Whether you own a small cat or a big cat, you should take care of it and give it the necessary vaccinations to prevent feline diseases caused by viruses and bacteria, and strengthen its immune system, and this can be done by consulting a veterinarian and determining the necessary vaccines that depend on the cat's age, General Health, and also lifestyle, and determining the duration of taking these vaccines.
Number of vaccinations for cats
Before choosing your cat, you need to make sure that she received the first vaccination, as it builds the defenses of the cat's immune system against any potentially dangerous diseases, and cat vaccinations are scheduled as follows:
From 6-8 weeks, the kittens are given the first temporary vaccination.
From 10-12 weeks, kittens are given supportive vaccination.
From 14-16 weeks, the kittens are given the finished graft.
Basic and optional cat vaccinations
Vaccines are divided into basic and optional vaccines given by injection through the skin, which are as follows:
Basic vaccinations
The basic vaccines necessary for all cats are given in order to protect them due to the spread and severity of diseases, and to protect their owners, these vaccines include:
Herpes virus
It is a highly contagious virus that affects the respiratory tract.
Tuberculosis
It is a highly contagious viral disease of the stomach and intestines, which can be fatal.
Feline pancytopenia virus
It is an often deadly virus, as it infects the stomach and intestines, and a large percentage of infected cats have died due to this virus.
Optional vaccinations
Optional vaccines are given to protect cats from any danger that may cause them illness, and are given based on the cat's age, lifestyle, and interaction with other cats, and are less effective compared to basic vaccines, these include:
A very contagious respiratory condition is bronchitis.
The feline leukemia virus; is the main cause of cancer in cats, causing blood disorders and immunodeficiency.
Chlamydiophila felis virus; is a variant virus that causes conjunctivitis in cats, an inflammation that affects the eyes of cats.
Side effects of cat vaccinations
Most often, cats do not show any bad side effects of the vaccine, although you should pay attention to the possibility of any of the following side effects:
Fever or hyperthermia of cats.
Severe lethargy.
Loss of appetite.
Vomiting.
Diarrhea.
Swelling and redness around the injection site.
Lameness.
Chills.
How cat vaccinations work
Vaccines strengthen the cat's immune system so that it is fully ready and prepared for any diseases or infections that may affect the cat.
The cat must be vaccinated with all the required vaccines at the right time and also in the right form, otherwise the immune system of her body will not be able to fight these diseases or infections.
The dangers of cat vaccinations
There are some risks associated with the vaccination of cats as follows:
The risks begin in the form of minor reactions such as mild fever and lack of appetite and subside several hours after taking the graft.
If the swelling persists near the place of the graft for more than 3 weeks, you should consult your veterinarian, as this tumor may be a sign of a type of cancer that requires surgery, taking into account that the cat receives the graft in places where tissue can be removed such as limbs and tail, which can be amputated in case of any complications, noting that cats are not affected after the amputation process.