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Vaccinations |
Vaccinating your cat against the most common feline diseases is one of the best ways to provide her with a long healthy life.
During the first few weeks of her existence, your cat has received antibodies through her mother's milk that have immunized her against certain diseases. The immunization your kitten receives at birth usually disappears after 9 weeks. This is the time to give your kitten her first vaccines. She should receive a recall 3-4 weeks later. Then, your cat should be vaccinated regularly throughout her entire life.
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Common Diseases |
Panleukopenia, or feline distemper
This is a viral disease caused by an extremely resistant virus, which may survive for up to one year outside the cat's organism. The signs of this disease are abdominal pain, fever, anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, and serious dehydration. Even after the cat's recovery, he is still able to transmit the disease for several weeks to other non-vaccinated animals. It is extremely important to give your cat proper immunization through vaccination.
Feline leukemia
This infection may cause the appearance of several health problems, such as tumors, leukemia, or secondary infections caused by the destruction of your cat's immune system. Once the cat has been exposed to the virus, it may not present signs of the disease for months and even years. During this time, it continues to infect other cats.
Feline viral rhinotracheitis
An upper respiratory infection affecting the nose and trachea, caused by a highly contagious herpes virus; the infected cat continues to be a carrier for the rest of its life. The signs of this disease are: moderate fever, loss of appetite, sneezing, nasal and eye secretions and coughing.
Calicivirus infection
This virus affects the cat's upper respiratory system, sometimes causing ulcerous lesions in the mouth; may invade the joints and cause lameness. Once infected, a cat becomes a carrier of the virus for the rest of its life. The signs of this disease are a fever, ulcers and pustules developing on the tongue, and pneumonia.
Chlamydia
A bacterial infection affecting the entire respiratory system, especially the nose, eyes and lungs; may also cause conjunctivitis (eye infection) in humans.
Rabies
This fatal viral disease attacks the central nervous system and is a potential health risk to all warm-blooded mammals, including humans. The disease spreads through the saliva of an infected animal, through a bite or by contact with a skin lesion. Skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats are often carriers of this disease. If exposed, rabies vaccination will allow your cat to resist this virus. It is important to know that there is no known method of curing a rabies infected animal. This is why many cities require that all cats be regularly vaccinated against rabies.
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