Kitten Vaccinations
Protect your kitten against illness
Kitten vaccinations play an important part in your pet's health. A vaccination provides your kitten with protection against certain infections or at least reduces the severity of the disease. Without a full course of kitten vaccinations, your feline friend is at risk of contracting these diseases at any time in their life - this may lead to prolonged bouts of illness or even death.
Kitten vaccinations are a matter of immune defence. Like all mammals, your kitten is born with some protection against germs. This inherited immunity is acquired from the mother provided that your kitten was breastfed and it will only last for the first few months of life. Natural immunity means that your kitten has a pre-programmed immune system that can recognise dangerous germs, particularly viruses, and attack it immediately.
Once this subsides, your kitten's immune system has to now learn to identify and fight invading germs. This can happen in two ways - your kitten can suffer from the infection and hopefully survive it or you can have your kitten vaccinated early in life and prevent the infection.
An initial course of kitten vaccinations will first be administered and it will then be followed by a regular course of booster vaccines. The booster kitten vaccinations are necessary to ensure that your kitten's immune system develops and maintains the necessary antibodies to fight infections. Some of the booster kitten vaccines will be repeated at a 3 to 4 week period after the initial course while others may only be required between 1 to 3 years later.
You should vaccinate your kitten between the first 8 to 16 weeks of life or if vaccinating later than 16 weeks, your kitten will require additional booster vaccinations. Your veterinary surgeon or pet clinic will advise you on the vaccination schedule and administer the necessary kitten vaccinations.
The kitten vaccinations protect your pet against a number of viral and parasitic infections like feline leukaemia, distemper, rabies, cat flu, respiratory infections and heartworm disease. Once vaccinated, your kitten will be issued with a vaccination certificate. This is an essential document if your pet is to travel with you abroad or if booked in for a short stay at a reputable cattery.
Although your pet is healthy and loved, a full course of kitten vaccinations will ensure that they do not fall ill when exposed to other infected felines. Apart from the time and cost of caring for your ill pet, without kitten vaccinations, your feline friend may never recover.
