You love your cat. You know they’re perfect, but they may not be as perfect as they could be. Vaccinating your cat is the best way to ensure they stay healthy and protected against disease. This article will explain how vaccinations work and why you should get them done. We’ll cover all you need to know about cat vaccination, what vaccines are available for cats and how often they should be administered to protect your pet from illness.
Vaccinations protect your cat from diseases.
Vaccines are a form of immunization your cat can receive to prevent disease, and they are a very important part of kitten care. Vaccinations can protect your cat from diseases, and some vaccines help reduce the severity of illness if your cat is exposed to a specific disease.
The main benefit of vaccination is that it prevents infection from occurring. If you were vaccinated against measles as a child, you would not get sick with the measles virus when exposed later in life. Even though you have been exposed many times before receiving the vaccine! This is because vaccination works by injecting a small amount of live virus (or another type of antigen), which causes an immune response in your body. This makes the body recognize and fight off any infections made by those same antigens later on.
How are vaccinations administered?
Vaccinations are given by injection, the most common method of delivering vaccinations. An injection may be given into the skin or muscle or under the skin (subcutaneous administration). Injections are used for many types of medications and are required for most vaccines.
An oral vaccine can be given to cats with food or pills that contain a liquid suspension of medication. While this option is not typically used in cats because it isn’t as effective as injections at stimulating immunity against disease-causing agents (pathogens).
Side effects from vaccinations are uncommon and usually mild
When your cat receives a vaccine, some side effects are possible. Most cats don’t experience any side effects from vaccination. But, if they do, these symptoms tend to be mild and go away quickly.
- A mild fever. Some cats may have a slight fever for up to two days after vaccination.
- Swelling at the injection site. An allergic reaction most likely causes this because your cat has been biting at his skin around the injection site. This sometimes happens when the area has been injected multiple times. The swelling usually goes away within 24 hours if treated correctly.
- Being more tired than usual for a few days. Some cats will also sleep more during this period.
There are several types of vaccinations that your cat may need
There are several types of vaccinations that your cat may need. The most common vaccinations include:
- Rabies vaccine. This is required by law in most areas. It helps protect against the deadly virus infecting all mammals, including humans.
- Feline distemper vaccine. Also known as panleukopenia, your cat can contract this through contact with other cats or wildlife. It’s highly contagious, so it’s important to vaccinate your cat against this disease.
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccine. Like feline distemper, FeLV is another life-threatening infection that causes internal bleeding and organ failure in felines if left untreated for long periods. Some cats don’t become infected until adulthood, but others have natural immunity from exposure early after exposure to a FeLV carrier. It’s best not to take chances when protecting your kitty from these viruses!
Vaccination schedules vary depending on where you live and your cat’s lifestyle
Several factors determine the vaccination schedule for your cat. You should consult your vet about how often your cat should be vaccinated and what types of vaccines they recommend.
- If you live in an area with a large population of feral cats, or if you have outdoor cats who go outside frequently, there’s a chance that they may come into contact with diseases carried by other animals like raccoons or skunks. In this case, it would be important to vaccinate your cat regularly against feline distemper virus (FVRCP), calicivirus (CAV), herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) and rabies as well as Bordetella bronchiseptica bacteria which causes kennel cough.
- Suppose you don’t take your cat to the vet, and they don’t interact with other animals much. In that case, it’s unlikely he’ll need regular vaccinations as long as his diet is good quality food and he gets enough exercise through playtime daily!
Cats should have a thorough physical examination before being vaccinated. This is to ensure that the cat is healthy enough for the vaccination. If there are any underlying health issues, these should be addressed first.
Talk to your veterinarian about what type of vaccination schedule is best for your cat
The frequency and type of vaccinations you give your cat depend on several factors. Those include the type of vaccine, how many vaccines your vet recommends in one year, if there are known disease outbreaks in your area and whether or not the manufacturer recommends them.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering whether or not your cat should get vaccinated, talk to your veterinarian about the best schedule for your pet. Your vet will be able to help you determine which vaccinations are necessarily based on where you live and what kind of lifestyle your cat has, as well as answer any questions you might have about side effects or safety concerns.