What vaccines does my cat need?

During your cat’s wellness visit we will also recommend vaccines.

RCP (rhinotracheitis- calicivirus-panleukopenia) (the upper respiratory or Feline distemper vaccine) helps protect your cat against common causes of upper respiratory infections. Upper respiratory infections are one of the top reasons that we see sick kittens and cats, so we want to protect your feline friend with this vaccine.

The feline leukemia vaccine is recommended for all kittens, and annually for all cats that spend any time outdoors. Feline leukemia virus is transmitted between and among cats and kittens that come into contact or live in an environment with an infected cat. This virus can lead to development of cancer of their blood that can result in a substantially shortened lifespan.

An up to date rabies vaccine is required by law for all cats 16 weeks and older. This virus is transmitted to cats from bats, skunks, raccoons and other infected mammals and is deadly to all infected individuals. Please be aware that there are no legal “waivers” for the rabies vaccine for a cat in the state of North Carolina.

If your cat or kitten is very sick at the time of examination, then your veterinarian may recommend waiting until they are better before completing their vaccines.

Why does my cat need a rabies vaccine?

Rabies is required by law in the state of North Carolina for all cats 16 weeks and older. Rabies is a disease that can be transmitted if your cat is bitten by an infected animal (such as a bat, racoon or skunk) and can potentially transmit the disease to people in the household. This disease is deadly. Because it is a public health risk, North Carolina law requires that all cats are vaccinated and kept current on this vaccine.

What kind of vaccines do you recommend for my cat?

We use Purevax RCP (Feline Rhinotracheitis-Calicivirus-Panleukopenia Virus), Purevax FeLV (feline leukemia) and Purevax Rabies vaccines for our feline patients. These are non-adjuvanted vaccines. Non-adjuvanted vaccines are thought to be safer for cats, and less likely to be associated with injection site sarcomas. An injection site sarcoma is an aggressive type of cancerous lesion that can develop years after an injection occurs. Instead of using an adjuvant which causes a local inflammatory response, these vaccines work to stimulate an immune response because either contain modified live viruses or are canary-pox vectored.

More About Purevax Vaccines

https://www.aaha.org/resources/2020-aahaaafp-feline-vaccination-guidelines/