What does your cat need to be vaccinated against? 
An important part of cat and kitten care is getting them the right vaccinations from day one – the sooner they’ve had the jabs, the sooner they’ll be protected from a whole range of nasty illnesses and infections. Many of these jabs are given to the animal shortly after birth, while others come in the form of booster shots further down the line. Although different breeds can have different needs, which you’ll need to discuss with your vet, there are some general vaccinations that almost all cats and kittens will need to be given.
According to animal charity Cats’ Protection, there are four main vaccinations that all feline owners should be asking their vet about, especially if they’re recently taken on a kitten.
Feline infectious enteritis (FIE)
This is a vaccination must – unvaccinated cats are at a significant risk as the virus is so widespread in the environment. FIE is a severe and often fatal gut infection, which is caused by the feline parvovirus. In other words, it’s nasty and needs to be avoided.
Cat flu
It’s also a must that your cat is vaccinated against the feline flu. There are two common types, feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus, although there are so many strains of the illness that the vaccine cannot totally eradicate the threat of infection.
Feline chlamydophilosis
This vaccine is not required by all cats, so speak to your vet about whether your feline friend needs the jab. The bacterium causes conjunctivitis in cats and is spread by direct contact with other animals rather than the air, meaning it largely affects multi-cat households and kittens.
Feline leukaemia virus
If your cat is going to spend any time outdoors – which is the vast majority of felines – than it’s highly recommended they are vaccinated against this nasty virus. It’s a lifelong infection that kills most cats within three years of diagnosis, usually from illnesses caused as a result of getting the virus. Like Feline chlamydophilosis, it’s not an airborn disease and is passed through direct contact such as saliva and bites.
Of course, for more information on these illnesses, vaccinations and general cat health, it’s always worth speaking to an expert. You may be wondering: ‘why do cats get certain illnesses and not others?’ Or want to know more about ways you can protect your feline friends against nasty bugs? Then your vet should always be your first port of call.
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