Vaccines help protect against common infectious diseases seen in cats. They stimulate the body’s immune system to destroy the infectious organism and ‘remember’ it, so that it can fight against the infection again in the future if necessary. Without vaccination, many cats will become seriously ill and may die due to the infection that their body is unable to fight effectively on its own. The use of vaccines has prevented death and disease in millions of cats. Vaccines also protect people from disease, such as rabies, that can be transmitted from cats.
Does my indoor cat need to be vaccinated?
Indoor cats still require vaccination in most cases, but the decision to vaccinate will always be based on each cat’s risk level for exposure to diseases, health status and previous vaccine history. We will spend time with you during your appointment to talk about what vaccines would be appropriate for your individual cat’s needs.
What is FVRCP and core vaccine for cats?
Core vaccines are defined as the set of vaccinations that are recommended for all cats, due to the severity of disease that they cause and the highly infectious and transmissible nature of the diseases. Core vaccines for cats have been defined by the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel. This group of vaccinations is called FVRCP and includes vaccinations for feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus.
How often does my adult cat need vaccination?
The core vaccination for FVRCP will be protective for 3 years after your cat has finished his/her kitten booster series and 1-year-old vaccinations. The rabies vaccine may also be recommended for your cat and is given on an annual basis.
Are there any risks associated with vaccines?
With any vaccine, there can always be a small risk of allergic or other adverse reaction, however, the risk is very minimal. There is, however, a greater health risk associated with not vaccinating.
