CORE AND NON CORE VACCINES FOR CATS

CORE AND NON CORE VACCINES FOR CATS 

Vaccines are very important for the health and longevity of the cats.These are scientifically and medically proven to provide immunization in order to combat the deadly infectious agents.Vaccines are the preparations the resembles the causative agent.These are either made up of killed or weakened germs in a way that the body recognizes the agent and produce its army against it and then if the infection occurs the body have its army to fight and kill the agent effectively.
Vaccines are divided into two categories i.e. core and non-core vaccines.

CORE VACCINES :

Core vaccines are those vaccines which are recommended for all types of cats because the disease vaccine protects again is either common,deadly or threat to human.It is recommended that all household cats kept indoor must  receive the core vaccinations.Core vaccines includes;

1. Feline panleukopenia virus (feline distemper).
2. Feline calicivirus.
3. Feline rhinotracheitis (herpes virus).
4. Rabies.

NON CORE VACCINES :

Non core vaccines are recommended only for those cats whose life style place them at high risk of the infections.You must consult your vet to determine if any of these vaccines are appropriate for your cat.

1. Feline leukemia virus.
2. Feline immunodeficiency virus (AIDS).
3. Feline infectious peritonitis.
4. Dermatophytosis.
5. Chlamydia felis.
6. Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough)

VACCINATION OF KITTENS :

Kitten vaccination is very much necessary as kitten are susceptible to various infections because of their under developed immune system.Vaccines are important because they increase the life-span of the young ones which otherwise will prone to deadly diseases and are on risk of losing their lives, thus vaccination on proper time and minimizing the exposure to infectious agents is very significant.

VACCINATION SCHEDULE 

Kitten should be administered vaccines as early as 6-7 week of age ,which should be repeated at 4-5 week interval until your kitten is at least 15 week of age and then vaccine shots are administered annually called annual boosters.

VACCINATION OF ADULT CAT :

After the completion of kitten series, vaccines are administered annually in the adult cat.The decision regarding adult cat vaccination depend on the duration effective vaccine, risk associated with the disease or its spread to human and other animals.

REACTION TO VACCINES :

Although most of the cats do not show any type of ill-signs after vaccine administration yet some cats may have some sort of allergic reactions, which are usually minor and brief. These includes ;

1. Fever.
2. Lethargy.
3. Loss of appetite.
4. Lameness.
5. Hives.
6. Vomiting.
7. Diarrhea.
8. Swelling and redness around the area of injection site.

All these reactions are short lived. You should not get WORRIED as these reactions are temporary, because in these reactions it is actually the formation of immunity that takes place.This immunity or body army will then be able to fight and kill the infectious agent and provide health happiness and long life to your cat.
( if your cat is having ill side effects for more than a day call your vet to know if the special care is needed or not)
Keep in mind that for the average cat, the benefits of an appropriate vaccination program (protection against the serious/lethal diseases discussed above) far outweigh the potential risks associated with vaccination.