Vaccinations

Cats are troubled with virus diseases - four of which can be prevented by vaccination ie Herpes and Calici respiratory virus, Feline enteritis (and parvovirus) and Feline Leukaemia virus.

Two troublesome diseases have no vaccines available ie Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (feline AIDS) and Feline Infectious Peritonitis.

Vaccine failure may occur if the mother of the kittens was a carrier.  She may transmit the disease before vaccination occurs. This is frequently a problem.

The usual recommendation by the manufacturers is to vaccinate kittens at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age.

In catteries with endemic disease help from veterinarians with special interest in cat diseases and the vaccine manufacturers should be sought.

Live vaccine is probably better replaced by killed vaccine in catteries and the side effects are less.

Late News.A chlamydial vaccine is now available.