Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VACCINATING
YOUR CAT
In the mid 1990s the American Association of Feline Practitioners
(AAFP) took a bold step and created an advisory panel on feline vaccines.
They first published feline vaccination guidelines in January 1998 and
then revised them in 2000.These recommendations base vaccine admin-
istration on a cat's individual risk factors, history and age.They question
the necessity of vaccinating every cat every year for every disease.
The following information highlights some of the vaccination
guideline recommendations. Your veterinarian may or may not be
familiar with these specific guidelines, but discussing your individual
cat's vaccination needs is important.
The AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines state, “The objective of
feline vaccination protocols should be to vaccinate more cats in the
population, vaccinate individuals less frequently, and only for the dis-
eases for which there is a risk of exposure and disease.” Assessing an
individual cat's risk of infection is a cornerstone in developing a vac-
cine protocol.The three items that need to be evaluated are the cat, the
cat's environment and the infectious agents the cat may be exposed to.
Evaluating Risk
When making a decision about vaccination, risk factors to consider are:
•
Age of the cat
•
Number of cats in the household
•
Exposure to outdoor or free-roaming cats
•
Whether the cat will be at a boarding facility
•
Where the cat lives (cattery, shelter or private home)
•
Whether the cat is shown or routinely goes out for other
types of activities
Because they have immature immune systems, young kittens are
more susceptible to disease than adult cats. Initially, kittens are protect-
ed by antibodies they receive through their mother's milk.The first milk
a queen produces is called
colostrum
, and it is rich in protective anti-
bodies. These antibodies provide maternal immunity and are absorbed
