Vaccinations
Cats and kittens need to be protected from deadly infectious feline diseases. If you acquire a new kitten, it is important to find out what vaccinations it has received and at what age. If you obtain an adult cat, you should inquire as to when it had its last booster vaccinations.
A kitten usually will receive a series of two to four vaccinations. The actual number varies depending on a number of variables, including the type of vaccine, the kitten's age at the first visit, whether its mother was vaccinated, and its risk of exposure.
Feline panleukopenia (also called feline distemper) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease of cats. Until recent years, panleukopenia was the most serious infectious disease of cats, claiming the lives of thousands every year. Thanks to the highly effective vaccines currently available, panleukopenia is now considered to be an uncommon disease. However, because of the serious nature of the disease and the continued presence of virus in the environment, vaccination is highly recommended for all cats.
Feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) are responsible for 80-90% of infectious feline upper respiratory tract diseases. Most cats are exposed to either or both of these viruses at some time in their lives. Once infected, many cats never completely rid themselves of virus. These "carrier" cats either continuously or intermittently shed the organisms for long periods of time—perhaps for life—and serve as a major source of infection to other cats. The currently available vaccines will minimize the severity of upper respiratory infections, although none will prevent disease in all situations. Vaccination is highly recommended for all cats.
In general, the first vaccinations to protect against panleukopenia and diseases caused by FCV and FHV-1 are given at six to eight weeks of age. Occasionally veterinarians will begin vaccination at an earlier age depending on the kitten's risk of exposure and amount of protection received from the mother. The vaccines are then "boosted" at three- to four-week intervals until the kitten is between twelve and sixteen weeks of age. Following this initial vaccination series, boosters will be given regularly to keep the cat protected.
Your cat should be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccine should be given at twelve weeks-of-age, then one year later. Thereafter, the vaccine should be given every one to three years, depending upon the vaccine type and local rabies vaccination requirements.
Feline pneumonitis, caused by a Chlamydia organism, is a mild to severe respiratory and eye disease. Chlamydia vaccines are available, often in combination with other vaccines. Although vaccination does not provide complete protection, it will reduce the severity of the disease.
Vaccines can help protect your cat against the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection. Ideally, the cat should be tested prior to vaccination, since the vaccine will offer no protection to individuals already infected with the virus. FeLV vaccines should be given twice at three- to four-week intervals; kittens can begin the series when between eight and twelve weeks-of-age. Afterwards, your cat should receive regular re-vaccinations ("booster" vaccinations) against FeLV. Since FeLV vaccines will not protect all cats, your veterinarians will discuss additional ways to help prevent infection.
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is caused by a coronavirus. The currently-available FIP vaccine is administered intranasally to cats at 16 weeks of age, with a booster in three to four weeks, and then yearly. Cats in multiple cat facilities have a much greater risk of developing FIP than most household cats. If used appropriately and in conjunction with proper management, the vaccine has been found helpful in reducing the incidence of FIP in certain multiple cat environments. If your cat resides in a high-risk environment, you should discuss the vaccine with your veterinarian.
Internal Parasites
Parasites that infect the intestinal tract of cats can be worm-like organisms (e.g., roundworms, hookworms or tapeworms) or microscopic organisms called protozoa (e.g., Isospora, Toxoplasma, Giardia) Most intestinal parasites deprive the infected cat of important nutrition, causing weakness and susceptibility to viral or bacterial infections. Although initially infecting the intestinal tract, Toxoplasma organisms usually cause disease in other parts of the body. Therefore, keeping your cat free of parasites is important for its long-term health.
Intestinal parasites can usually be diagnosed when your veterinarian analyzes a fecal sample. Occasionally, an owner may see an intestinal parasite in vomit or in feces that resembles a white, threadlike worm, or the parasite may resemble a rice grain near the cat's tail. If your cat is infected, proper medication should be obtained from your veterinarian. A fecal sample should be checked after treatment to ensure that the parasites have been eliminated. Because some intestinal parasites can also cause disease in human beings, have your cat checked at least annually for intestinal parasites.
Heartworm disease is often thought of as a problem in dogs only, but the internal parasite, Dirofilaria immitis, can infect cats as well. If you reside in an area where dogs are infected, cats living in the area are at risk of infection too. Dirofilaria immitis is carried by mosquitoes, so both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk. Although infection can be serious or even deadly, it is easily avoided by monthly administration of preventative medication.
External Parasites
External parasites that infest cats include a variety of small to microscopic insects and arachnids that derive their nutrients from the cat's blood, tissue fluids, or skin cells. Fleas, ticks, lice, fly larvae and mites are external parasites that can be a source of much irritation to a cat. External parasites cause the most common skin disorders of cats and help transmit other diseases (e.g., bubonic plague, hemobartonella, Lyme disease, and perhaps cat-scratch disease). Common signs of external parasitism include intense itching, red crusty lesions or scaly skin. Your veterinarian can provide effective treatments and control methods for most feline external parasites.
Fleas, the most common external parasite of cats, are wingless, brownish insects that are powerful jumpers. Although fleas are small, they are visible to the naked eye. Adult fleas suck blood from the cat, so a heavy infestation can cause anemia, especially in young kittens. A condition called flea-bite hypersensitivity, the most common allergic skin disease of cats, affects individuals that are allergic to the flea's saliva.
There are many safe and effective flea-control products currently available on the market, but the most effective flea control strategies require simultaneous treatment of both the cat and its environment. Make sure that any insecticides used (e.g., sprays, dips, or powders) are safe for use on cats, because many flea products formulated for dogs can be very toxic to cats. Some insecticidal products cannot be used on kittens less than two to three months of age. Also, it's best not to use insecticides from the same class (e.g. organophosphates) in different forms on the cat or in the environment for fear of cumulative toxic effects.
