Mary Allen
Gone are the days when everyone was vaccinated against everything once a year. But keeping track of what is necessary and when is not easy for cat owners.
Adult humans are vaccinated much less frequently than adult cats. In the past, this has surprised some cat owners and caused them to take a critical look at the need for vaccinations. New studies have also been conducted on side effects. There are rare immediate reactions such as a slight runny nose if the vaccine was administered through the nose, but also tumor-like late effects at the injection sites. While side effects are exceptional, the risk should be carefully weighed: is the cat more likely to contract a disease it could have been vaccinated against, or is it more likely that an unwanted side effect will strike?
What? When? How often? These questions have received new answers in veterinary medicine in recent years. There is no general vaccination plan, the vaccinations must always be individually adjusted by the veterinarian. The motto is: vaccinate as many animals as possible, but the individual animal as seldom as necessary.
Every cat should always be vaccinated against two diseases. Cat disease: For the basic immunization, the cat needs an initial vaccination from the age of twelve weeks, which is boosted after three weeks and one year. After these three injections, it is enough to vaccinate against cat disease every three years. The trigger is the parvovirus FPV, every second infected cat dies from it.
Cat flu: There are several triggers for this disease. In around 90 percent of cases, a herpes virus (FHV1) and/or a calicivirus (FCV) are involved. The first vaccination takes place from twelve weeks, three weeks, and one year later there is a booster. After that, it is sufficient to vaccinate every three years.
Rabies Vaccination for Trips Abroad
Important: Farm or shelter cats have a higher risk of getting cat flu or feline disease. They can be vaccinated for the first time at eight weeks, then at four-week intervals up to the 16th week of life. After a year there is another refresher, then the three-year interval begins.
In addition to the mandatory vaccinations against cat epidemic and cat flu, there are a number of diseases for which one only decides individually after weighing the risk which vaccinations are necessary.
Rabies: Switzerland has been considered rabies-free since 1999. Nevertheless, vaccination cannot generally be dispensed with, because the legislators have a say in this to protect against the spread of the dangerous disease: Anyone who takes their cat abroad must be able to prove that they have a valid rabies vaccination. The first vaccination is given at the age of three months. If you plan to stay abroad, a second vaccination after three weeks makes sense to really ensure that the cat has formed enough antibodies. Some countries require a corresponding blood test. After a year, the rabies vaccination must be refreshed. Later, depending on the manufacturer, vaccinations are usually repeated every three years. Since the entry conditions are very different, it is advisable to consult your veterinarian carefully. In principle, indoor cats that do not travel can do without this vaccination.
Feline leukemia (formerly: leukemia): The virus occurs in about two percent of cats, and the course of the disease varies greatly. Vaccination is only recommended for young, outdoor cats that have never had contact with the virus. The first vaccination takes place in the 16th week of life, the two follow-up vaccinations in the 20th week of life and after one year. From then on, vaccinations are given every three years. And: If the cat is seven years old or older, you can do without this vaccination because age resistance is developing. Indoor cats do not need this vaccination.
FIP: The effectiveness of the vaccine against feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is highly controversial. The current recommendation is to vaccinate a cat – if at all – at the earliest from the 16th week of life. Before doing so, the veterinarian should make sure that the animal has never had contact with the causative virus. Vaccinate twice, three weeks apart, and then annually. Vaccination is through the nose.
Chlamydia and Bordetella: Both pathogens play a role in the clinical picture of “cat flu”, but only occur rarely. Vaccination is usually only done in breeding farms with problems or in animal shelters. Chlamydia vaccinations should be given twice, three weeks apart, and then annually. The first vaccination against Bordetella and then the annual repetition is sufficient.