Give them the gift of Protection
Which Vaccines are needed for cat’s in Perth? At Huntingdale Veterinary Centre we recommend the following vaccination schedule.
- 8 weeks old - F3 or F5 (outdoors cats)
- 10 weeks old - 2nd FIV booster (outdoors only)
- 12 weeks old - F3 or F5/6 (outdoors cats)
- 16 weeks old - F3 or F6 ( to align international guidelines)
- Annual booster with the vaccine recommended for your cats lifestyle
Why do kittens need so many vaccines?
- Immunity against common infections is low in newborns
- Their mothers transferred immunity is only temporary and variable
- Any transferred immunity in nearly all gone at 12 weeks
- Maternal antibodies interfer with vaccine effectiveness
When is it safe to let my kitten out now that it has had a all its vaccines?
We cannot ensure that your kitten will have developed complete immunity against the diseases it is being vaccinated until 10-14 days after our advised third vaccine. This is the same period when they are at greatest risk of being infected with disease, particularly cat flu and feline leukaemia (FeLV). Generally we agree that keeping your cat indoors for it’s entire life (with an outside enclosure) is best, with average survival of indoors cat’s being 12 years. Average lifespan is much reduced for their outdoors companions to only 5 years!. Having said that, it can be in many circumstances difficult to keep a curious cat indoors 100% of the time.
Why does my cat need booster vaccines?
- Immunity declines with time
- Re-vaccination is proven to maintain a high level of protection against disease
- Did you know we can test your cats immunity as vaccine protection can last years
- Discuss the need and frequency of your booster vaccines with your vet
My cat is indoors only, does it still need a vaccine?
- Yes!
- Many diseases do not require direct cat-cat contact
- Disease can be carried into the home by yourself or visitors
- Isolated pets have lower natural immunity and are more susceptible to disease
What else should I know?
Depending on your location some infections may be more or less common. Your veterinarian will assess the relative risks based on you and your cats specific lifestyle requirements and advise you accordingly.
In most properly vaccinated cats, the immunity should last more than a year, and often several years. However, immunity does decline with time and this decline rate varies with individuals. To maintain the best immunity in a reasonable way, revaccinations have proven very successful. You can opt for “titre testing” to assess your pets immunity though it is generally more expensive than revaccination. Your veterinarian will discuss the need and frequency of booster vaccinations for your cat based on your pet’s needs and lifestyle.
There are situations in which the immunity conferred by a vaccine may be overcome and a vaccinated cat may still develop disease. In such cases the disease is generally milder than it would have been had the cat not been vaccinated.
Vaccination schedules vary depending on your local area as well as the brand and type of vaccine your vet carries. As a result when you call different practices you will often get different recommendations and prices. Luckily our vaccines are clever enough we can also offer you early finish kitten vaccines, and 3 yearly F3 boosters – you can discuss the pros and cons of these options with your vet.
If you have any further questions or would like to call us to book your kitten or adult cat in for vaccination Ph: (08) 9493 2199