08/07/2024
Whether they’re indoor-only, outdoor, or a combo of both, cats are at risk of catching some nasty diseases. Vaccines can help by stimulating your cat’s immune system to produce antibodies against preventable diseases, so they don’t needlessly suffer or pass those diseases on to other cats.
These vaccines are recommended for all cats based on their risk of exposure, the severity of the disease to be prevented, and the risk the disease poses to humans.
🐱Feline viral rhinotracheitis: This is a herpesvirus that causes upper respiratory infections or pulmonary infections in cats. This goes far beyond a cat cold, since once a cat is infected, they are infected for life. The disease can be dormant in the cat’s system — but due to stress or other illnesses, it may be reactivated, at which time signs of disease will be more noticeable. It’s highly contagious and can cause death due to pneumonia in kittens and immunocompromised adult cats. Mild cases can be treated at home, but severe cases can last for weeks, require hospitalization, lead to loss of vision, or become a chronic disease with stress.
🐱Feline calicivirus: This is a highly contagious virus that causes upper respiratory infections in cats as well as oral disease (inflammation and ulcers on the tongue and gums). Some strains can cause painful lameness in the cat’s legs as well. Cats can become re-infected with this virus, so prevention is the key to keeping cats well.
🐱Feline panleukopenia: Also called feline parvo or feline distemper, this is a highly contagious virus caused by the feline parvovirus that invades and can kill rapidly by dividing cells in a cat’s bone marrow and intestines. The disease, which used to be the leading killer of cats, is now uncommon due to the highly effective vaccine. This is an important reason to continue vaccinating against it throughout your cat’s life.
🐱 Feline leukemia virus: FeLV is a retrovirus that weakens a cat’s immune system, meaning it changes the DNA of a cat’s cells, making them vulnerable to other diseases that can result in death. It’s transferred between cats through saliva or nasal secretions. Cats infected with FeLV may develop infections and cancer.
🐱 Rabies: Likely the most recognized on the list, rabies is a preventable viral disease that infects the central nervous system when a mammal is bitten by a rabid animal. The disease can infect any mammal, but it is most notable in raccoons, foxes, bats, and skunks. Cats (indoor and outdoor) can become infected when they have been bitten or encountered the saliva of an infected animal. The ultimate result is death. This disease can be transferred to humans, and pet vaccination is mandated by law in some states.
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