Cat Diseases and Vaccines: An Overview
By Kari Winters, APRN, BC
If you've adopted a cat or kitten from a rescue, you
were probably told that it had been "tested" and
was "FELV/FIV negative" and that it was current
on its vaccinations. Do you know what that means to you and
your cat? And now that the vaccinations are your responsibility,
do you know what your cat or kitten will need? Do you know what
symptoms to look for if your cat becomes ill?
Cats are very sensitive creatures, so it's not unusual
for them to get a mild upper respiratory infection (URI) when
first brought home. This is similar to a human "cold" but
you can't catch it from your cat (Also, you can't
give your "cold" to a cat if you're sick).
Sometimes this is a very minor thing and your cat or kitten
needs to shake off the virus on its own. It's important
to let the rescue organization know, however, because sometimes
this is the result of a virus and your cat may need antibiotics.
The people at the rescue are usually able to listen to your
description of the symptoms and tell you if your new family
member needs to be seen by a veterinarian. If you ever have
any question, though, it's better to err on the side of
having the kitten seen.
Unfortunately, the same symptoms that come with a URI can
also be the first signs that something more is wrong. Here's
a brief overview of some of the "bad" diseases,
and it‘s important to note that these diseases are not
passed on to humans.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): This is commonly called "kitty
AIDS" as it causes a deficiency in the cat's immune
system. The cat that has this may have a series of minor illnesses.
This is a disease that gets progressively worse and ends in
death. An FIV positive cat may remain healthy for years or may
die very young. This illness is transmitted from cat to cat,
most often by bite wounds so an FIV positive cat should not
have any contact with cats who are FIV negative.
Feline Leukemia Virus (FELV): This is a disease which causes
a deficiency of the immune system and cancerous symptoms such
as tumors and blood problems. Approximately 50 % of cats that
are FELV positive die within 2-3 years of original infection
(see related article). This illness is also transmitted from
cat to cat and FELV positive cats should not have contact with
cats that are FELV negative. Two cats who are both FELV positive,
though, can often live happily together for years.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP): This is a disease which
comes in two forms, wet and dry. The dry form targets many different
body organs, causing lesions, which are rarely seen until an
autopsy is done. The wet form is slightly easier to diagnose
as large amounts of fluid fill the abdomen and some of the fluid
can be taken out and tested. There is no treatment for this
disease and cats that have the typical symptoms die within weeks
or months.
Feline Panleukemia: This disease has also been called "Feline
Distemper" The symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea with
decreased energy come on very rapidly and can cause dehydration
very quickly. This is most often seen in young kittens and is
picked up in the environment. A kitten may be exposed on the
street, but not show symptoms until a few weeks later when it
loses the natural immunity it got from it's
mother. The mortality rate is high, but some cats and kittens
get what's
called "supportive" care (IV fluids and meds for
the vomiting and diarrhea) and are able to recover.
The issue of vaccination schedules has become controversial
is the last several years. The following overview is what is
recommended by The American Association of Feline Practitioners:
- Kittens should receive a combination vaccine at about the
age of 6 weeks.
- This vaccine covers Feline Panleukemia as
well as several other viral illnesses.
- At approximately
9 weeks of age the kitten should receive a booster of this
shot with the addition of Chlamydia vaccine.
- At approximately
12 weeks of age, they can receive another booster Of the
combination and Chlamydia vaccine. They are also then old
eno8ugh to receive a vaccine against Feline Leukemia.
In the past, adult cats were vaccinated yearly with the combination
vaccine and the vaccine for Feline Leukemia. Cats over 4 months
of age could also be vaccinated for FIP via a liquid that was
instilled in the cat's nose. It is now thought that cats
who are kept inside 100% of the time and who have no possibility
of contact with other cats does not need the FIP vaccine and
can receive the other boosters every other year.
Since the issue of vaccines is still a matter of debate, it's
always best to follow the advice of your own veterinarian.
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