Cat Care

Q: I just got a kitten, and I want her vaccinated...when does she need her vaccinations?

A: As soon as possible. Kittens require a series of shots which can be started as young as 6 weeks. They need a series of boosters for two reasons. One is to ensure that memory is created within your kitten's immune system to enable it to recognize any foreign diseases/viruses, etc... Secondly, a nursing kitten will receive antibodies from its mother to protect it from diseases during its first weeks of life. Unfortunately, these antibodies can keep a vaccine from being as effective, and we deal with this by giving a series of shots every 4 weeks until the kitten is approximately 16 weeks old.

Q: My cat stays inside. Does she need to be vaccinated?

A: We recommend vaccination even for indoor cats because:

• many cat diseases can be carried inside by people
• many kittens who are supposed to be indoors do escape on occasion
• wildlife has been known to get into houses
• other pets may visit, you may take your pet out visiting or bring home another pet someday

Q: Does my cat require yearly boosters?

A: There has been a lot of discussion lately in the veterinary field as to how often cats should be vaccinated. The protection which is provided by a vaccine will generally decrease over time. Unfortunately, to date there have been no proper studies done to determine exactly how long each vaccine lasts in the real world. Up until recently most vaccines were given as a yearly booster. There are veterinarians who feel that some vaccines last longer than one year. There is a lot of controversy and the bottom line is - your veterinarian will advise you of an appropriate vaccine schedule depending upon your location and your cat's lifestyle.

Q: This "distemper" shot...will it make my cat friendlier?

A: No. "Distemper" in cats is actually a disease called Feline Panleukopenia. It is a virus that attacks the gastrointestinal system, causing severe vomiting and diarrhea. It also stops the body from producing white blood cells, which are used to fight infection. It is spread through the feces of infected cats. Affected animal are very sick: they are lethargic, have a high fever, don't eat and are vomiting and dehydrated. There is no cure. Sick animals need to be nursed in the hospital with fluids and antibiotics. The virus often is fatal.

The distemper vaccination will protect your cat for getting sick if exposed to this disease.

Q: Can my cat catch a cold? She is sneezing and has a runny nose and eyes.

A: A: Cats don't get the same type of cold that people do, but they do have there own respiratory diseases. Feline respiratory disease is easily passed from one cat to another by direct contact or droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing. Kittens are usually more seriously affected than adult cats. The symptoms include watery or sticky discharge from the nose and eyes, sores in the mouth, fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. There are two viruses involved: feline rhinotracheitis virus and feline calicivirus. Vaccines are available for both of these viruses and are usually included with feline panleukopenia in the standard "distemper" vaccine.

Q: What is Feline Leukemia?

A: Feline leukemia virus is a virus that is spread from cat to cat by close contact (fighting, grooming, etc...). It acts similar to HIV (AIDS) in people. A cat may have feline leukemia virus and show no outward signs. The cat can carry the virus for years and pass it to other cats. Some cats never get sick but in most cats the virus eventually suppresses the immune system so the cat becomes susceptible to other infections and the virus can even predispose to some types of cancer.

Symptoms vary - everything from vomiting and diarrhea to weight loss, breathing problems, anemia and fevers. There is no cure. Most sick cats that have feline leukemia virus die or are euthanized. There is a blood test that will detect the virus. Other animals (including dogs and humans) are not affected.  Vaccination against feline leukemia virus will protect your cat.

Q: Can my cat get rabies?

A: All mammals (cats, dogs, livestock, humans) can become infected with the rabies virus. The rabies virus attacks nerve tissue. Symptoms vary from aggression towards people and other animals to withdrawal and avoidance of peopleand other animals. Once a rabies infected animal starts showing symptoms death always occurs. Rabies is spread by bites or saliva of infected animals. Most rabies exists in wildlife, such as raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. Therefore, an unvaccinated cat involved in a fight with a wild animal is at risk of rabies.

We vaccinate cats for rabies when they are over 12 weeks of age, again in one year and then every year or every three years, depending on the vaccine used and the local laws.

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In the following sections, we've answered some of the more common questions we get from our clients.

Be sure to check out the proper pet care of iguana's, rabbits and rodents under the other pet section!

Remember, if you have any questions, don't hesistate to give the clinic a call!