The vaccinations recommended for a particular cat depends on many factors such as: indoors only or indoors and outdoors; boarding facility requirements if needed; contact with people other than family especially if temperamental, i.e. prone to bite, etc.
Vaccinations are divided into “core” vaccines that every cat should have and “non-core” vaccines that a cat should have depending on lifestyle. Core vaccinations includes Panleukopenia or feline distemper which is a very contagious, life-threatening infection, affecting first the bone marrow’s ability to make white blood cells and then moving on to the intestine. Death usually occurs before symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea appear. Additionally, the core vaccination includes Rhinotracheitis (herpes virus) and Calicivirus that are responsible for about 90% of upper respiratory infections. These viruses are spread by wet sneezes of infected or carrier cats. A cat infected with Calicivirus can be contagious for several months after infection. The Calcivirus can also remain alive in the environment for up to 1 month.
Rabies vaccination is often considered a core vaccination even for indoor cats. Rabies exposure can occur indoors in some local areas. Bats, along with less commonly skunks, have been shown to be carriers of rabies in the bay area. When affected the bat can fly into the house and since it is often times neurologically impaired it makes for easy prey. Once bitten by a bat with rabies, the cat will be affected by the rabies if not vaccinated. This also is a consideration if your cat bites someone as human health officials can direct what happens to your cat depending on vaccination status.
Feline leukemia vaccination is a non-core vaccination for indoor only cats. This virus is spread by close contact or sharing food, water dishes or elimination areas. As long as there are no cats carrying the feline leukemia virus in the household then for an indoor only cat there is no risk of exposure. There are no specific clinical signs associated with this disease which can impact many of the body’s systems. It is recommended that cats be tested for feline leukemia before vaccination. If an infected cat is vaccinated it does not affect the carrier state, capacity to infect other cats or development of disease in the infected cat.
One vaccination plan or protocol cannot be applied to every cat. Each must be evaluated and an individualized plan created that will protect that particular cat. That plan must be reassessed when changes in health and lifestyle occurs.
