Recommended Vaccinations for Kittens

Many serious, even potentially fatal illnesses can be prevented by vaccination. It is essential that you visit your vet and get a complete check-up for your new kitten, including the vaccinations and worm and flea treatment he recommends.

The vaccination course is usually composed of 2- 3 vaccines but will be dependant on the type used by your vet. Kittens should have their primary vaccine at around 9 weeks of age (dependant on the type of vaccine used). Current veterinary recommendation (compulsory for most catteries) requires vaccination against Feline Panleucopenia (feline infectious enteritis) and Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpes Virus (feline infectious rhinotracheitis- Cat ‘Flu). Optional vaccinations are Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV- highly recommended), Chlamydia (some veterinary practices will give this as a matter of course with the primary vaccination; recommended if you plan to show or breed your kitten) and Rabies (required if travelling abroad). Kittens are normally allowed out approximately 2 weeks after the second vaccine. Annual boosters are also required to provide continued immunity. Kittens should be healthy at the time of vaccination. Your vet may recommend a blood test prior to giving the FeLV vaccination to check that your kitten has not already been infected by the FeLV virus. If she is already infected then vaccination is probably of no benefit. Discuss any questions you might have regarding vaccination with your vet.

In this Section:

Infectious diseases of the cat

1. Feline Panleucopenia (Feline infectious enteritis)

Feline panleucopenia is caused by a small but extremely hardy virus which can survive in the environment for long periods. It is highly contagious and can spread rapidly, This virus is spread by bite wounds, prolonged close contact (e.g. licking and grooming) and can be transferred from an infected queen to her kittens either in the womb or through her milk. The time between infection and appearance of clinical signs is very long- up to several years in some cases. Thus, infected cats will appear healthy but still be a risk to other cats; especially kittens under 8 weeks old who are most susceptible to infection. Many older cats will eliminate the virus from the body and not show any signs of disease. Prior to vaccination your vet may recommend a blood test to check that your cat is not already infected with the FeLV virus. The clinical signs of FeLV vary widely but include:

Leukaemia
Tumours in various parts of the body
Suppression of the immune system making the infected cat susceptible to a variety of other infections

2. Cat ‘Flu

Cat ‘Flu is an extremely common problem in cats in Europe although the use of vaccines has greatly reduced the severity of disease. It is mainly caused by two viruses- Feline Herpesvirus I (feline rhinotracheitis) and Feline Calicivirus. It can be fatal in kittens, elderly cats and cats suffering from conditions which suppress their immune system, but will rarely cause death in healthy adult cats. Cats that recover from Cat ‘Flu are often unable to eliminate totally these viruses from the body and many become ‘carriers’ of the virus and hence are able to transmit the disease to other cats for years. They may also show recurrent signs of Cat ‘Flu, most commonly sneezing and a runny nose, especially if under stress e.g. when moving house or staying in a cattery. Clinical signs of Cat ‘Flu are:

Lethargy
Runny eyes and nose
Sneezing
High temperature
Conjunctivitis
Mouth ulcers (caused by Feline Calicivirus)
Salivation and occasional coughing or even pneumonia

3. Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)

This virus is spread by bite wounds, prolonged close contact (e.g. licking and grooming) and can be transferred from an infected queen to her kittens either in the womb or through her milk. The time between infection and appearance of clinical signs is very long- up to several years in some cases. Thus, infected cats will appear healthy but still be a risk to other cats; especially kittens under 8 weeks old who are most susceptible to infection. Many older cats will eliminate the virus from the body and not show any signs of disease. Prior to vaccination your vet may recommend a blood test to check that your cat is not already infected with the FeLV virus. The clinical signs of FeLV vary widely but include:

Leukaemia
Tumours in various parts of the body
Suppression of the immune system making the infected cat susceptible to a variety of other infections

4. Feline Chlamydia

Chlamydia are a special type of bacteria. They are therefore susceptible to certain antibiotics and thus can be specifically treated. In recent years a Feline Chlamydia vaccine has become available. Some veterinary practices will include this with the compulsory vaccine. The primary dose is given at 9 weeks with a second dose around 3 weeks later plus an annual booster. The clinical signs of Feline Chlamydia are:

Weepy eyes (conjunctivitis)
Runny nose

5. Rabies

Rabies is a virus that can affect any warm- blooded animal. For both humans and domestic animals, the primary source of rabies is the bite of a rabid wild animal. The incubation period prior to clinical signs is extremely variable, but is usually two to eight weeks. The virus will begin shedding in saliva a short time before clinical signs develop, usually less than 10 days. Clinical signs usually occur in three stages:

Prodromal stage- Lasts 1- 2 days and consists of behavioural changes, fever, slow eye reflexes, and chewing at the bite site
Furious stage- Lasts 2- 4 days and consists of muscle twitching and tremors, muscle weakness, hind limb incoordination, viscious behaviour towards animate and inanimate objects, problems swallowing and frothing at the mouth
Paralytic stage- Lasts 1- 4 days and consists of paralysis, coma and death from respiratory failure.

Once clinical signs of Rabies develop there is no treatment.