Protect Your Cat with Vaccinations
A happy and healthy cat is a good companion to have around, so to safeguard the health of your companion is best by vaccination to protect them from common diseases.
Weaned from Mother’s Immunity
Vaccination should begin when your pet is 6 to 8 weeks old and once he is weaned it is about this time he will need to develop its own antibodies since it has been protected by its mother’s antibodies.
The Vital First Visit
It is very vital for your kitten to get a first complete physical examination by a veterinarian. Fecal examinations are vital to ensure your kitten does not have worms and blood test to be sure they are not already affected with feline leukemia prior to vaccinations. Test for feline infectious peritonitis are also done and usually quick and less time consuming (done in a matter of minutes)
The feline leukemia and FIP vaccines are giving to your kitten for the first time if they are not already affected with any of the above diseases. If and only if your cat never leaves your home, then they may not need these vaccines.
Other diseases like chlamydia, pan leukopenia, calicivirus and rhinotracheitis should be protected with the FVRCPC vaccine on their first visit to the vet.
Follow-Up Vaccines and Worming
Visits to the veterinarian should be 2 to 4 weeks when your kitten is aged 8 to 12 weeks. If your kitten is spending time outdoor, he should receive Rabies Vaccine and second shot of FVRCPC, Feline Leukemia, worming and FIP.
When your kitten is 10 to 16 weeks old, he will receive his third FVRCPC vaccine and for those who were too young to receive their first Rabies vaccine on their previous visit, will receive it this time.
The First Birthday Visit
After the third shot of FVRCPC vaccine, no more injection for your kitten until he is 1year old and this period, he will need Rabies and FVRCPC booster shots. When he is 1 year old, your cat will also receive boosters for FIP and Feline Leukemia if he received these vaccines as a kitten.
Rare Side Effects
Side effects can occur but most of the time vaccinations are usually safe. At the side of injection, the feline Leukemia vaccine can cause some form of cancer or tumor and reasons while veterinarians will not recommend the vaccine for cats that are not at risk. Call your veterinarian if you notice any lump developing at the site of injection as it can develop into tumor, which if caught early can be remove successfully before it spreads.
Just as with humans, prevention is always better than cure and catching a disease without vaccination is much of a risk than the side effects. No matter how unpleasant shots can be to both human and pets, it is still necessary for growing up healthy.