How Vaccinations Can Protect Your Cat From The Common Cold
Nobody enjoys catching a cold, including your cat. While humans have to put up with it when they catch a virus, you might be surprised to know that a simple vaccination could help to prevent your kitty from catching the most common forms of the cold. Read on to discover more about this illness, its vaccine, and why it's so important to get the vaccine as early as possible for your kitty.
The Culprit
There are two main viruses that cause common cold symptoms in cats: feline viral rhinotracheitis, and feline calicivirus. While these two viruses rarely cause life-threatening symptoms in adult, healthy cats, they can cause sneezing, sniffling, discharge from the eyes, coughing, and general lethargy in even the healthiest of kitties. In essence, every symptom you've ever experienced from having a cold is something your cat can go through due to these two viruses.
To make matters worse, these two illnesses can be very dangerous for cats with impaired immune systems, as well as kittens. If left untreated, they can potentially become lethal for these two groups.
The Vaccine
If you've ever taken your cat to the vet, you've probably heard of the FVRCP vaccine. This pet vaccination contains multiple vaccines within it, including two that will protect your cat from both of these illnesses. By getting your cat vaccinated and getting booster shots when your vet recommends them, you can help to fend off these illnesses entirely, keeping your kitty safe and healthy throughout its life.
The Urgency
Getting the FVRCP vaccine as early on as possible in your cat's life is important. It will not only help to protect your kitty while it's a young kitten with an immature immune system, but it can help to prevent your cat from ever getting the viruses in the first place.
Once your cat has been exposed to these two viruses, they will have them for life. The symptoms may come and go, but there will always be an opportunity for a flare-up. However, even if your cat is already infected, it's still worth getting the vaccine. It may be useful in reducing the severity of symptoms when your cat has a flare-up, so it's still worth it.
Cats can suffer from the common cold just like humans do, but they don't have to. By taking steps towards prevention, you can help to protect your kitty's health and keep them from experiencing the misery of frequent colds.