Mary Allen
Why should you vaccinate the cat? What diseases can you vaccinate against? And what does basic immunization mean? Here you can find out everything you need to know about preventive care for house tigers
According to Prof. Dr. Hans Lutz from the University of Zurich, viral infections are by far the most important cause of diseases in domestic cats. Unlike bacterial infections, which can be fought directly with antibiotics, the veterinarian can only treat cats with viral diseases as supportive treatment. That is why vaccination against viral diseases is so important. But vaccination against bacterial diseases, such as chlamydiosis, is also worthwhile because it saves the cat from being ill.
What Diseases Can You Vaccinate Against?
In Germany, cats can be vaccinated against rabies, cat flu, feline plague, FeLV (leukosis), FIP, and chlamydiosis. The chlamydiosis vaccine was not available on the German market for a while. But now it’s available again. Cat flu and chlamydiosis are the only non-fatal diseases. But they can lead to chronic problems. Chlamydiosis can also be transmitted to humans. Rabies is also one of the zoonoses, diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. In contrast to chlamydiosis, which usually “only” causes inflammation of the human eye mucous membranes, rabies is always and absolutely deadly.
What Diseases Should Indoor Cats Be Vaccinated Against?
Indoor cats should be regularly vaccinated against cat flu and cat disease. The pathogens of both diseases are extremely resistant and can be brought into the home. At least basic immunization against the other diseases is also recommended. Because contact with other cats can never be completely ruled out. Indoor cats that spend their holidays in a boarding kennel need to be vaccinated anyway, just like cats that are outdoors.
What Do Protection Do Free-Roaming Cats Need?
Outdoor cats should always be vaccinated against all diseases. Because there is a risk of infection everywhere. And what should not be forgotten: Unvaccinated cats also pose a danger to their fellow cats.
Is The Rabies Vaccination Still Necessary?
Only a few cases of rabies occur in Germany. These are mostly wild animals or imported animals. But if you want to take a cat abroad, for example, you have to prove that you have a valid rabies vaccination – at the latest when you return to Germany. In other European countries, this is done with the European pet passport. The last rabies vaccination documented by the veterinarian must be at least thirty days old when crossing the border, but may not be older than one year. Outdoor cats should also be regularly immunized against rabies. If the official veterinarian declares an area a rabies district, he can order the killing of unvaccinated dogs and cats if he fears that these animals will endanger people.
What Does Basic Immunization Mean?
If the cat does not have vaccination protection, it must be given basic immunization. That is two vaccinations against the same disease four weeks apart. The first vaccination serves to familiarize the immune system with the characteristics of the pathogen. In the next few weeks, it has time to develop defense cells and produce antibodies against them. The second vaccination trains the immune system so that it can react quickly and effectively in an emergency.
How Often Should You Refresh?
In general, all vaccinations are routinely boosted annually. It is currently being discussed whether this annual vaccination is really necessary. In fact, the individual living conditions of the cat play an important role. Indoor cats are less at risk than outdoor cats and therefore likely need fewer vaccinations. However, cats that have a lot of contact with other cats should be vaccinated consistently.
Why Do Vaccines Sometimes Fail?
Vaccine breakthroughs – cases in which a cat gets an infection against which it was originally vaccinated – are extremely rare. They can occur when the cat is exposed to very high infection pressure, e.g. B. lives in an animal shelter. Or the cat has already been infected with the virus before the vaccination – this can occur above all with insidious viral diseases. Sometimes it is also due to incorrect storage of the vaccine or because the cat was not fit at the time of vaccination and had not developed an adequate immune response. If there is a vaccination breakthrough, vaccinated cats usually do not get as severely ill as unvaccinated cats of the same species.
How To Prepare The Cat For Vaccination?
For the vaccination to be effective, the cat should be free of infectious diseases and parasites. She should be dewormed about a week before vaccination. Consistent flea and tick protection also relieve the immune system. In general, everything supports the immune system and thus promotes response to the vaccination, which the cat maintains in good physical condition. This includes a balanced diet, security in the human family, and exercise.
What Side Effects Can Vaccinations Have?
A slight increase in body temperature and tiredness up to a day after vaccination are side effects that are completely normal and harmless. They are a sign of the work of the immune system. A serious side effect is the very rare form of a tumor at the vaccination site. This side effect has been primarily associated with vaccination against FeLV. While you may be able to do without the FeLV vaccination for indoor cats, you should definitely not do this for free-roaming cats. For free-roaming cats, the risk of a fatal infection with FeLV is far greater than the risk of tumors. In addition, there are now new, modern vaccines that largely eliminate the risk of tumor formation. Ask your vet about it.