At Clay-Chalkville Animal Clinic, serving Clay and Pinson, AL, we provide a wide variety of veterinary services for your pets. We provide excellent preventative care to keep your pets healthy, including vaccines. Each pet requires different vaccines, and our veterinary team will guide you on what vaccinations your pet should get.
Cat Vaccines
Cats need different vaccines than dogs. One vaccine that both species needs is the rabies vaccine, which is required by law in most states. Aside from that, there are several core vaccines that your cat will need. If you are bringing a new kitten home, it is important to visit our veterinarian as soon as possible. We will guide you on what vaccines your new pet needs. Each vaccine can be administered at a certain age, and certain vaccines require additional booster shots.
Typically, core vaccines for cats are for rabies, feline leukemia virus, feline herpesvirus 1, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia. There are also several noncore vaccines that your kitten may need depending on its health and lifestyle.
Our veterinarians recommend the FVRCP vaccine for your cat. This is a combination of several core vaccines and can protect your cat against dangerous diseases.
What Is the FVRCP Vaccine?
While you do not have to get the FVRCP combination vaccine for your cat, our vets highly recommend it. This vaccine delivers triple protection against three separate diseases, all of which are highly contagious.
- Feline viral rhinotracheitis, represented by the F, V, and R in the shot's abbreviation, is an upper respiratory disease caused by feline herpesvirus. The virus affects a cat’s nose, throat, and eyes, causing congestion and often discharge.
- Calicivirus, accounting for the C, is an upper respiratory and oral disease that can infect the bloodstream and organs. It can cause congestion and ulcers or infections in the tongue.
- Panleukopenia, the P, is a virus shed in nasal secretions as well as urine and stool. It poses a severe threat for cats that come into contact with other cats. This virus is also known as feline distemper or feline parvo. It attacks fast-growing and dividing cells, such as those lining the digestive tract, causing debilitating and dehydrating diarrhea. It also destroys cells in the bone marrow, robbing the cat of the immunity granted by white blood cells.
Kittens can receive this vaccine when they are 8 weeks old, and can get the second dose at 16 weeks old.
FVRCP and Indoor Cats
Some pet owners believe that their cat does not need the FVRCP vaccine if they have an indoor cat. While this may limit exposure to viruses, your cat is still at risk. These highly contagious viruses can infect your cat even if it does not spend time around other cats. Cats are curious and can get these viruses from their environments or contaminated objects.
After the first round of FVRCP vaccines, your cat will need a booster shot every one or two years. At our facility, we will keep a vaccination schedule for your pet and let you know when your cat needs a vaccination.
Schedule an Appointment for Your Cat’s Vaccinations
If you are bringing a new kitten home or recently adopted a cat, it is vital to bring it to our vet for an exam. We will determine what vaccines your pet needs. At Clay-Chalkville Animal Hospital, serving Clay and Pinson, AL, our team will ensure that your cat stays up to date with its vaccines so it is always protected. Our team recommends the FVRCP vaccine for your cat so it can avoid preventable diseases. We offer a wide variety of other veterinary services in addition to vaccinations. To schedule an appointment, call us today.