What Vaccinations Does My Kitten Need?
Vaccinations and the Symptoms of Feline Infectious Diseases
Mar 24, 2009
Most people know the importance of having their kitten vaccinated. Here are some details about feline diseases commonly vaccinated against in Australia. Please see your local Veterinarian for further information.
Here are 5 common diseases that should be vaccinated against:
- Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV/AIDS)
- Enteritis
- Respiratory Disease (cat flu)
- Chlamydia
- Leukemia (FLV)
What is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV/AIDS)?
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a retrovirus (single-stranded RNA virus) and infection is rare in cats less then a year old but increases as cats age, particularly around 8 years old. It is 3 times more common in male cats then females, possibly due to male cats being more prone to fighting.
It is transmitted by bites as it is contained in the saliva of infected cats. It may also be transmitted by sexual contact, but not likely by basic cat-to-cat contact.
Symptoms can include:
- Pyrexia (fever)
- Lymphadenopathy (chronically swollen lymph nodes)
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
- Anorexia
- Respiratory symptoms
- Diarrhoea
- Gingivitis
- Skin disease
- Neurological (behavioural changes, convulsions)
What is Feline Enteritis?
Feline Enteritis or Feline Panleucopenia is highly contagious. It is sometimes also called feline distemper or feline parvovirus as it is caused by a parvovirus similar to canine parvovirus. Primarily it affects young kittens and has a high mortality and morbidity rate, although cats of all ages can be infected.
The virus is shed in saliva, vomit, urine and faeces of infected cats and transmission occurs through ingestion of infected materials or contact with infected cats.
Symptoms can include:
- Sudden death in young kittens
- Depression
- Anorexia
- Persistent vomiting
- Hunched up appearance
- Painful cries when handled
- Diarrhoea
Kittens can show:
- Dysmetria (inability or impaired ability to control muscle movement)
- Hypermetria (muscle disorder characterized by overreaching)
- Muscle tremors
- Weakness
- Ataxia (loss of coordination of muscles)
What is Feline Respiratory Disease (cat flu)?
Feline Upper Respiratory Disease (FURD) often called ‘cat flu’ is a highly contagious disease caused by two viruses; Feline calici virus (FCV) and feline herpes virus 1 (FHV-1).
Cat flu is spread via inhalation of aerosols created by the sneezing of infected cats.
Symptoms can include:
- Paroxysmal (severe attack/sudden increase) sneezing
- Conjunctivitis
- Ocular and nasal discharge
- Anorexia
- Depression
- Pyrexia
- Hypersalivation (excessive salivation)
- Coughing
What is Feline Chlamydia?
Feline Chlamydia or Feline Pneumonitis caused by Chlamydia psittaci (bacteria) causes persistent and severe conjunctivitis. Kittens appear to be more severely affected than adults. It is thought to potentially cause infertility as the organism has been isolated in the reproductive tract and there have been abortions recorded.
Transmission is most likely through cat-to-cat contact when there is nasal or ocular discharge present.
Symptoms can include:
- Ocular discharge
- Hyperaemia/hyperemia (large amount of blood in any part of body)
- Chemosis (swelling of cornea)
- Blepherospasm (involuntary eyelid twitch)
- Nasal discharge
- Sneezing
- Pyrexia
What is Feline Leukemia?
Feline Leukemia (FLV) is a species-specific retrovirus. Kittens infected in utero will become persistently viraemic (presence of virus in blood stream) and die, whilst kittens infected at less then 8 weeks are 70-80% likely to become permanently viraemic. Adult cats are approximately 10% likely to become permanently viraemic.
Transmission of FLV is spread by mothers-to-kittens in utero or via the milk. Cat-to-cat contact is another way the virus is spread, as it is present in saliva, mucus, urine and faeces in addition to milk.
Symptoms can include:
Neoplastic (abnormal proliferation of cells causing a growth) disease (20% of cases), such as:
- Lymphosarcoma (tumor in lymphatic tissue)
Non-neoplastic disease (80% of cases), such as:
- Aneamia
- Immunosuppression
- Toxoplasmosis (parasitic infections)
- Oral infections
- Stillbirths
- Abortions
How Often do I Need to Vaccinate?
This can vary slightly from vet to vet, but generally your kitten will need 3 vaccinations at the following intervals:
- 6 - 8 weeks
- 10 - 12 weeks
- 14 - 16 weeks (depending on when the previous vaccination was administered)
The reason your kitten needs 3 vaccinations is because it is impossible to determine when the immunity the kitten receives from its mother will 'run out'. After your kitten has had its 3 vaccinations, it will require ongoing annual boosters, as this will build a good immune response.
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