Vaccinating Your Outdoor Cat
An Investment In Health
Outdoor cats often make great pets because they are low maintenance, catch mice, and are resistant to the extremes of weather. Yet because they live with access to other ‘barn’ cats as well as feral (wild) cats, they are more susceptible to potentially fatal diseases. Vaccinating for these diseases is the best prevention, and will prevent expensive treatment, the inconvenience of illness, and even death in your beloved pets. Of course, neutering your outdoor cat can reduce exposure to disease as well as unwanted litters.
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is very common, highly contagious, and deadly. Cats infected normally die in one to three years, and show non-specific symptoms such as anemia, respiratory distress, eye disease, or no symptoms at all. FeLV is spread by contact with body fluids. In other words, grooming and licking, uing the same litter area, and fighting all spread the virus.
-Outdoor cats are very likely to be exposed to FeLV.
-There is no cure for FeLV.
-Infection leads ultimately to death.
-Vaccination is the best prevention for FeLV.
-A test is run first to confirm that a new cat has not been exposed. Then a series of two FeLV inoculations is
required the first year, then one booster each year after.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is moderately common, somewhat contagious, and usually lethal. Like FeLV, some infected cats show no signs while others display a telltale potbelly and watery eyes. On rare occasion, FIP infected cats seem to respond to treatment or go into remission. But normally the condition worsens until death occurs. FIP is spread through mucous membranes and normally requires repeated close contact.
- Outdoor cats are likely to be exposed to FIP.
-Treatment is expensive and rarely successful.
-Infection leads ultimately to death.
-Vaccination is the best prevention for FIP.
-A series of two intranasal inoculations is required the first year, then one booster each year after. Testing
is not diagnostically accurate.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is not as common as FeLV or FIP, but like HIV in humans is debilitating and fatal. Also called feline aids, FIV causes immune failure. Infected cats may show no symptoms for one to five years, but when the virus is active, it kills in just months. Because FIV is commonly transmitted through bite wounds, free roaming males and breeding females are most likely to be infected.
- Outdoor male or female intact cats are most likely to be exposed to FIV.
-Treatment can maintain a quality life for years before death, but cats are contagious and treatment is
expensive.
-There is currently a vaccine in the works for FIV. It has proven to be about 50% effective.
-Humans cannot become infected with FIV.
-Testing is usually performed with the FeLV test.
Of course, vaccination against Rabies and RCCP is recommended as a baseline defense for outdoor cats as well.
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