Cat Vaccinations at Green Valley Veterinary Care
What vaccines does my cat need?
We vaccinate for what is called an FVRCP, which is a combination vaccine that is against a bunch of viruses that cats can contract from each other. We vaccinate against feline leukemia, and we also vaccinate against rabies for cats.
When should I start vaccinating my kitten?
Kittens can start their vaccine schedule anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks. We like them to be over 2 lbs when we start vaccinating kittens. That typically happens at around 8 weeks of age.
How often does my cat need booster vaccinations?
When we talk about shots or vaccines or boosters, after we go through a kitten series of vaccines, we will see your cat annually for a physical exam because that's what we recommend in terms of maintaining wellness. We can determine your cat's needs for vaccines at those appointments.
What are the benefits of vaccinating my cat?
Definitely preventing your cat against infectious diseases. Even if your cat is an indoor cat, you can still bring something home from another cat that you've seen. And then the rabies vaccine, you need to have it by law for very certain reasons. So those would be reasons why we recommend vaccinating.
What should I do if my cat has a reaction to a vaccine?
A vaccine reaction can include facial swelling, vomiting, hives, or diarrhea. In those instances, we'd want you to give us a call and let us know that it's happening. Most of the time, it's self-limiting, meaning it'll stop on its own. You can also give a full-grown cat anywhere from a half to a full tablet of Benadryl, and that can help if your cat is having a true vaccine reaction. However, what's normal and not considered a reaction is being tired after receiving a vaccine or having pain at the injection site. These are normal and to be expected. If you think your cat is having a vaccine reaction, then we'd want you to give us a call. You can also go to our website and click on the emergency tab, where it's called Vet Triage. Click on there, and you can talk to a veterinarian if we're not available because it's after hours.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (937) 358-8142, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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