Cat Vaccinations

This is one of the most common causes of upper respiratory infections in cats and is highly contagious.

Cats of all ages, sizes and breeds are susceptible however cats with a poor immune system, kittens and flat faced breeds i.e. Persians can show more severe clinical signs.

How Is FHV Spread?

Direct contact – through saliva, ocular or nasal secretions, sharing of food bowls and litter trays, contaminated environment this is less important as the virus can only survive for a sort time.

The incubation period of the disease is 2-5 days.

Clinical signs include ocular and nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, sneezing, fever and loss of appetite.

Once infected, cats will remain carriers of the disease. Although they will not always show clinical signs they can be infectious at times of stress. When their immune system is reduced they may develop clinical signs and shed the virus again.

Immunity with vaccination lasts for one year so protection requires an annual booster.

This again is a virus that attacks the upper respiratory tract. It is spread in the same way as FHV however a contaminated environment is more important as the virus can potentially survive for up to one month.

The incubation period is 2-6 days.

Clinical signs include ocular or nasal discharge, difficulty breathing, corneal ulcers, gingivitis, stomatitis (inflammation/ulceration of the oral cavity) and fever. In younger cats it can cause arthritis and limping.

Immunity with vaccination lasts for one year so once again protection requires an annual booster

The above disease come under the heading ‘cat flu’

This is also known as Feline Panleukopenia Virus (due to the development of low white blood cell count) and is caused by feline parvo virus.

Spread is by direct faecal-oral contact, indirectly following contamination of the environment or objects (e.g. on food dishes, grooming equipment, bedding, floors, clothing or hands).

Cats infected with FIE can continue to excrete the virus for at least six weeks following infection. This virus can live in the environment for months to years and is resistant to many disinfectants.

The incubation period is usually less than 14 days with clinical signs including variable temperature – raised initially then low, often haemorrhagic vomiting and diarrhoea. The virus can then travel via the blood to the bone marrow and lymph glands which can lead to a marked decrease in white blood cells.

Pregnant cats can pass the virus to their unborn kittens, which can then interfere with the development of the brain causing co-ordination problems.

Immunity with vaccination lasts for three years.

This viral infection is highly contagious and is spread by direct contact with saliva, most commonly through fighting, grooming, sharing bowls and mating behaviour.

This virus does not survive in the environment for any length of time. Incubation period of the disease can be 8 weeks but up to several years. Although not all infected cats will develop clinical signs unfortunately 80-90% of infected cats will die within 3-4 years of FeLV diagnosis.

There is a very long list of clinical signs that can be associated with FeLV infection – frequent infections of all kinds due reduction in the bodies normal immune responses, weight loss, fever, lethargy, nervous signs (such as problems walking), and recurrent diarrhoea, lethargy, weakness and pale gums and tongue due to anaemia (low red blood cell count).

The FeLV virus has the ability to cause tumours for example leukaemia (cancer of the bone marrow) and lymphoma (cancer of the white blood cells) – this can be seen as lumps around the body both externally and internally.

Three-yearly revaccination is recommended.