- A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease.
- A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins.
- The agent stimulates the body's immune system to recognize the agent as foreign, destroy it, and "remember" it, so that the immune system can more easily recognize and destroy any of these microorganisms that it later encounters.
Current Vaccination
Recommendations for Kittens and Cats
The “Respiratory” Vaccines
-FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA is caused by feline parvovirus and is commonly known as feline distemper. It is a highly contagious and deadly disease in cats. Vaccination against feline parvovirus is highly recommended for all cats.
-Feline viral rhinotracheitis
(feline herpesvirus) and feline calicivirus. These viruses account for up to 90% of all cases of infectious upper respiratory diseases in cats. Once infected, many cats never
completely rid themselves of the virus. These “carrier” cats serve as a major source of infection to other cats. Vaccination against these viruses is highly recommended for all cats. This vaccine, known as FVRC, is a combination vaccine, called a “bivalent” vaccine.
-Rabies.
Rabies is transmitted mainly through bite wounds of other infected animals. Cats develop rabies
more often than any other domestic animal.
-Feline leukemia virus.
Feline leukemia virus is abbreviated FeLV. It is the leading viral killer of cats.
It is spread from cat-to-cat through bite wounds, direct contact with infected cats, and from an infected mother cat to her kittens. Kittens under 16 weeks of age are the most susceptible to infection. Cats at greatest risk for FeLV are outdoor cats, cats that live in environments with other cats going outside, cats living with other FeLV-infected cats, and cats in homes where the FeLV status of other cats in the house is unknown. Resistance to FeLV increases as kittens mature to adulthood. Cats over 16 weeks of age are relatively resistant to FeLV. FeLV vaccines, especially those containing adjuvant, have also been linked
to feline vaccine-associated sarcoma. Vaccination against FeLV is NOT recommended for cats with little or no risk of exposure (i.e., strictly indoor cats that are never exposed to outdoor cats), especially cats over 4 months of age.
-Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).
All cat owners need to know that if you consent to vaccination of your cat using this vaccine, your cat will test positive for the infection. If your cat should be picked up by Animal Control and taken to a shelter, it is likely that your cat will be tested for this infection. Most shelters will euthanize stray cats that test positive for FIV. There is no way for a shelter to tell the difference between a cat that is actually infected with the virus and one that is vaccinated against it. In our view, this is a significant drawback to this vaccine and something that you will need to seriously consider before you consent to this vaccine for your cat.
