Rhinotracheitis infection is a widespread respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is most severe in young kittens and can cause profuse discharge from the eyes and nose.

FELINE CALICIVIRUS:
Calicivirus infection causes a variety of symptoms including fever, excess salivation and mouth or tongue ulcers. Like the other upper respiratory diseases, it is highly contagious and easily transmitted between cats.

FELINE CHLAMYDIA:

Chlamydia is a respiratory infection with symptoms resembling feline viral rhinotracheitis. The disease is caused by the organism chlamydia psittaci and can be complicated by associated bacterial infections. Although not deadly your cat can experience respiratory difficulties for years once it has been exposed.

FELINE LEUKEMIA:
This is a form of cancer in cats, which is usually fatal. The disease, caused by a virus, can lead to tumor growth nearly anywhere in the body as well as a variety of other symptoms. Infected cats are unable to resist other diseases and may die from associated infections. Testing for the disease is recommended prior to initiating a vaccination program. This is a test that we perform (with a small sample of blood) in our in-house laboratory. Results are generally ready in about ten minutes.

FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS (FIP):

FIP is a viral infection of cats and kittens that is transmitted by oral/nasal contact with an infected cat (rubbing noses, food dishes, etc.). Symptoms can include a swollen abdomen, chronic fever, anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis, seizures, eye inflammation and blindness. Until the availability of the vaccine, the death toll reached half a million cats each year.

Recommended Vaccination Time-Line:

6 Weeks – Deworming Medication
8 Weeks – FVRCPC and Deworming
12 Weeks – FVRCPC, FeLV #1, Rabies and Deworming
16 Weeks – FVRCPC, FeLV #2 and Deworming