The cat in the box in the picture above is my own kitten, Olivia Wilde. When Liv was a baby, she was found outside and was very sick. Numerous other cats in the neighborhood had died suddenly. A good samaritan brought her in fearing the worst for her. Blood tests confirmed the fear that she had the Panleukopenia (distemper) virus. The unvaccinated feral cats in the neighborhood, including Olivia's mother, were dying of a preventable disease.
The first vaccine most kittens will receive is the Feline Distemper (FVRCP) vaccination. This is a 3 in 1 shot and carries the Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus and Feline Panleukopenia vaccines. All three of these viruses are highly contagious and very deadly. Olivia used one of her nine lives that time and a lot of luck to survive the virus. If her mother wasn't feral and had been vaccinated, the kittens would have had maternal antibodies to help prevent contracting the disease.
The second vaccine most kittens get, after 16 weeks of age, is the state mandated rabies vaccine. We offer two types of rabies vaccines at Coyote Ridge Veterinary Clinic. The first is the IMRAB rabies vaccine, the same given to both cats and dogs. We also offer the feline only Purevax Rabies vaccine. The reason being is cats have a 1:10,000 chance of developing an injection site cancer from the IMRAB vaccine. Discuss these options with one of our veterinarians at your next visit.
The third and final vaccine we give some cats is the Feline Leukemia vaccine. This is highly recommended for outdoor cats. The Feline Leukemia virus is highly contagious and spread through interactions with an infected cat. We often give this to kittens who may become outdoor cats or the escape artists who might get outside randomly. Ask the vet if your cat needs the Feline Leukemia vaccine.
The new veterinarians at Coyote Ridge Veterinary Clinic are happy to discuss what vaccines your cat needs. Call for appointment today 970-663-7387 or book an appointment online today.