Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced

University of California, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology
Davis, CA, USA

Obviously veterinarians know that part of their charge is to ensure the health of cats and contribute to preventive management, but the techniques for well cat management differ depending on the housing situation, the age of the cat and the desires of the client. Well cat management is more than just vaccines!

Cats have numerous mechanisms to protect themselves from attack by pathogenic organisms including bacteria and viruses: this phenomenon of innate and adaptive protection is designated colonisation resistance (CR). CR is the innate and acquired capability of an animal to resist infection and includes behaviours (such as avoidance of filth), physical barriers (mucus, epithelium, fur), physical and chemical attributes of the host (low gastric pH, intestinal peristalsis, urine flow, mucociliary escalator), classical immunity and normal flora. Well cat management is best performed by taking advantage of normal cat CR, treating abnormalities only when warranted. Unfortunately, many of the preventive or management strategies employed in some situations actually reduce CR. In addition, stress is highly detrimental to CR, so well cat management should be implemented holistically in order to 'work with the cat' to maintain health.

Routine screening of all cats should be performed annually at a minimum by a veterinarian. Cats can't talk and it is all too easy to overlook 'minor' things like scabs and sores, hurt ears and swollen gums. Every cat should be examined completely every year. Other things when the benefit outweighs the risk are dental care, grooming, vaccination and routine testing (e.g., bloodwork, radiography, etc). FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) vaccination is a critical component of well cat management. There are four disadvantages to vaccination:

Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced
 Some vaccines cause mild disease or transient immunosuppression

Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced
 Parenteral, adjuvanted vaccines can trigger vaccine-associated sarcoma

Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced
 Vaccines induce antibodies which could interfere with testing for the disease

Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced
 Use of vaccines may falsely lead to a sense that cats are adequately protected and that other preventive management practices can be neglected

Killed virus (KV) vaccines must be given at least two times (at least 2-4 weeks apart) before effective immunity is produced. KV vaccines may be advantageous where vaccine-associated disease is unacceptable (e.g., in research catteries) and where it is important not to have vaccine-induced antibodies. Traditional modified-live vaccines (MLV) use high passage virus to give animals a mild infection. Protection occurs earlier than with KV vaccine but there may be mild upper respiratory infection (URI) following vaccination. High antigen mass (HAM) vaccines use lower passage, less attenuated virus strains than traditional MLV vaccine. The intent of these vaccines is their supposed ability to overcome maternal immune interference with vaccine efficacy. Because HAM vaccines are given mucosally, it is hoped that a local mucosal antibody (IgA) may be produced which could block the attachment of the virus to receptors, thus aborting an infection if the animal were exposed. Advantages of HAM vaccines include protection from vaccine-associated sarcomas, earlier protection than MLV and possible protection in young kittens despite maternal antibodies. The major disadvantages are mild temporary vaccine-induced immunosuppression and morbidity.

Where cats are bred or born at home, particular care must be provided as early as possible to the queen and then her kittens. Queens should be up to date on vaccines, preferably prior to becoming pregnant. If a cat has not received vaccines within the last year, she should receive a booster but it must be a killed virus vaccine. If she has never been vaccinated before, and two KV vaccines can be fitted in before parturition (2 weeks apart) this is a good idea. Pregnant cats should be fed high-protein, high-fat cat food, i.e., kitten food, unless the queen is already fat in which case adult cat food is appropriate. Obviously they need fresh water. Raw food and milk are absolutely contraindicated. Stress should be minimised and the cat's need to create her own space respected. If at all possible she should be provided a quiet clean warm dark place to kindle. Her kittens should be observed but not handled unless the queen neglects them, fails to clean them, or won't feed them. It is beyond the scope of this paper to cover all aspects of neonatal care but as long as the queen is a good mother and the environment appropriate, kittens need little care beyond what they receive from their mother for 2 weeks.

Important care for kittens includes a thorough evaluation for any health issues, education and establishing communication with the client, and preventive management including vaccination (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Vaccination schedule.

Age

Vaccine

6-9 weeks

FVRCP

9-12 weeks

FVRCP, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)

12-14 weeks

FVRCP, FeLV

12 weeks

Rabies

Kittens should receive FVRCP at 3-4 week intervals until the age of 12-14 weeks. Vaccination of kittens less than 6 weeks of age is not recommended. Adult cats ( >6 months old) with no known vaccination history, regardless of age, should receive 1 dose of FVRCP. A booster vaccination should follow 1 year later, then at 3-year intervals.

Kittens should receive two doses of the FeLV vaccine. The first dose should be at 9 weeks of age or older. The second dose should follow 3-4 weeks after the first dose (i.e., at 9 weeks, then at 12 weeks of age). Booster vaccinations should be given 1 year later, then at 3-year intervals.

Rabies vaccination is recommended for all at-risk cats and where it is required by law. The vaccination regimen is initial immunisation, a booster 1 year later, and subsequent revaccinations at 3-year intervals.

Guidelines for Life-Long Vaccination

Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced
 Chlamydophila vaccine--this vaccine is a poor immunogen in that immunity is not long lasting nor does it provide complete protection against either the disease or the carrier state. Adverse vaccine reactions may be more severe in vaccines containing Chlamydophila

Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced
 Feline infectious peritonitis (Fip) vaccine--this is a modified live virus product given intranasally starting at 16 weeks of age, with a second dose 3 weeks or more later. The efficacy of the vaccine for this purpose is low, as for prevention of FIP

Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced
 Bordetella vaccine--oronasal live vaccine, given to kittens or older cats. The use of the vaccine in large multiple-cat environments should be conditioned on need.

Cats historically have been associated with things called vaccine induced
 Ringworm vaccine--ringworm vaccines have been used on affected cats to decrease the severity and duration of signs

Adult Cat Management

As cats age, normal processes become less well regulated and there is an increasing chance of disease. Biannual checks are important but, by 6 years of age, periodic bloodwork may also prove useful, approximately every other year until the cat is 12. One of the greatest challenges for adult cats is to keep weight down, using food restriction and low-fat diets.

Geriatric Cat Management

As a cat gets older than 12, problems such as advancing kidney failure, joint disease and other forms of organ or body degradation become inevitable. As for younger cats, the best protection in the management of these is examination. Clients may need education to manage but not necessarily cure problems in a geriatric cat. For example, kidney failure may be initiated years before a cat finally dies; a client should expect to nurse this cat but its quality of life may be retained for a long time. The benefits of dental care remain, but obviously great care is required when anaesthetising the geriatric cat. Likewise, it might be worthwhile using a broad-spectrum antibiotic preventively before a dental but this will also compromise a cat's CR and should be carefully considered with respect to risk.

The Multiple Cat Environment

While some cats enjoy the company of other cats or animals, even these cats experience stress in the face of other animals. When there are more than about three cats or when the cats don't get along, there is continual jockeying for territory, emotional and physical space. In addition, such conditions as URI, coronavirus infection and others are more likely to circulate in multiple cat homes, and the process of bringing in new cats often also increases exposure to disease and certainly stress. The fraction of the cattery that consists of susceptible cats (immunosuppressed, geriatric or young cats) should be minimised. Innate resistance of every cat should be maximised. Herd immunity is the resistance of a group of animals to invasion and spread of an infectious agent. Effectively managing a cattery to minimise infection includes movement control and minimising population and individual risk factors for infection. Risk factors for disease should be systematically evaluated and corrected where possible. Such risk factors include properties of the cattery environment as well as characteristics of the herd. The two most important cattery risk factors are overall cat numbers and density (number of cats per unit space). Other intrinsic risk factors of the environment include caging, stresses, new cat introduction, sanitation, air flow, well cat programmes and insect control.

How common are post vaccination adverse events in cats?

Adverse reactions within 30 days of vaccination were reported at a rate of 0.52% of cats vaccinated. The most commonly reported vaccine reactions are lethargy, anorexia and fever for a few days after vaccination, or local inflammation at the site of injection.

Do cats have a reaction to vaccinations?

Lethargy, a slight fever, and some mild discomfort are the most common side effects pets get from vaccines. This can be characterized by your pet not acting like their usual self. This is a normal reaction to vaccinations, and the symptoms should be mild and only last one or two days.

What are the side effects of Fvrcp cat vaccination?

The most common side effects from the FVRCP vaccine are: Soreness or swelling at the injection site. Fever. Decreased appetite..
Allergic reactions..
Injection site tumors..
Diarrhea..
Vomiting..
Difficulty breathing..

Why do cats get injection site sarcomas?

Injection site sarcomas arise at sites where the cat previously received an injection. Tumors are caused by vaccines (feline leukemia virus and rabies vaccines), microchips, injections of long-acting antibiotics, long-acting glucocorticoids, lufenuron, and reaction to nonabsorbable suture.