Kittens are fun but be aware that kitty vaccines can be essential for keeping your cats healthy and happy. Our veterinarian team at The Village Vet in Baltimore, MD, is here to help keep you and your cat safe.
Why Your Kitten Should Be Vaccinated
A newborn kitten actually has natural immunity for the first part of its life, that is, if it receives its mother's milk. The first two days after giving birth, the mother cat produces milk containing antibodies. The milk antibodies from the mother to the kitten through the kitten's digestive tract. These antibodies, which confer passive immunity to disease, wear off after a short time.
After maternal antibodies break down, your kitten needs to be making his own antibodies. Kitty vaccines help your cat get the immunity he needs.
This is important because some infections are fatal for kittens. Vaccines are important preventative care for the most common deadly infections in young cats. To be effective, some vaccines must be given in multiple doses.
When Your Kitten Should Get Kitty Vaccines
The goal of vaccinating young cats is to stimulate their immune systems before their maternal antibodies wear off and before they are exposed to deadly diseases.
Kittens need to start getting vaccinations when they are about a month old. Their immune systems don't learn how to make their own antibodies all at once, so they need to continue getting vaccinations a couple times over the course time.
There are certain core vaccines that every cat is recommended to have. We might recommend that your kitten be vaccinated against:
- Rabies.
- Feline calicivirus.
- Feline distemper virus
- Feline viral rhinotracheitis.
There are also some vaccinations given in special situations. There is a vaccine that protects cats that live in close quarters with other cats (such as shelter cats) against a condition called kennel cough. This kitty vaccine might also be a good idea for cats that go to the groomer a lot.
Get Pet Care, Kitty Vaccines, and Preventative Care from a Veterinarian on Our Team to Protect Your Cat Against Distemper
Kittens also need protection against worms, fleas, and mites. You can have all of your kitten's veterinary needs addressed at a healthy kitten checkup with a veterinarian on our veterinary team. Call us at (410) 367-8111 to make a pet care appointment for your kitten today. We at The Village Vet in Baltimore, MD, are here to help.