Covering Age Factors, What Vaccinations Are Important for Indoor Cats? (Ishraq Ahmed Hashmi)

That is why it is important to maintain vaccinations for cats that spend their time indoors.

Contrary to what one may think, indoor cats may not be safe from the elements of the outside world but they need vaccines to get a due system service. Immunizations help safeguard them from severe illnesses that can be contracted directly through touch with other animals or indirectly through ingestion of contaminated materials such as food and water; or indirectly through handling articles that have come into contact with people.

What Vaccinations Does an Indoor Cat Need

1. Risk of Escape: Outdoor cats also can get to indoors by using doors or Windows and get in contact with other animals.

2. Contact with Other Animals: Pet cats that are mostly kept indoors may come into contact with other animals that may visit the house; these include dogs or other cats.

3. Human Contact: Diseases can be passed from humans to cats through contact or through touched objects such as the clothes that the cat uses or comes in contact with.

4. Food and Water Contamination: Outdoor cats can also get in contact with affected food and water sources no matter how much they are indoors.

Core Vaccinations for Indoor Cats

1. Rabies: Required in majority of the states, guards against the fatal rabies virus.

2. Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR): Helps to guard against a particular’ virus that causes common respiratory illnesses.

3. Feline Calicivirus (FCV): Shields one against another regularly occurring respiratory virus.

4. Panleukopenia (FPV): To a certain extent – shields the patient from a hardly noticeable still deadly virus.

Other Basic inoculations for indoor cats

1. Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): It is advisable for use for cats that may be indoors and has contact with other cats.

2. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): For indoor cats likely to interact with other cats recommended.

DOs

•      This is especially important to do as often as the veterinarian advises whether it is in the form of annual vaccinations or other recommended boosters.

•        There are various sicknesses that affect cats; therefore, it is recommended to keep the cat inside to reduce its exposure to infections.

•          In male cats get them neutered to help avoid getting certain diseases or in female cats get them spayed.

•        Offer proper feed, exercise, and health care in the right manner to enable the dogs lead a healthy life.

•        Take time observe your cat’s health and if you observe any changes or incidence that is peculiar to your cat then seek medical attention from your vet.

DON'Ts

•          Do not hesitate to think that inside cats are protected from diseases.

•          Avoid missing vaccine booster doses or postpone it.

•       Do not take your cat to other animals particularly to those that may be having some diseases.

•      A potential disability would be the failure to address various aspects of a cat’s health and well-being.

•          If you harbor any doubts about the state of health of your cat, then feel free to consult the services of a veterinarian.

So, to maintain your cat’s health and prevent him/her from getting severe illnesses that can easily be prevented by vaccinations for indoor cats, ensure to follow these DOs and DON’Ts listed above. Get advice from your veterinarian on the need and the proper time to get your pet indoor cat vaccinated.

 

A final determinant that pet owners should consider concerning the vaccinations of house cats is age. Here are some age-related guidelines

Kittens

 •         6-8 weeks: First vaccinations (basic vaccinations: FVR, FCV, FPV)

 •         10-12 weeks: Second vaccinations (core vaccinations)

 •         14-16 weeks: The third vaccinations also known as core vaccinations refer to the following vaccinations:.

 •         1 year: Those vaccines are booster shots of the core vaccinations.

 •         After 1 year: Buffer or annual boosters (fundamental immunizations)

Adult Cats

•         Previously vaccinated: Read the recommended booster schedule (it is usually given 1-3 years after the previous booster session).

•         Not previously vaccinated: Primarily, there are basic vaccinations, which a pet is supposed to receive to begin with, and then there are the others that are given periodically.

 Senior Cats or cats that are seven years old and above.

 •     Consult with your veterinarian: It is likely that senior cats may need boosters more often or may have health complications that need the companies’ vaccines

 Additional Age-Related Factors

 •      Kittens under 4 months: May not be adequately shielded by immunizations, so should be kept inside and out of the reach of sicknesses.

•      Cats over 10 years: Their immunity may not be working properly and thus can easily be vulnerable to diseases; you should always consult the vet on some special precautionary measures to be taken.

 Just note that these are rather standard recommendations. The normal vaccination schedule may be altered by your veterinarian depending on your cat’s previous health history, current health status and its activities.