SEO Site Manager

Unfortunately there’s no getting away from that fact that vaccinating your cat is going to cost you money.

So why should you even consider paying out for something that, on the face of it, your cat doesn’t need? After all, they’re not sick, injured or in pain, so why should you take the trouble to book a trip to the vet’s surgery and then have an unwelcome bill to pay afterwards?

Death, is the reason. And the heartbreak you and your family will have to face should your cat catch one of the nasty viruses that will needlessly end her life.

Can you genuinely say that the lifelong protection from these diseases that vaccination will give your cat is something that you can decide to ignore?

So, why vaccinate your cat?

To make sure that she has the best protection against deadly viruses.

To give her the healthiest life possible.

To ensure that other cats aren’t exposed to infection.

To save having to choose to put her to sleep.

And as a bonus, keep future vet’s bills to a minimum!

There are three main diseases to avoid:

Cat ‘Flu or Feline Influenza

As with human ‘flu, cat ‘flu is highly contagious but, unlike human ‘flu, accounts for a very high animal death rate.

Should your unvaccinated pet catch cat ‘flu, you can expect to see inflammation of the eyes, nose and windpipe. Your lovely cat will experience unpleasant discharges and will feel very unwell. She’ll also be running a fever and will have no interest in anything going on around her. Her appetite will disappear and she may suffer painful tongue ulcers. Your poor cat will be salivating, losing weight and condition, sneezing and struggling to breathe.

The virus can travel through cat communities rapidly as each droplet of mucus breathed, sneezed or coughed out will carry the infection.

So, if an infected cat is taken into an environment where there are many other animals, such as into a boarding cattery or to a cat show, all other cats will be exposed to the infection. Even a trip to the vets will put other patients at risk.

Your cat may be fortunate enough to recover from cat ‘flu. However, she can remain a carrier of the virus for the rest of her life and will remain a threat to every unprotected cat she comes across.

Feline Infectious Enteritis (Distemper) - Feline Panleucopenia

Unborn or newborn kittens are particularly susceptible to this disease and it is not uncommon for it to prove fatal within a very short time after the symptoms appear - it’ really is that severe!

During an incubation period of between two to nine days, the cells of the gut wall, spleen, bone marrow, liver, lymph nodes and even sometimes, the brain will become affected.

Symptoms of distemper include vomiting, diarrhoea, apathy, a distinctive hunched posture and pitiful crying when handled. If your cat becomes sick with this disease, she has only a very slim chance of recovery.

This virus is passed on by direct or indirect contact between cats and often fleas can be a factor in transmitting the infection from one animal to another.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) The cat form of AIDS

This disease is incurable in cats but thankfully, cannot be transmitted to humans. It spreads between animals by direct contact and, once infected, a cat will almost certainly go on to develop health problems that will end its life.

Outward symptoms of this disease are vomiting, weakness, diarrhoea, breathing problems and loss of weight. As this virus attacks your cat’s immune system, any infection will quickly spread and overwhelm your cat’s defences.

If your cat is found to be infected unfortunately she will need to be put to sleep straight away. The infection risk posed to the cat population as a whole is just too great. To prevent this happening, vaccination will give your pet the protection she needs against contracting FeLV in the first place. You will never be faced with the tragedy of losing your much loved cat to feline AIDS.

So, as a cat owner you really have no option but to choose to have your cat vaccinated. Not only will you be protecting your pet but also the cat population at large. Don’t delay - vaccinate today!