Helpful Info - VACCINATIONS
Loving care for kitties

Fat Cat Flats is a privately owned, "cats" only boarding and grooming resort. We have toys, supplies, premium foods and litters for cats and the "Wow Meow Gallerie" of arts and gifts for cats and cat lovers. We are located in Montrose at 1516 W. Alabama, Houston, Texas 77006. Our phone (713) 528-MEOW (6369) and fax (713) 526-3022.

Healthy kittens need not be seen by a veterinarian until the first shots are needed for feline distemper at 6 to 8 weeks. Feline leukemia virus vaccines are usually started at about 9 weeks. The timing of the first shots and intervals and number of boosters are dependent upon procedures used by individual vets. You should talk to your vet as soon as the kitten is born about which vaccines will be used in order to schedule optimum protection.

COMMON VACCINE NAMES:

RABIES

3-WAY DISTEMPER (FVRCP) protects cats from 3 diseases:
FVR: (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis)
C: (Calicivirus)
P: (Panleukopenia) (also called Feline Distemper, Feline Infectious enteritis, show fever, and cat plague)

4-WAY DISTEMPER (FVRCPC) protects cats from the above 3 diseases plus an additional disease:
C: (Feline Chlamydiosis)

FLV or FeLV: Feline Leukemia

FIP: Feline Infectious Peritonitis

DESCRIPTIONS OF DISEASES:

RABIES: Of all animal diseases, rabies is probably the most feared. The rabies virus attacks the brain and is almost always fatal. Exposure to rabies is usually from wild animals, particularly from skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes. This vaccine is required by law.

FELINE VIRAL RHINOTRACHEITIS: Rhinotracheitis infection is a widespread respiratory disease. It is most severe in young kittens and can cause profuse discharge from the eyes and nose.

CALICIVIRUS: Calicivirus infection causes a variety of symptoms including fever, excess salivation and mouth or tongue ulcers. It is usually less fatal than Rhinotracheitis or Panleukopenia.

PANLEUKOPENIA: Panleukopenia (or Feline Distemper) causes sever vomiting, diarrheaand dehydration. It is the most widespread disease of cats and causes high death loss especially among kittens. The disease is caused by a virus and is highly contagious.

FELINE CHLAMYDIOSIS: Feline Chlamydiosis (or Feline Pneumontis) is a respiratory infection with symptoms resembling Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis. The disease is caused by the organism Chlamydia Psittaci and can be complicated by associated bacterial infections.

FELINE LEUKEMIA: This is a form of cancer in cats, which is usually fatal. The disease, caused by a virus, can lead to tumor growth nearly anywhere in the body as well as a variety of other symptoms. Infected cats are unable to resist other diseases and may die from associated infections. Testing for the disease is recommended prior to initiating a vaccination program.

FIP: (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) This is a viral infection of cats that is transmitted by oral/nasal contact with an infected cat (rubbing noses, food dishes, etc.). Symptoms can include a swollen abdomen, chronic fever, anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis, seizures, eye inflammation and blindness. Until the availability of the vaccine, the death toll reached a half million cats per year.

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