Because We Care

Vaccinations Cats

It is all too easy to forget the days of severe outbreaks of distemper or parvovirus in dogs, or feline enteritis in cats, outbreaks that caused the death of, and misery in, many many animals. Consequently, we can only recommend vaccinating cats and dogs against infectious diseases to protect individuals against these terrible diseases. Similarly, due to the common disease of myxomatosis in rabbits, we advise at least yearly vaccination of pet rabbits.

We currently routinely vaccinate against the following diseases in cats:

Feline enteritis: More correctly called feline panleucopaenia, this is the cat parvovirus that causes a death rate of nearly one hundred per cent in suceptible cats that become infected; if they live long enough – over 24 hours or so – they usually develop diarhoea.

Feline herpes virus: the less common cause of cat flu, herpes virus causes conjunctivitis, sneezing, coughing, fever, and sometimes mouth ulcers. Carrier cats spread the disease.

Feline calicivirus: most cases of cat flu are caused by one of this large group of viruses, and fortunately the disease is generally less severe than when caused by the herpes virus. Caliciviruses will still, however, cause fever, runny eyes and nose, sneezing, and large tongue ulcers will sometimes occur. Cats carrying calicivruses tend to be infected for life, unlike herpes carriers that tend to self-cure after approximately six months.

Unfortunately, no vaccines exist that will completely prevent cat flu, but the disease should be much less severe if it does occur in a vaccinated cat. 

Feline leukaemia: this is a viral leukaemia that affects young to middle aged cats, and is invariably fatal once it develops. Importantly, the virus will also lead to a weakened immune system and most cats affected by the virus succumb to other infections or tumours that they are unable to fight off.

Kittens can be infected before they are born or soon afterwards, or they might become infected from cat bites or being groomed by another infected cat in the household. Carrier cats transmit the virus in their saliva. The disease is not infectious to people.

Rabies: as with dogs, cats that are travelling abroad will require a rabies vaccination prior to being allowed into the country or countries of destination. If the cat is due to return, then he or she will require identichipping before being vaccinated, and will require a blood test in order that a pet passport can be issued.

Cat flu - is your cat at risk?

Protecting against Feline Leukaemia