Panleukopenia. Also known as feline parvovirus or feline distemper, the panleukopenia virus is a life-threatening viral disease that spreads quickly through non-vaccinated cat populations. This disease affects rapidly dividing cells in the body and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and neurological signs.
Cats can develop a number of illnesses if they don't have their shots, but feline leukemia is one of the worst. This illness is a top cause of feline death with a fatality rate of nearly 90%. Feline immunodeficiency virus, also known as cat AIDS, is a serious, lifelong illness transmitted by unvaccinated cats.
"Most adult cats should be revaccinated every one to three years based on lifestyle risk assessment." Most adult cats that received the full booster series of vaccines as kittens should be revaccinated every one to three years based on a lifestyle risk assessment.
Missing a vaccination or booster
If your puppy or kitten is more than 2 weeks late for booster vaccination, their immune system will no longer be as active, and this means that there will be less of an immune response from the subsequent vaccination.
Vaccinations are a critical part of preventive health care for your cat. Even indoor cats can be exposed to serious and potentially fatal diseases because many of the diseases that fit within the normal vaccine schedule are airborne.
Veterinarians recommend that all indoor cats should be given core vaccinations to keep them protected from a large range of extremely contagious diseases, so they are safe from illnesses if they escape from your house, go for a grooming or if they have to stay at a boarding facility, etc.
Vaccinating cats and kittens. Vaccinations help to protect your cat from severe infectious diseases. It also prevents them from passing anything nasty on to other animals in your area. Vaccinating your kitten is one of the most important things you should do in your first few weeks as a cat owner.
The answer is yes. There are actually a number of diseases you can contract catch from your cat, known broadly as zoonotic diseases. The word “zoonotic” is used to describe any disease that is transmittable from animals to humans. The best known and most feared example of a zoonotic disease is rabies.
The vaccinations we recommend as routine for cats are against Panleukopenia (also known as Feline Infectious Enteritis), Cat Flu (Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpesvirus), and Feline Leukaemia (FeLV).
Although cats are great companions, cat owners should be aware that sometimes cats can carry harmful germs that can cause a variety of illnesses in people, ranging from minor skin infections to serious illnesses.
It is unlikely that you would be exposed to the parasite by touching an infected cat because cats usually do not carry the parasite on their fur. In addition, cats kept indoors (that do not hunt prey or are not fed raw meat) are not likely to be infected with Toxoplasma.
An F3 cat vaccination is what we recommend for most indoor cats. Non core vaccines, including those protecting against chlamydia, feline leukaemia and feline aids are usually only given if your cat goes outdoors or lives in at risk environments.
"Most adult cats should be revaccinated every one to three years based on lifestyle risk assessment." Most adult cats that received the full booster series of vaccines as kittens should be revaccinated every one to three years based on a lifestyle risk assessment.
Average cost of cat vaccinations
However, as a rough guide, cat vaccinations in Australia are usually in the range of $80 to $150 each. We suggest you check with your local vet clinic to find out their specific vaccination prices. If you have pet insurance, you may be covered for part of your cat vaccination costs.
Cats housed exclusively indoors generally do not require vaccination beyond feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus-1, and feline calicivirus. These core vaccines are recommended for every cat, indoor or outdoor, because of the widespread or severe nature of these diseases.
Core vaccines
These are essential for every cat in Australia to receive as they protect them from serious diseases. The core vaccines are: feline herpes virus. feline calicivirus.
It's never too late to start a vaccination programme.
If you have an older cat, it is not too late to start a vaccination programme and your vet will be able to advise you on this. Older cats often have a weaker immune system so it is especially important to give them a helping hand and keep their boosters up to date.
Vaccinate at home. Spectra® and Focus® multi-protection vaccines give your furry friends proven protection against the major health risks of cats and dogs. Save time and money when you vaccinate at home, knowing that your pets are getting the same industry-leading protection that veterinarians have trusted for years.
Feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus
Like humans we vaccinate cats yearly. Our current guidelines are to give a booster vaccination if the vaccination is lapsed by less than 3 months.
The most common symptoms of toxoplasmosis include fever, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Other symptoms may occur depending upon whether the infection is acute or chronic, and the location of the parasite in the body.
It's unlikely that your cat will give you toxoplasmosis. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "people are more likely to get [toxoplasmosis] from eating raw meat or from gardening."
The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is typically made by serologic testing. A test that measures immunoglobulin G (IgG) is used to determine if a person has been infected.
What causes cat scratch disease? Cat scratch disease is caused by a bacterium carried in the cat saliva. The bacteria are passed from an infected cat to a human after the cat licks an open wound or bites or scratches human skin hard enough to break the surface of the skin.
Ammonia, which is a toxic gas, can cause serious breathing issues and other problems. The ammonia can cause irritation of the bronchial membranes in your lungs, and lead to lots of coughing, as well as severe injury to the tissues in your trachea and lungs.