Cat Jabs

Cat Injections, Vaccinations and Jabs

Adopting a fully grown cat may at times leave you wondering about your pet's medical history. Vaccinations are the main priority to ensure that your cat is protected from a range of infectious diseases that could prove fatal. Even if you are unsure about your adult cat's vaccinations, the local pet clinic may administer the necessary cat jabs just to ensure that your pet is protected.

Newborn kittens have a natural protection against many feline diseases which they acquire from the mother while breastfeeding. After the first few months of life, anywhere between 8 to 12 weeks, your cat loses this immunity and is prone to a number of infectious diseases. The only way for your cat to build up a defence against these infections is to contract the disease and recover from it. You can, however, spare your feline friend the suffering and have the cat jabs administered before any disease sets in. This will also offer your cat natural immunity against feline diseases without the risk of dying from the infection.

Ideally your cat should receive its full series of jabs between the first 8 and 16 weeks of life. Booster jabs are then administered at 3 to 4 week intervals or at to 1 to 3 year intervals. This may not always be possible but even if you have an adult cat which has not had its jabs, its best to get your cat vaccinated immediately. A fully grown cat without previous jabs may need to have additional booster injections but once completed, your cat is protected against a range of diseases. This includes feline leukaemia, distemper, cat flu, respiratory diseases, rabies and heartworm infection.

If you are planning to take your cat abroad with you, this may not be possible without a vaccination certificate verifying that your pet had its jabs. Even a reputable cattery will insist on proof of your cat's jabs before accepting your pet. Your veterinary surgeon or local pet clinic will advise you about the vaccination schedule which is applicable to your cat and when each of the jabs needs to be administered. Once done, you can rest assured that your cat is protected and will not have to face suffering or even death from a preventable feline disease.