Are vaccines needed for kittens

Answer 1

Absolutely! It is incredibly important to vaccinate kittens as it helps boost their immune system and protect them against several diseases.

Kittens need two initial vaccinations - one at eight or nine weeks old, and the second one two weeks after that, usually at twelve weeks old.

The main diseases that kittens are vaccinated against are:

• Feline Infectious Enteritis (FIe) - Also called Panleukopenia. This is highly contagious and easily picked up. This virus can survive in the environment for a long period of time and can carried on clothes, shoes and litter trays. The symptoms of this disease are kittens or cats appear to be overly tired, depression, lack of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea which can cause dehydration. A kitten can quickly die from dehydration. It can damage the immune system, and kittens and cats can take many weeks to recover.
• Feline Calcivirus (FCV) - A strain of the common cold. Another highly contagious virus. Symptoms include fever, conjunctivitis, nasal discharge, sneezing, and mouth ulcers.
• Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR) - Otherwise known as Cat Flu. Cat flu is incredibly common, and is fatal to kittens if not treated quickly. The symptoms of cat flu are runny eyes and nose, sneezing, high temperature, conjunctivitis, salivation, mouth ulcers, or even pneumonia. Many cats, once recovered become carriers and carry the virus all their lives. Flu can flare up in times of stress or when the cat has a compromised immune system.

Other vaccinations that are recommended but not compulsory:

• Feline Chlamydia. This has similar symptoms to Cat Flu. Kittens may also develop some respiratory difficulty as well as having the discharge from the eye which is associated with chlamydia. The signs of this disease start in one eye and quickly spread to the other eye. Without treatment these signs can last for months, even years. Chlamydia can also infect the genital tracts of cats.
• Feline Leukaemia (FeLV) - This vaccination can have some worrying and sometimes severe side effects, but this is rare. This damages the immune system and is spread via bodily fluids, usually through via grooming, fighting or sexual activity. An infected female cat can pass the disease on to her unborn kittens in the womb or via her milk once they are born. Because FeLV suppresses the immune system, the cat is susceptible to many diseases which can be fatal as the cat is unable to them off effectively.

Vaccinating kittens and cats against these major Infectious Diseases is a necessity to the health of your pet. The vaccine protects your own pet and prevents it from being a carrier of disease and spreading infection.

Answer 2

It depends when the kitten will be spayed. Kittens get their two initial vaccinations - first at around nine weeks old, and the second one usually at twelve weeks old.

Generally speaking, kittens are spayed 4-6 months old, so yes, kittens will get their vaccinations much earlier than it getting spayed. However, some vets will perform early neutering which can take place when the kitten is as young as 8 weeks old, so the kitten will be spayed before or in-between the two vaccinations.

Answer 3

Vaccines are needed for kittens. At about 6-8 weeks, kittens should receive 3 vaccines. Then, at 12 weeks they receive their boosters and their rabies vaccine.