Feline Distemper Vaccine
The feline distemper vaccine (FVR-CP) protects against 3 different contagious viral diseases of cats.
Feline Distemper guards against:
- Panleukopenia - This highly contagious virus causes life-threatening disease. The virus is considered ubiquitous, meaning it is found in virtually every place that is not regularly disinfected. Virtually every cat will be exposed to this virus. The infection is highly contagious among unvaccinated cats. Panleukopenia is a systemic disease, this refers to its ability to infect more than one body system including lymph nodes, bone marrow and intestine. For more information on Feline Panleukopenia visit Vin.com.
- Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis - A highly contagious viral disease affecting the respiratory system. In order to get this kind of infection, a cat must be in the immediate area of an infected cat or share the same human caretaker, toys or food bowls. Persian cats are predisposed to upper respiratory infection due to their inherent facial flattening. Kittens are predisposed due to their immature immune systems are are usually hit the hardest. The strict house cat who is not exposed to any rescued kittens, lives with only one or two other cats at most, never goes outside and is never in contact (even through a screen) with other cats is unlikely break with infection. However, many of our cats enjoy sitting in front of the window/door screens, napping on the porch, monitoring the back yard from under a bush or securing the perimeter of our back yard or wandering the neighborhood and we recommend these cats be vaccinated.
- Calicivirus - Another highly contagious upper respiratory virus which cats can contract if they are in contact with a sick feline. More information on Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and Calicivirus can be found at the Vin.com Library.
Our protocol at Wise Road Animal Hospital includes vaccinating kittens as young as 6 weeks of age with boosters every 3-4 weeks until they reach 16 weeks old. Older unvaccinated kittens and cats will most likely need 1 vaccination plus a booster 3-4 weeks later. Previously vaccinated adult cats may be eligible for a FVR-CP vaccine which will last for 3 years.