People who get cats for the first time wonder what is the right age to get their cat or kitten vaccinated and how many vaccinations do they need. For a healthy life of your pet as well as yourself it is highly recommended that you get your cat vaccinated and a keep a record of the vaccinations for reference as well to schedule booster shots.
Kittens should be vaccinated when they are 8 to 12 weeks old and there are four basic vaccinations that all kittens should get. And these are:
Although the kittens are vaccinated at the age of 8 weeks for the first three shots but they get the Rabies vaccination when they are around 4 month old. Booster shots follow every year for the next three years. Thus it is recommended that you or your vet keep a record of the shots given to the pet for future reference.
Panleukopenia in Cats and Kittens
This is a viral disease and thus id highly contagious and in young cats can be a cause of death. A cat can come into contact with this virus by coming across an already infected cat or since this virus survives for a long time in the environment as well a cat would come across it many times during its life. Thus vaccination gives the cat immunity from this disease.
A cat infected with Panleukopenia might show some of the following symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, fever and loss of appetite. And since the virus greatly reduces the white blood cells in cats they become vulnerable to other bacterial infections.
There is no specific treatment for this virus and cat has to fight it based on its immune system but the cat is given fluids to reduce dehydration and antibiotics to keep other bacterial infections at bay. The disease normally lasts for 5-6 days but in young kittens it is often results in death as their immune system is not strong enough to fight it. Thus they should be vaccinated for Panleukopenia as soon as possible.
Calicivirus in Cats and Kittens
This virus causes upper respiratory infection in cats and in combination with other viruses an bacteria these infections can become severe in nature. Some strains of this virus can cause a cat to limp because of arthritis. And even though a cat may no longer show the symptoms for Calicivirus, it still may be infected with it and then would act as a source for the spreading of the virus to other cats.
Common symptoms of Calicivirus in cats are discharge from nose and eyes, sores in mouth, loss of appetite, fever and lethargy. The cats are normally vaccinated for through injections or fluid through nose.
The symptoms can appear within a few days of the exposure to the virus and in some cases it can even take a week for the symptoms to show up.
Rhinotracheitis in Cats and Kittens
This is a more severe upper respiratory infection which is airborne and highly contagious. The symptoms usually observes in cats infected with this virus are discharge from eyes and nose, sneezing, coughing, red and swollen membranes around the eyes, fever and loss of appetite.
Kittens and unvaccinated cats are more vulnerable to this disease and to recover from it the cat might need to get hospitalized. Some vaccinated cats still might be a carrier of the virus though and some might experience mild form of this disease despite the vaccination. Never the less keeping in mind the severity of this disease in kittens and their weak immune system it is advised to get your cats and kittens vaccinated.
Rabies in Cats and Kittens
There is currently no cure for Rabies, this is a virus that attacks the nervous system and results in the death ultimately. The symptoms of Rabies are a change in behavior, depression, increase in salivation and difficulty in swallowing.
Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of the infected animals. So a bite or a lick on an open wound can be the cause of Rabies. Pets who have not been vaccinated upon catching Rabies are usually put to sleep. And vaccinated pets who contact rabies are revaccinated. As this disease can also inflict on humans it is absolutely necessary to get your pet vaccinated for it.
Kittens should be vaccinated when they are 8 to 12 weeks old and there are four basic vaccinations that all kittens should get. And these are:
- Panleukopenia also known as Feline infectious Enteritis
- Feline calicivirus which is a type of common cold
- Feline herpes virus also known as Rhinotracheitis or Cat Flu
- Rabies
Till the age of 8-12 weeks kittens get immunity from their mothers milk if the mother is also vaccinated. In case the mother is not vaccinated you will have to get the kittens vaccinated at an early age. After this initial period the effect of the immunity starts to diminish and this when you need to go to the vet for vaccination.
Although the kittens are vaccinated at the age of 8 weeks for the first three shots but they get the Rabies vaccination when they are around 4 month old. Booster shots follow every year for the next three years. Thus it is recommended that you or your vet keep a record of the shots given to the pet for future reference.
Panleukopenia in Cats and Kittens
This is a viral disease and thus id highly contagious and in young cats can be a cause of death. A cat can come into contact with this virus by coming across an already infected cat or since this virus survives for a long time in the environment as well a cat would come across it many times during its life. Thus vaccination gives the cat immunity from this disease.
A cat infected with Panleukopenia might show some of the following symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, fever and loss of appetite. And since the virus greatly reduces the white blood cells in cats they become vulnerable to other bacterial infections.
There is no specific treatment for this virus and cat has to fight it based on its immune system but the cat is given fluids to reduce dehydration and antibiotics to keep other bacterial infections at bay. The disease normally lasts for 5-6 days but in young kittens it is often results in death as their immune system is not strong enough to fight it. Thus they should be vaccinated for Panleukopenia as soon as possible.
Calicivirus in Cats and Kittens
This virus causes upper respiratory infection in cats and in combination with other viruses an bacteria these infections can become severe in nature. Some strains of this virus can cause a cat to limp because of arthritis. And even though a cat may no longer show the symptoms for Calicivirus, it still may be infected with it and then would act as a source for the spreading of the virus to other cats.
Common symptoms of Calicivirus in cats are discharge from nose and eyes, sores in mouth, loss of appetite, fever and lethargy. The cats are normally vaccinated for through injections or fluid through nose.
The symptoms can appear within a few days of the exposure to the virus and in some cases it can even take a week for the symptoms to show up.
Rhinotracheitis in Cats and Kittens
This is a more severe upper respiratory infection which is airborne and highly contagious. The symptoms usually observes in cats infected with this virus are discharge from eyes and nose, sneezing, coughing, red and swollen membranes around the eyes, fever and loss of appetite.
Kittens and unvaccinated cats are more vulnerable to this disease and to recover from it the cat might need to get hospitalized. Some vaccinated cats still might be a carrier of the virus though and some might experience mild form of this disease despite the vaccination. Never the less keeping in mind the severity of this disease in kittens and their weak immune system it is advised to get your cats and kittens vaccinated.
Rabies in Cats and Kittens
There is currently no cure for Rabies, this is a virus that attacks the nervous system and results in the death ultimately. The symptoms of Rabies are a change in behavior, depression, increase in salivation and difficulty in swallowing.
Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of the infected animals. So a bite or a lick on an open wound can be the cause of Rabies. Pets who have not been vaccinated upon catching Rabies are usually put to sleep. And vaccinated pets who contact rabies are revaccinated. As this disease can also inflict on humans it is absolutely necessary to get your pet vaccinated for it.
