Preventative health care is one of our main priorities at Coquet Vets, which is why we are currently running a vaccination amnesty for dogs and cats. Following on from last week’s canine vaccination article, this week we are focusing on feline infectious diseases. It is just as important that our feline friends are protected, regardless of whether they are indoor or outdoor cats.

Feline infectious diseases, like canine diseases, were responsible for thousands of deaths every year. These deaths are now greatly reduced in incidence as a result of vaccinations, although sadly they are not eradicated. 

Vaccinations work by exposing the body to small harmless doses of a specific disease. Your pet’s immune system then reacts by producing defensive antibodies that ‘remember’ the disease in question. These memory antibodies will fade in time and at a variable rate depending on the disease. This is why we need to vaccinate against certain diseases more frequently than others. 

Cat Flu

This is a broad term used to describe upper respiratory tract disease in cats. It is mainly caused by two viruses that we vaccinate against: Feline calicivirus and feline viral rhinotracheitis (herpes virus).

Your cat will experience flu symptoms similar to our own: fever, runny nose and eyes, sore throat, sneezing and loss of appetite. Some cats can develop mouth ulcers, which can make it painful and very difficult to eat, furthering a loss of appetite.

It can affect any age of cat, however, it is more commonly seen in young cats from multi-cat households. In very young or very old cats, cat flu can progress into a life threatening pneumonia. 

It is a highly contagious disease that can be spread either through direct or indirect contact for example toys/bedding. Most cats make a full recovery with the appropriate treatment, but many do go on to be carriers. This means throughout their lives they will be shedding the virus and during times of stress may experience the symptoms again. 

Feline Panleucopaenia

This is a serious disease that results in enteritis, similar to Parvovirus in dogs. The virus targets a kitten’s gastrointestinal tract and results in severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Unfortunately very few kittens survive this disease. It can easily spread, either through direct contact or through environmental sources such as bedding.

The virus is very resilient in the environment so even indoor cats need vaccinating. It is also possible for pregnant cats to pass the disease on to their unborn kittens resulting in the kittens being born with sever permanent neurological conditions. 

Vaccinations against these diseases are only able to generate immunity for one year, so annual vaccination is required to ensure your pet is protected.

Feline Leukaemia

This is a devastating viral disease that is sadly responsible for many feline deaths. If infected, 33% of cats die within four years, some even within two years. There is a range of clinical signs associated with feline leukaemia virus from fever to gastrointestinal to respiratory conditions.

One of the main consequences of the virus is it targets and damages the immune system, which leaves them vulnerable to many other diseases. It is commonly spread from cat to cat, for example during cat fights. It can, however, also be spread through litter trays and food bowls. There is no definitive treatment for feline leukaemia virus other than supportive care.

Vaccinations against feline leukaemia virus are able to generate immunity for a long period of time compared to others, so we vaccinate against it every three years after your pet’s initial kitten course and first annual booster. 

We recommend all cats receive annual boosters following their initial kitten courses. At Coquet Vets we aim to vaccinate kittens between 8 - 9 weeks and 12 weeks for the core vaccine (Cat Flu, Feline Panleucopaenia and Feline Leukaemia).

If your pet’s vaccine has lapsed they will require two injections over a 3 - 4 week period to ensure their immunity is topped up adequately. During the amnesty this is being done for the same price as a normal booster.

We hope you can see why we strongly believe in the benefits of vaccination and agree prevention is the best line of defence against these horrible diseases. 

If you would like to book your pet in for a vaccination or if you have any questions relating to this article, please call us on 01665 252250 or email us at info@coquetvets.co.uk