Do indoor cats need vaccines every year

Cat Vaccinations

Cat Vaccination Guidelines and Standards

TheFeline Vaccination Advisory Panelregularly evaluates and researches cat vaccination developments to make science-based recommendations. The panel comprisesdedicated feline veterinarians and scientists and is regarded as a reputable source of cat vaccination standards.

Their guidelines, published by theAmerican Association of Feline Practitioners, are among the most trusted and utilized recommendations in the field.

They divide cat vaccines into two categories:

• Core vaccines (highly recommended by most vets)
• Noncore / lifestyle vaccines (sometimes recommended by your vet)

Core vaccines are those recommended for all cats, no matter where they live or under what conditions. Vaccines that are appropriate for some cats in some circumstances are considered noncore vaccines (or lifestyle vaccines).

What Vaccines Should My Cat Get?

Most vets will highly recommend the FVRCP and rabies vaccines. These diseases are highly infectious and seen worldwide. They are very dangerous to young cats, and the vaccines are considered to provide a good deal of protection with minimal risk.

The FeLV vaccine is tricky because it is required for kittens but optional for cats that are at least a year old.

Rabies Vaccine (Core)

Rabies vaccination is given every year or every three years, depending on state laws and the brand of vaccine used.

Rabiesis significant not only for its effect on the cat but because it is a disease that is transmissible to humans and can be fatal.

While cats are not natural carriers for the disease, they can be infected by a bite from any infected mammal and then pass it on to others. After an incubation stage, clinical signs of aggression, disorientation, and death rapidly progress.

Rabies is endemic worldwide, and the vaccine is recommended for all pet cats.

While the rabies vaccine is not listed as a core vaccine by the AAFP guidelines, it is required by law in most regions. Rabies is a zoonotic disease (it can be transmitted from animals to humans), so it is a public safety issue to keep your cat up to date on their rabies vaccine.

FVRCP Vaccine (Core)

The other three core vaccines are combined into a single three-in-one vaccine called the FVRCP vaccine. This allows veterinarians to efficiently administer the vaccines all at once, instead of having to inject a cat three separate times in one visit:

• Feline rhinotracheitis virus/herpesvirus 1 (FVR/FHV-1)
• Feline Calicivirus (FCV)
• Feline Panleukopenia (FPV)

If your cat is an indoor adult cat, FVRCP can be done every three years. If they are outdoor or indoor/outdoor, or they are young cats or seniors, your vet may recommend yearly FVRCP shots.

Cats heading into stressful situations, such as boarding, may benefit from a core vaccine booster 7-10 days before.

Feline Panleukopenia - FPV

Feline panleukopenia, also known asfeline parvovirus, is a highly infectious disease with a high mortality rate in kittens.

While the disease usually starts with decreased energy and low appetite, it progresses to vomiting and diarrhea. The virus also kills off white blood cells, leaving the young cats even more susceptible to secondary infections.

Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus/Herpesvirus 1 - (FVR/FHV-1)

Feline herpesvirus, also known asfeline rhinotracheitis virus, causes severe signs of upper respiratory infection.

Some symptoms you can expect to see include sneezing, nasal congestion and discharge, andconjunctivitis. In some cases, it also causes oral ulceration andpneumonia.

After the cat recovers from the initial infection, the virus enters a latency period in the nerves. During times of stress, the virus can reactivate, and the cat can start to show signs of infection againeven if they have not been re-exposed to the disease.

Feline Calicivirus - FCV

Feline calicivirusencompasses a number of viral strains that cause signs of upper respiratory infection, such as sneezing and nasal discharge as well as oral ulcerations.

FCV is thought to be associated with chronicgingivitis/stomatitis, a very painful inflammation of the gums and teeth. Some of the more virulent strains cause hair loss and crusting on other parts of the body, as well as hepatitis and even death.

FeLV Vaccine (Core for Kittens)

The FeLV vaccine works to protect your cat againstfeline leukemia virus.

FeLV is found worldwide. Transmitted through body fluids including saliva, urine, and feces, FeLV is spread when an infected cat comes into close contact with another cat that they groom or share bowls with.

Infection with FeLV is not an automatic death sentence. Many cats are fortunate to go into a regressive state and appear perfectly healthy throughout their lives, but some do not fare as well.

After a latent period lasting months or even years, the disease often progresses to a variety of associated conditions:lymphoma, anemia, or immunosuppression resulting in secondary disease.

The FeLV vaccine is recommended as core for kittens. The initial vaccination series consists of two doses spaced three to four weeks apart, followed by revaccination one year later for all adult cats.

However, based on most recent data, the Vaccine Advisory Panel recommends that subsequent vaccines may be administered based on risk: yearly for high-risk cats, and every two years for lower-risk cats.

Your veterinarian can assess your cats risk of FeLV infection and decide on an appropriate vaccination schedule.

Cat Vaccination Schedule

Many factors affect the likelihood of a cat developing an infectious disease. The factors that your veterinarian will consider to determine yourcats vaccination scheduleinclude:

• Age
• Medical history
• Vaccination history
• How likely they are to be exposed to a pathogen
• Severity of disease caused by a pathogen
• State laws
• Brand of vaccine

Discuss your cats lifestyle and risk factors with your veterinarian to determine an optimal, individualized vaccination protocol.

Here are the general cat vaccination guidelines to use as a starting point:

Kittens (up to 1 year of age)

• 6-8 weeks:
• 10-12 weeks:
  • FVRCP (core; first or second shot)
  • FeLV (core; first or second shot)
• 14-16 weeks:
  • FVRCP (core; only if first shot given at 10-12 weeks)
  • Rabies
  • FeLV (core; only if first shot given at 10-12 weeks)
• 1 year after initial series:
  • FVRCP booster
  • Rabies booster

Adult and Senior Cats (Over 1 year old)

• Every year:
  • FELV (optional non-core vaccine)
• Every 1-3 years:
  • FVRCP (every 3 years for indoor cats, and every year for indoor/outdoor, outdoor-only, very young, or senior cats)
  • Rabies (1-year or 3-year vaccine depending on state laws)

Featured Image: iStock.com/MightyPics

What Vaccines Does My Indoor Cat Need? (Vet Answer)

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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Vaccines are designed to protect against a variety of feline diseases, including rabies virus, feline leukemia virus, feline distemper (also called parvovirus), feline calicivirus, and feline herpes virus.

One of the best ways to keep a cat healthy is to ensure that they get the specific vaccines they need, which should be discussed on an annual basis with their vet. Vaccines can consist of core and non-core vaccines, depending on a cats lifestyle (i.e., indoor vs outdoor, how often they might board in a cattery, etc.), age, and other risk factors. Core vaccines are designed to protect against infectious diseases that are either life-threatening or commonly encountered by the majority of cats. Non-core vaccines are those which may not be needed, depending on a particular cats risk factors.

To find out which vaccines an indoor cat generally needs and the timing of these vaccines, read on!

How Do Vaccines Work?

Some vaccines, called killed vaccines, contain inactive DNA or RNA from a pathogen, such as a virus or bacteria. Some vaccines, called modified live vaccines, contain less pathogenic forms of the normal virus or bacteria. Other vaccines, called vectored or recombinant vaccines, contain only a small part of a virus or bacteria inserted into an organism, called a plasmid, that acts to amplify this portion of the virus or bacteria once an animal is vaccinated.

Modified live and killed vaccines are some of the original, more traditional vaccines. Vectored vaccines are a more recent scientific development. Each type of vaccine has possible pros and cons.

After receiving a vaccine, the body recognizes the foreign material contained in the vaccine and produces an immune response. This response takes about 714 days to reach a peak response. This has to do with why vaccines are timed 34 weeks apartto allow for this response and then a settling of the immune system before challenging it again with another vaccine.

Some vaccines made to combat infectious diseases that cats dont routinely encounter, such as rabies, are considered effective after a single dose. Conversely, vaccines made to fight viruses that cats do commonly encounter or that may have antibodies received from their mom generally require a minimum of two doses, sometimes more, depending on the cats age.

What Vaccines Does an Indoor-Only Cat Need?

To determine what vaccines an indoor cat requires, they first need to be separated into kittens and adults.

Kittens receive their first vaccines in what is called a primary vaccine course. This involves vaccines that generally start around 8 weeks of age and continue every 34 weeks until they are 16 weeks of age or older. After 16 weeks of age, most kittens then need their next vaccine one year later.

Ages for a typical kitten primary vaccine course:

• 8 weeks
• 12 weeks
• 16 weeks

Primary vaccines in kittens include their core vaccines (e.g., parvovirus, herpesvirus, and calicivirus), and potentially feline leukemia and rabiesdepending on where they live, and their lifestyle risk factors. Rabies vaccines cannot be given to kittens until they are at least 12 weeks old.

Adult indoor cats fall into two categories for which vaccines they might need. Adult cats that have never been vaccinated generally get primary vaccines (just as a kitten would), along with a single booster 34 weeks later. The reason for this booster is that a single vaccine for herpes, calicivirus, and panleukopenia may not be fully effectivetherefore, a second vaccine provides a bit more protection. Rabies, on the other hand, produces good results after a single vaccine, making a single vaccine sufficient.

Adult cats that received their primary course as kittens generally receive boosters either annually or triennially, depending on the vaccine, how much time they spend outside or boarding with other cats, as well as their age.

What Are the Minimum Vaccines My Indoor Cat Needs?

Once they are an adult, an indoor-only cat that lives in an area without rabies may only need the following vaccines:

The above may be given every three years for some low-risk cats. However, it is always a discussion to have with your veterinarian to determine what vaccines and what vaccine schedule your cat needs.

Are There Instances Where a Cat Vaccine Schedule Might Change?

There are certain instances in which a cat may be deemed not healthy enough to receive a vaccine. Alternatively, it might be too early for them to receive a vaccine. A veterinarian may choose to delay vaccination of a cat for the following reasons:

• Weight loss
• Not eating
• Urinary tract infection
• Upper respiratory infection
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Too soon from the last vaccine

Frequently Asked Questions

What are possible vaccine side effects?

Vaccines, as with any medication, can have potential side effects. One of the more well-known side effects, particularly in cats, is called vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma. Fibrosarcoma is a cancer that forms from the cells forming the connective tissue layer under the skin. There is strong evidence to suggest that a combination of genetics, certain vaccines, and vaccine adjuvants can lead to the formation of these cancers in cats.

Many of these vaccines are now made in a different manner, to not contain adjuvants, and most vaccines in cats are also now given in specific locations of the bodyso that if one of these cancers occurs, the vaccine that may have played a role can be identified.

Some common side effects of vaccines in cats include lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. Cats rarely develop anaphylaxis, or life-threatening allergic reactions to vaccines, facial swelling, and hives, the same way many other species are prone to developing. If your cat does experience any reactions to a vaccine, report it to your vet, as the way your cat is vaccinated may need to be adjusted moving forward.

How are vaccines given?

Most vaccines for cats are injections given under the skin and are generally about 1 ml in volume. Other forms of vaccines include nasal drops and transdermal vaccines, but these are uncommonly encountered.

My cat is late for their vaccine. Does that change the schedule?

It depends. If your cats a day or two late, or even a week late, for their annual booster, it is generally not a problem. If your cats more than a week or two late for their primary course booster, they may need an additional booster vaccine.

Is my cat too old for vaccines?

In general, veterinarians no longer consider cats too old for most things. Sometimes, senior cats need the immunity provided by vaccines far more than adult cats. Discuss what risk factors exist for your senior catsuch as time spent outside, boarding around other cats and dogs, and any medical conditionswith your veterinarian to determine which vaccines they recommend and how often.

Conclusion

Vaccination in indoor cats is an important part of preventing serious illness and keeping our furry friends healthy. Vaccines are not just something done once when they are kittens; they are part of a lifelong health plan for your cat.

Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock