Do Kittens Need Vaccinations Nz
Calicivirus is one of the most common viral causes of feline upper respiratory infections.
Do kittens need vaccinations nz. All kittens should receive a vaccination that protects against feline rhinotracheitis feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia fvrcp. Protection against all three of these viruses is generally provided in a combination vaccine. According to the american association of feline practitioners aafp the core vaccines those that are recommended for all cats are feline panleukopenia virus fpv feline herpesvirus 1 fhv 1 and feline calicivirus fcv as well as rabies. Currently there is no blood test available in new zealand to differentiate between vaccinated and infected cats therefore it is recommended that your cat is implanted with a microchip prior to vaccination to reduce the risk of it being mistakenly identified as suffering from this disease.
I recommend starting vaccinations at about 8 weeks of age continuing until the kitten is 4 months old. They will have an initial injection and then a second about 3 weeks later as well as a thorough health check and discussion about all aspects of kitten care including neutering flea and worm protection diet and behaviour. Kittens are old enough to be vaccinated once they are 8 9 weeks old. These are all diseases that are ubiquitous in nature and frequently found in the general cat population.
Kittens should have their first set of vaccinations at nine weeks old and at three months old they should receive the second set to boost their immune system. After this kittens and cats usually need booster vaccinations every twelve months. Then they must be boostered a year latyer. Until your kitten is fully vaccinated and neutered you should keep him or her inside.
Remember your kitten won t be fully protected until several weeks after their second set of jabs so it s best to keep them indoors and away from any unvaccinated pets until your vet says they re safe to mingle with other cats and go outside. After that they ll only need annual boosters. However this protection only lasts for some weeks so our little pets need regular vaccinations from an early age. When puppies and kittens are born they are usually protected from infections by their mother s milk.
Puppies and kittens need a series of 2 or 3 vaccines given 3 4 weeks apart. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old. When kittens are nursing antibodies in their mother s milk help protect them from infections. While there are certain mandatory or core vaccines for cats there are also noncore vaccines for different lifestyles or vaccines that are only recommended during the kitten years.
Kittens can start their vaccinations from nine weeks old and will need a second set of injections usually 2 4 weeks after their initial set to complete their course. Kitties need several immunizations during their first year to protect them against serious diseases. This is known as the primary course. After this they need a vaccine booster one year later.
To help protect kittens they ll need two sets of vaccinations to get them started.