Feline Vaccinations

Vaccines create antibodies which protect your cat from disease. Up-to-date vaccinations play a large part in keeping your cat healthy and free from disease. However, not every cat requires the same series or frequency of vaccines. Current research in veterinary medicine has linked vaccination in cats with certain tumors and kidney issues.

City Rover tailors a vaccine protocol that is specific to your cat based on his or her lifestyle and immune status. Rabies vaccination is required by Colorado law for both cats and dogs. 

FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)

This is a combination vaccine and is commonly given to kittens at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. A booster is given in a year and every three years after that.  Please remember that these time frames are generalizations and some cats may need a slightly different schedule.

• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis: A highly contagious airborne viral upper respiratory disease caused by herpes type 1, and is also known as feline influenza. This is very contagious and if left untreated can lead to pneumonia, which can be fatal to kittens.
• Calicivirus: A highly infectious airborne virus causing respiratory disease which can also lead to pneumonia.
• Panleukopenia: A viral infection commonly known as feline distemper is generally spread by the passing of bodily fluids and primarily attacks the gastrointestinal system. Profuse bloody diarrhea can cause dehydration, malnutrition and anemia, potentially leading to death. The immune system is often compromised causing further complications.

Rabies

A deadly virus transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. This could be a skunk, raccoon, bat or any number of other animals. One vaccine is given to kittens 16 weeks or older and a booster is given yearly.  We use a different type of rabies vaccine for cats than we use for dogs. This vaccine needs to be given yearly, but has fewer side effects in cats than the three-year vaccine.

FeLV (Feline Leukemia) Vaccine

Feline leukemia is a deadly disease that is spread directly from cat to cat, and from mother cats to their kittens before or shortly after birth. It is highly infectious and most often transmitted from cat to cat through a bite wound, but evidence shows that it may be passed between cats that share the same litter box or food bowls.

Due to potentially severe side effects, we recommend leukemia vaccinations only for cats that roam outside and are potentially exposed to other cats. For these cats it is given at 12 and at 16 weeks of age; a booster injection is given in a year and every one to three years after that.