Kittens and cats, whether they live inside or outdoors, can be exposed to illness triggered by infections or germs. Vaccinations help secure our feline pals by avoiding the spread of these illness and improving their body’s defense versus possibly deadly health problems.
Because of this, Dr. Lori Teller, a medical associate teacher at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, motivates owners to immunize their kittens and cats versus typical, yet deadly, illness earlier instead of later on.
“Kittens should begin pediatric visits to the veterinarian when they are 6-8 weeks old, where vaccinations will initially be given as a series until the animal is 16-20 weeks of age,” Teller said. “On the other hand, cats adopted as adults should visit a veterinarian and receive their vaccinations as soon as possible.”
Some typical illness that cats need to be secured versus consist of panleukopenia, a viral illness triggered by feline parvovirus, and rhinotracheitis, an infection that results in upper breathing infections.
“If a cat gets panleukopenia, all of their white blood cells are wiped out, leaving it unable to fight off any other infections; this disease frequently results in death,” Teller said. “Additionally, once a cat has rhinotracheitis, cats will generally become carriers for life and may experience flare-ups of respiratory problems when they become stressed or when their immune system is suppressed.”
Teller explained that there is a mix vaccine that can secure cats versus panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calicivirus, an infection that triggers upper breathing infections and ulcers — or sores that establish in the cat’s mouth and on the tongue.
Additionally, cats who venture outside need to be immunized versus feline leukemia, an extremely infectious infection that spreads out quickly in between cats.
“Feline leukemia is most commonly spread through saliva and nasal secretions, so cats that share food and water bowls, groom each other, or bite each other in a fight can spread the virus,” Teller explained. “This virus can lead to a suppressed immune system and leaves a cat susceptible to other infections, as well as cancer, all of which can potentially be fatal.”
There likewise are vaccines that cats need no matter their way of life, such as rabies. Teller explained that rabies, which is almost constantly deadly, can be transferred to cats by wildlife, consisting of bats, coyotes, raccoons and skunks.
In addition to vaccinations, Teller recommends that owners secure their cats from illness spread out by mosquitoes, fleas and ticks.
“Keeping pets on year-round preventives will kill fleas and ticks and prevent the development of heartworm disease and intestinal parasites, which can be infectious to humans,” Teller said.
Finally, a see to the vet will help identify if your kitten or cat needs any extra vaccinations.
“Your cat’s age, environment and current health status can help your veterinarian best determine the appropriate vaccinations for your pet to receive,” Teller said. “Vaccinations protect our pets from a variety of diseases that can cause significant illness or death and are always less expensive than the cost to treat illnesses.”
Vaccinations are important for securing animals versus health problems and by immunizing kittens and cats versus unsafe illness, owners can guarantee their feline friend lives a healthy and happy life.
Pet Talk is a service of the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be seen on the internet at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future subjects might be directed to [email protected].
