Tailoring feline vaccination programs

Tailoring feline vaccination programs


These days, feline vaccinations should be tailored to each cat’s risk factors, like age, environment and lifestyle.

That said, some vaccines are important for all cats. These core vaccines target serious diseases that remain global threats. Two of them—feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus [cah-LEE-see virus]—are respiratory diseases. Another, feline panleukopenia [pan-luko-PEEN-ia], was once a major cause of death in cats before vaccines pushed it back. Rabies is always fatal. And cats less than one year old, should be vaccinated against feline leukemia virus.

Use of non-core vaccines depends on each cat’s exposure risk. These include feline leukemia vaccine in cats over a year of age as well as Chlamydia felis [FEE-lis] and Bordatella bronchiseptica [bron-kah-SEPT-ti-cah] vaccines to fend off respiratory disease.

So, work with your veterinarian on a personalized plan to keep your buddy purring.

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