Core Vaccines to Protect Your Cat
The FVRCP vaccine for cats is one of two core vaccines your cat should receive. Core vaccines are highly recommended for all cats, whether they spend most of their time indoors or outdoors. The other core cat vaccine is the rabies vaccine, which is not only recommended but also required by law in most states.
You may think your indoor cat is safe from infectious diseases like those listed below, but the viruses that cause these severe feline diseases can survive for up to a year on surfaces. This means that if your indoor cat sneaks outdoors, even briefly, they risk contracting the virus and becoming seriously ill.
This article will discuss the conditions against which the FVRCP vaccine can protect your cat and when he should be vaccinated. We will also explain potential reactions and side effects of the FVRCP vaccine in cats and what to do if they occur.
Conditions That the FVRCP Vaccine Protects Against
The FVRCP vaccine provides effective protection for your cat from three highly contagious and life-threatening feline diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Feline Calicivirus (C), and Feline Panleukopenia (P).
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1)
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR, feline herpesvirus type 1, or FHV-1) is responsible for up to 80 to 90% of cats' infectious upper respiratory tract diseases. The disease can affect your kitten's nose and windpipe and cause problems during pregnancy.
Signs of FVR include inflammation of the eyes and nose, runny eyes and nose, fever, and sneezing. While these symptoms may be mild in adult cats and resolve within 5-10 days, FVR symptoms can last six weeks or longer in severe cases.
FHV-1 symptoms may persist and worsen in kittens, older cats, and immunocompromised cats, leading to loss of appetite, severe weight loss, mouth sores, and depression. In cats already suffering from feline viral rhinotracheitis, bacterial infections often worsen their condition.
Even after symptoms of FVR have cleared up, the virus stays dormant within your cat's body and may flare up repeatedly over your cat's lifetime.
Feline Calicivirus (FCV)
This virus is a major cause of cats' upper respiratory infections and oral disease.
Feline calicivirus (FCV) symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, eye inflammation, and clear or yellow discharge from the infected cat's nose or eyes. Some cats will also develop painful ulcers on their tongue, palate, lips, or nose due to FCV. Cats infected with feline calicivirus often suffer from loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, enlarged lymph nodes, squinting, and lethargy.
It's important to note that there are a number of different strains of FCV; some produce fluid buildup in the lungs (pneumonia), and others lead to symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and lameness.
Feline Panleukopenia (FPL)
Feline panleukopenia (FPL) is a severe and widespread virus in cats, causing damage to the bone marrow, lymph nodes, and cells lining your cat's intestines. Symptoms of FPL include depression, loss of appetite, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, severe diarrhea, nasal discharge, and dehydration.
Cats infected with FPL frequently develop secondary infections due to the weakened state of their immune systems. While this disease can attack cats of any age, it is often fatal in kittens.
There is currently no medication capable of killing the virus responsible for feline panleukopenia. Treatment of cats with feline panleukopenia, therefore, consists of managing symptoms such as dehydration and shock with intravenous fluid therapy and intensive nursing care.
When Your Cat Should Receive the FVRCP Vaccination
To offer your feline friend the best possible protection against FHV, FCV, and FPL, your cat should receive its first FVRCP vaccine at around six to eight weeks of age, followed by a booster shot every three to four weeks until she reaches 16 to 20 weeks of age. Your kitten will need another booster when she's over a year old and every three years for the rest of her life.
See our vaccination schedule for more information about when your cat should receive their vaccines.
The Cost of Your Cat's FVRCP Vaccine
The cost of this vaccination will vary depending on the brand of vaccine your veterinarian uses and where you live. Your vet can provide a cost estimate for the vaccination.
Risk of Reactions & Side Effects From the FVRCP Vaccine
Side effects from vaccines are uncommon in cats, and when they do occur, they are usually mild. Most cats that experience reactions to the FVRCP vaccine may have a slight fever and feel unwell for a day or two. You may notice your cat sneezing after the FVRCP vaccine, and there may be a small amount of swelling at the injection site.
In very rare cases, more severe reactions can occur. These symptoms may appear shortly after the vaccination or up to 48 hours later. Severe reactions may include hives, swelling around the lips and eyes, itchiness, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and breathing difficulties.
If your cat shows severe symptoms after vaccination, contact your vet immediately or visit the nearest emergency animal hospital.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
