Siamese and Orientals Cats Online Uk Club : Cat vaccinations and feline disease like FIP, FELV, Chlamydia and more.

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cat vaccinations
FeLV ~ Cat Flu ~ FIE ~ FIV ~ Chlamydia ~ FIP ~ Rabies ~ Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica (Bb)

The information below is a very brief summary and guideline only so please seek proper medical advice from your veterinary surgeon.

FeLV	9 weeks of age	12 weeks of age	Annual
Cat Flu	9 weeks of age	12 weeks of age	Annual
FIE	9 weeks of age	12 weeks of age	Annual
Chlamydia	9 weeks of age	12 weeks of age	Annual
Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica		12 weeks of age	Annual
FIP	There is no vaccine available in the UK
FIV	There is no vaccine available in the UK
Rabies	Vaccine is only applicable if travelling overseas with your pet as Rabies is not present in the UK.
The 9 and 12 week vaccinations are completed by the breeder before the kittens go to their new homes. The new owners only have to remember to have the booster given annually. Please make sure that when you buy your kitten that the breeder has completed their full course of vaccinations before letting them go to their new homes.

FeLV - Feline Leukaemia Virus *What is FeLV and it's symptoms?* As the name suggests, cats can develop Leukaemia from this virus as well as other cancers. A lot of cats who contract FeLV will find that their immune systems are suppressed which means that they can't fight off other diseases. This counts for roughly half the deaths of cats with FeLV. Anemia is also common in cats who have become infected. Some infected cats will develop skin infections, bladder infections, or diarrhoea etc. If the cat's infections keep reoccurring, even after veterinary treatment, there is a possibility that the cat has FeLV and over time, the infections will get worse and the cat may eventually die from a related illness. If a very young kitten contracts FeLV, he or she may die within weeks. Not all cats who contract FeLV will result in disease, it is a case of your cat's immune system fighting against the virus. Cats aged up to 6 months of age are very susceptible to FeLV. *How does my cat get FeLV?* FeLV is transmitted through saliva, urine and faeces. Normally though, a cat would have to expose an uninfected cat a number of times before the cat will actually contract the virus. The reason for this is that FeLV can't survive more than a few hours outside the body. So if your cat is constantly sharing bowls, or litter trays with an infected cat, then chances are high that your cat will become FeLV positive. All outdoors cats are also very susceptible as you have no way of telling who your cat is associating with. If a queen is infected with FeLV she will automatically pass it on to her kittens. *Can FeLV be treated?* When the disease is in it's early stages, there will be no physical signs of any ill health relating to FeLV. You can really only have it confirmed by asking your vet to do a blood test on your cat for the virus. Cats who have infections which are related to FeLV can be treated for the infections and will respond. Unfortunately, the treatment is not for FeLV, only for the infections which the cat will be suffering from. The best way to prevent your cat from contracting FeLV is to have him/her vaccinated on an annual basis. *How can I stop my cat getting FeLV?* The best way to prevent your cat from contracting FeLV is to have him/her vaccinated on an annual basis. If your cat is an indoor cat and never socialises with other cats, then chances are, he/she wouldn't contract FeLV anyway. However, the time may come when you will may have to board your cat out, or your cat may inadvertently come into contact with an infected cat so it is far better to be safe than sorry. If your cat already has the virus though, the vaccine would be ineffective.

Cat Flu - FCV & FVR (2 strains of cat flu) *What is Cat Flu and it's symptoms?* Cats are just as susceptible to colds and flu as we humans are. There are 2 major viral causes of Cat Flu and they are FCV (feline calci virus) and FVR (feline viral rhinotrachetis). FCV tends to be less serious whereas FVR can cause much more sever problems. A cat suffering with FCV may develop a fever, particularly in young kittens, and will also develop ulcers on their tongue or nose. It can also cause lameness with some cats. Cats infected with FVR will have a clear discharge from their eyes and noses. As the disease gets worse, the discharge will get thicker. The cat will also have a higher temperature and may cough or sneeze. It's not uncommon for cats with FVR to become depressed. *How does my cat get Cat Flu?* Cats can be infected with cat flu by coming into contact with cats who are already showing symptoms as the virus is found in saliva and discharges of infected cats. The virus can can also be carried on clothing, food bowls etc. *Can Cat Flu be treated?* Cat flu isn't usually fatal if treated. However, if the cat has been left untreated whilst showing symptoms, then treatment can take weeks and the cat can then have respiratory problems for the rest of it's life. If your cat is showing any of the above symptoms, I would recommend having him/her looked at by your vet as soon as possible. The other way of diagnosing cat flu is for your vet to take a swab from your cat's mouth and send it to the laboratory to be tested. *How can I stop my cat getting Cat Flu?* To prevent your cat contracting cat flu, you should have him/her vaccinated annually. If your cat then comes in contact with the virus, he/she may still contract it, but because of the vaccine, the infection will be minimal.

FIE - Feline Infectious Enteritis (It is also knows as FPV) *What is FIE and it's symptoms?* This fatal disease is very similar of that to Parvovirus which occurs in dogs. The virus can survive for up to a year in the environment. *How does my cat get FIE?* Cats usually contract this virus from an area which is already contaminated with FIE, usually through contact with faeces, urine, saliva and vomit, as opposed to contracting it from an infected cat. *Can FIE be treated?* Treatment is very limited and rarely successful. Cats who have contracted FIE will usually start vomiting and may have diarrhoea. They are usually unable to eat and will probably die within a few days. Kittens may die within hours. *How can I stop my cat getting FIE?* The only prevention against FIE is to have your cat vaccinated annually.

FIV - Feline Immunodeficiency Virus *What is FIV and it's symptoms?* Basically, FIV is the feline equivalent to HIV in humans and can quite often be fatal in cats. It is a virus which attacks the cat's immune system slowly killing off or damaging the white blood cells and causes infections over a period of time which keep reoccurring.Cats which have been infected with FIV may appear to have no symptoms and be normal for years but eventually, you'll see signs that the cat is unable to fight off illnesses or infection. It's quite common for a cat with FIV to have a loss of appetite, a fever, and inflamed gums/mouth. As the diseases progresses the symptoms will get much worse and the infections will keep reoccurring. Your cat will have a discharge from the nose and will sneeze, he/she will most likely have conjunctivitis, diarrhoea and skin problems as well as urinary and respiratory problems. *How does my cat get FIV?* FIV is transmitted from one cat to another through bite wounds. Your cat can't contract the disease by association with infected cats, he/she would have to have been bitten in order for the disease to be passed on. The primary mode of transmission is through bite wounds. Kittens have been known to contract FIV if they are being fed by their dam who is already infected as the disease can be passed to the kittens through infected milk. *Can FIV be treated?* Some of the illnesses that you cat gets as a result of being infected with FIV can be treated by your vet. However, these treatments are not for the actual virus itself. All you can really do is have the illnesses treated where possible and try and ensure that your cat has a good quality of life. *How can I stop my cat getting FIV?* There is no vaccine available for FIV and the best way to prevent it is to keep your cat indoors where he/she is not at risk of fighting with another cat in the neighbourhood.

Chlamydia *What is Chlamydia and it's symptoms?* This is a disease which is fairly common amongst the cat population and more often is seen with kittens. It will cause conjunctivitis in an affected cat which may or may not become chronic. The eyes will have a discharge and may become swollen. Other symptoms may be similar to flu symptoms, i.e. runny nose or sneezing. The symptoms can keep reoccurring for weeks or months afterwards. How does my cat get Chlamydia? Chlamydia is a very easy disease to catch and is transmitted by cats who are infected, coming into contact with uninfected cats. If the diseases is present in a breeding cattery it can very quickly affect every cat within the cattery. *Can Chlamydia be treated?* Chlamydia can be treated by your vet and if you cat has contracted the virus, you should seek treatment as soon as you can. The longer Chlamydia goes untreated, the longer the treatment will be. *How can I stop my cat getting Chlamydia?* Vaccination is the best form of prevention, as well as keeping your cat away from other cats where Chlamydia is present.

FIP - Feline Infectious Peritonitis *What is FIP and it's symptoms?* A vaccine for FIP is NOT available in the UK. This disease affects the blood vessels and will cause them to leak fluid in to the cat's chest or stomach. The cat will then have difficulty in breathing and they may also show signs of a swollen stomach. It can however, also affect other areas of the body and can be found in the spinal cord, kidneys, and liver etc. Although many cats carry the virus, only approximately 10% will develop the disease which is usually fatal. *How does my cat get FIP?* It's normally transmitted through faeces and a cat who eats the faeces of an infected cat may contract FIP. It can be difficult to diagnose and is usually done by taking a sample of tissue and examining it. *Can FIP be treated?* Unfortunately, there is currently no successful treatment for the disease. *How can I stop my cat getting FIP?* As there is currently no vaccine available here for FIP, the best prevention is to ensure your cats are indoor cats, or only go outside within a confined cat run.

Rabies *What is Rabies and it's symptoms?* Rabies is fatal for infected cats and Most infected cats shows signs of the disease between 2 weeks and 2 months of having contracted it. Initial signs are of your cat becoming depressed or restless. You may find that his/her personality may change and from then on, your cat will become "wild" and start attacking people or other animals. Eventually, the cat will become paralysed and may fit before falling into a coma and dying. *How does my cat get Rabies?* This disease is transmitted from the bite of an infected animal. As rabies is currently nonexistent in the UK you won't have to worry about your cat contracting Rabies. *Can Rabies be treated?* Rabies is a fatal disease and there is no treatment for it. *How can I stop my cat getting Rabies?* There is a Rabies vaccine available in the UK, however, unless you are planning on taking your cat overseas, or exporting a cat overseas, there is no need to have your cat vaccinated. The vaccine is available in the UK and is being used by more and more people thanks to the Pets Passport Scheme.

FELINE BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA (Bb) (Information provided by Chrissy Russell of Ayshazen Cats) *What is Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica and it's symptoms?* One of the reasons why Bordetella has not been recognised in cats until recently was that it often runs alongside other viral respiratory diseases, like Calicivirus or Herpesvirus. Typically a cat is taken to the vet, suffering the symptoms of a respiratory infection. The vet routinely swabs for the viral diseases, and because Bordetella is so little known in cats, they don't consider swabbing for bacterial disease. Of course the viral cultures frequently return a positive result, and hey presto, your cat has a virus! But maybe your cat has also got Feline Bordetella! The main deciding symptom is a dry hacking cough, during which the cat typically extends his neck. In my experience, there is also commonly hoarseness in the voice too, and a gulping action due to a sore trachea. Other symptoms include: fever ; sneezing; nasal discharge; submandibular lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph glands located beneath the lower jaw); coughing and rales (crackles on the lung). Please note: young kittens often do not display the cough. *How does my cat get Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica?* The disease CAN be transmitted from dogs to cats, and is also a zoonosis, meaning it is also transferable to humans (although it must be stressed, it is extremely rare and usually only occurs in immunosupressed humans). Typical mode of transmission is aerosol, which is coughing or sneezing. *Can Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica be treated?* The drug of choice to treat Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica is doxycycline. If this doesn't work, you may be able to discuss with your vet, the possibility of azithromycin suspension. *How can I stop my cat getting Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica?* The best way to prevent your cats from contracting Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica is by vaccinating against Bb on an annual basis and ensuring that no infected or carrier cats reside in your home.

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