A cat’s natural immunization program may begin before birth, if the mother has her immunizations on schedule. The mothers immunizations can be passed to her kittens through placental membranes before birth, and through colostrums, (milk), after birth, referred to as passive immunity. Cats are susceptible to a host of contagious and fatal diseases and it is very important to maintain protection against these diseases with routine vaccinations.

Kittens are generally given a series of two modified live vaccines, the first at eight weeks for feline panleaukopenia (FPL), Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, (FVR), and Feline Calicivirus (FCV), repeated again at twelve weeks along with the first inoculation for the Rabies virus. The latter dose is then boostered after one year. Female cats should be current on immunizations before breeding, and any vaccinating done during a pregnancy should only be done with a killed virus vaccine as modified live vaccines could potentially damage the fetuses.

No matter what age or type of cat involved, all domestic cats should be vaccinated yearly. Even strictly indoor cats need immunization, as they still run the risk of coming in contact with contagious outdoor cats. Owners can unknowingly handle a contagious cat and carry a virus home to their unimmunized pets. Cats that spend any time outside run even greater risk of exposure. There are other diseases and ailments that can affect your pet. Those listed here are the worst and usually the most fatal. Please contact your veterinarian for any additional information to keep them healthy.