| In recent years, the vaccination of cats has become | | | | symptoms and spread the virus.FeLV suppresses the |
| more popular. The three most common vaccines give | | | | activity of the cat's immune system, allowing a wide |
| protection against feline infectious enteritis (FIE), feline | | | | range of symptoms to develop. It often results in the |
| influenza (cat flu) and feline leukaemia (FeLV). An initial | | | | death of the cat after several months of illness. The |
| course of two injections, the first at nine weeks are | | | | virus is spread mainly in the cat's saliva. It is a disease |
| usually given, and yearly boosters are recommended | | | | of cats that fight a lot, and of cats in large colonies, |
| thereafter.FIE causes vomiting and diarrhoea, and the | | | | who share the same food and water bowls. It should |
| cat develops a very high temperature. Before the | | | | not be a threat in a well-run boarding cattery, where |
| vaccine was introduced, it killed a great many cats by | | | | the feeding and grooming utensils are properly cleaned, |
| dehydration due to the bowel symptoms. Cat flu is | | | | and the cats do not mix with each other.A vaccine |
| caused by two viruses: the feline rhinotracheitis (FCV). | | | | exists against the chlamydial organism, which can |
| FVR is the more severe of the two, causing coughing, | | | | cause not only mild eye and nasal symptoms, but |
| sneezing, and nasal and eye discharges.FVC has | | | | more importantly, infertility and abortion. This vaccine is |
| milder discharges but more gum inflammation and | | | | used mainly in breeding colonies to protect against |
| mouth ulcers. Neither FCV nor FVR is usually deadly | | | | infertility.1st Cat Care is to provide information and |
| but the infection can linger on in the form of snuffles, | | | | guidance to pet cat lovers in taking care of their cats' |
| and some cats become symptomless carriers of the | | | | health, cat toilet training, tips on using the cat litter box, |
| disease. When stressed, these cats develop mild | | | | vaccinations, pregnancy and more ... |