Petting a cat is not easy; however, the affection you feel towards your little fellow makes you move mountains for its health and better survival. If you have recently adopted/purchased a cat, you have to prove yourself as a responsible and caring owner who prioritizes their cat’s health. Your duties towards your cat involve not only feeding and bathing it but there is much more.
You have to make sure that your cat has all its vaccination shots on time. Moreover, you have to observe your cat’s behavior and get it spayed/neutered on time to avoid undesired consequences. Taking care of your pet cat might be expensive, but we assume you would like to spend on protecting your cat rather than spending hefty amounts on your sickened cat.
This article contains valuable and factual information about what vaccines indoor cats need primarily. Moreover, you will also get a quick review regarding how much kitten shots cost.
What vaccines do cats need?
Like humans, cats are also vulnerable to catching diseases that either make their survival difficult or ultimately cause death. All cats, be it outdoor or indoor, need to get vaccinated against deadly viruses and bacteria. However, outdoor cats are at greater risk of catching even uncommon diseases than indoor cats that do not have much exposure to the outside world.
However, this article primarily discusses the vaccines that all indoor cats need to get at any cost! Getting your indoor cat vaccinated against critical organisms might not guarantee protection. However, it will develop the immunity it needs to fight the disease in the best possible way.
There are two types of vaccines available for cats, the core and non-core vaccines. Speaking of the core vaccines, these are essential for both indoor and outdoor cats. However, on the contrary, the non-core vaccines are a must for outdoor cats, and the indoor ones might not need to get these.
Let’s have a light on the core vaccines available for indoor cats;
- Feline rabies vaccine.
- FVRCP vaccine.
What is the feline rabies vaccine and its schedule?
Both indoor and outdoor cats are at significant risk of catching the deadly Rabies virus that causes Rabies disease, also called Encephalitis. Rabies is a disease of wild animals like bats, skunks, and raccoons; however, dogs are also vulnerable to the virus in developing countries. The virus transmits through the saliva of an infected animal following a bite. Moreover, humans also get infected when bit by a rabid animal.
The Rabies virus attacks the infected animal’s nervous system and causes signs and symptoms like fear of water, intolerant towards the light, seizures, and death if left untreated. Both the infected animals and humans show similar symptoms. Understandably, it is painful to see your lovely cat in such misery. Therefore, we suggest you get it vaccinated against Rabies as per the international schedule.
According to the usual vaccination schedule being followed worldwide, your cat needs the Rabies vaccine every year. Moreover, please remember that there is a Canine rabies vaccine available as well, which is for dogs. Therefore, you have to make sure that you administer the Feline rabies vaccine in your cat, which is specifically for them.
What is FVRCP vaccine and its schedule?
Another essential vaccine that your indoor cat needs, no matter what happens, is the FVRCP shot. It is a combination vaccine, also referred to as a 3-in-1 vaccine for cats which involves protection against feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia virus.
A specific family of viruses known as Parvovirus causes feline panleukopenia infection. The disease involves the digestive tract of your cat primarily. As a result, the gut of your cat becomes highly inflamed, resulting in internal bleeding. Excessive loss of blood within your cat’s git results in death.
The feline calicivirus works well with the feline herpes virus and causes deadly cat flu. The common presentations of your sick cat would be nasal symptoms like nasal discharge and sneezing. However, your cat would also suffer from eye-related problems like discharges from the eye and conjunctivitis (in which your cat’s eye would appear red and blood-filled.)
All the viruses covered in the FVRCP vaccine are highly contagious and spread through different ways, like an infected cat sneezing and coughing around healthy cats, if a healthy cat eats from the bowl of a sick cat, etc.
As per the international schedule, your cat needs its 1st FVRCP shot at 8th week of life, 2nd dose at 12th week, 3rd dose at 16th week of life, and 4th dose at 1st year of your cat’s life. After that, your cat needs a single FVRCP shot every three years.
How much do kitten shots cost?
Nobody can precisely estimate how much do cat shots cost. However, there is an overview that may help you set your budget. The prices of vaccines vary from country to country, especially vet to vet, since vets may also charge a little extra for their services. Undoubtedly, you need to spend a good amount on your cat’s vaccines. However, it is worth it!
Does spaying/neutering calm your cats?
Spaying and neutering are essential surgical procedures that every cat needs to undergo when it is about to hit puberty. The procedures involve removing ovaries/uterus in female cats while the vets remove testicles and prostate in male cats. In addition, these procedures may make your cat calm if the source of outrageous behavior has been the uncontrolled sexual drive.
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In conclusion
Getting your kitten/cat vaccinated on time is one of the utmost duties towards your cat, and you must fulfill it to protect your cat from deadly diseases. However, if you are a new cat owner and do not know how often to vaccinate cats, fear not. In this article, we have tried our best to mention what vaccines indoor cats need and their international schedules. Hopefully, it will prove helpful!
