How Often Should Your Cat Get the Feline Rhinotracheitis and Cat Calicivirus (FVRCP) Vaccine?
The first FVRCP vaccination for your kitten should be given when they are between six and eight weeks old. Your kitten will need booster shots every three to four weeks until they reach 16 to 20 weeks of age. A second booster should be given once your cat turns a year old, and then another one every three to five years, or as required by the state you live in. For more information about vaccination, read the following article.
Feline leukemia virus
A veterinary veterinarian can give your cat the Feline leukemia virus vaccine (FeLV) as part of a preventative health plan. The vaccine can provide two years of protection, but some vaccinations may only protect your cat for one year. It’s best to talk to your veterinarian about how often your cat needs this vaccination based on the risk factors in your cat’s life and if it can wait two years between shots.
Generally, cats infected with FeLV can live for up to 2.4 years after initial infection. However, if the cat is in contact with another infected cat, the disease can be more severe or deadly. While fighting has been linked to the development of FeLV in cats, it’s a rare case. Adult cats that are free-roaming and do not engage in fighting are usually immune to the disease, but cats living in “exposure households” may test positive for FeLV.
Feline rhinotracheitis
The Feline rhinotracheitis and cat calicivirus (FVRCP) vaccine can be given to your cat as part of a standard core cat vaccination schedule. The vaccine doesn’t completely prevent an infection from occurring, but it does significantly reduce the length and severity of an existing illness. Vaccines for these diseases also provide some protection against other cat viruses. To learn more, read below!
The vaccine is effective against all three of these diseases, and your cat will get a booster every three to four years as needed. The first vaccination will be given to your kitten when they are 6-8 weeks old, and then a booster vaccine one to two months later. Your veterinarian will help you determine the optimal vaccination schedule for your pet. If your cat is confined to an indoor environment, a booster is recommended every two years. However, if you adopt a new cat from Buffalo Grove, you should give it the initial vaccination at the time of adoption, and then another booster about a month later.
Feline panleukopenia
One of the side effects of the cat fvrcp vaccine is feline panleukopenia, also known as feline distemper. This illness is an acute condition characterized by dehydration and diarrhea, but is often difficult to detect if your cat is already immunocompromised. The disease is caused by the feline parvovirus (PV), which shares 98% similarity with the canine virus. The virus is highly pathogenic and attacks the white blood cells of cats and is fatal in its early stages. It causes anemia and severe depletion of the major leukocyte subsets.
Once your cat has developed panleukopenia, you must isolate it for at least 14 days. If your cat is still shedding the virus after the fourteen-day isolation period, repeat testing may be required. Repeated laboratory tests are helpful in documenting that your cat is no longer shedding panleukopenia virus. Treatment for panleukopenia will depend on the severity of the infection, but your cat should remain in a sterile room or quarantined for 14 days after the virus is discovered.
