Vaccines Your Cat Must Have Before Going to a Cattery
Here on the Gold Coast, catteries are a real and beneficial thing for many cat owners. Whether you need a daycare for your cat or planning to be gone for a few weeks, cat carers are there to help your furry friend stay happy and healthy. However, before allowing your cat to stay with a cat boarding facility, you must make sure that they have all their necessary vaccinations up to date. This is done to keep your cat safe, in addition to other cats staying at the Cattery.
There are a few vaccines necessary for your cat to have if you want to bring them to a Gold Coast cattery. These include the feline distemper shot, as well as feline leukemia and Bordetella vaccines. It’s also essential to have your cat dewormed.
To learn more about essential vaccinations and treatments your cat needs before it’s ready to stay at your local cat kennel, read on. We’ll go more in-depth into each shot and why it’s necessary to board your favorite pet.
Do Cats Need to Be Vaccinated Before Going to a Cattery?
As stated above, cats do need to be vaccinated in Australia to be allowed in catteries. There are many reasons for this, including your and other cats’ safety.
For example, without this requirement, if your cat goes to the cattery fully vaccinated, and another cat arrives with a disease, it can still transfer to your cat while it is there, and vice versa.
Also, those who own cat boarding locations already have a lot of responsibility to take great care of your pet; if they were to take in unvaccinated cats, it would be unethical and very dangerous for the animals and their reputation.
When Should I Get My Cat Vaccinated?
If you get your cat as a kitten, it is best to start getting them vaccinated at eight to ten weeks old. This is when they generally weigh enough to start being able to handle the vaccinations.
After this initial round of shots, the kitten may need additional vaccinations in three weeks to a month, depending on how well they take their first ones. This will ensure that your pet is vaccinated against all common illnesses and diseases. Kittens should have it’s final kitten vaccine at sixteen to eighteen weeks as this is when the maternal antibodies will have diminished.
By doing this, you can prevent high costs that may come if your cat ends up sick and keep other animals protected from an illness that your pet may have otherwise spread.
Once your cat is older, they will generally need a booster shot of each vaccination type once a year. (Some vaccines are not required every year but every three years instead.) It is best to establish a vaccination schedule with your primary vet so that your cat is not under or over medicated.
You will need to ensure if your cats vaccinations are due they have been vaccinated at least two weeks before they arrive for their stay at the cattery. The reason for this is if your cat has a reaction to the vaccine no matter how slight, it will be at home where it will be able to be monitored by you as you will notice any subtle changes in the cat’s behavior and seek your vet’s advice regarding the cats care.
What Vaccines Are Required for Cats to Stay at Catteries?
In Australia, the core cat vaccines are feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus and feline parvovirus (also known as feline panleukopoenia) also know as F3 vaccine for cats before they can be allowed to stay at a Gold Coast cattery. There are non-core vaccines available for other diseases which may be recommended bases on the cat’s location and its an individual lifestyle. For more detailed information regarding vaccines contact your local Gold Coast vet.
Other Important Treatments for Cats Worth Getting
While the following treatments are not requirements for cat boarding, they are undoubtedly useful in protecting your cat and others around it in a cat kennel.
Intestinal Deworming Treatment
All cats are born with worms and continue to have them until they get dewormed. Intestinal worms are parasites that your cat can have or contract that can wreak havoc on their gastrointestinal system and more. This can, in turn, make your cat feel quite sick and lethargic.
If the worms get out of hand, they can spread to humans in addition to other cats that share the same litter box. To protect you and your cat, your vet can provide a deworming treatment.
Flea & Tick Treatments
Paralysis Ticks are prevelent right along the Eastern Seaboard of Australia and SE Queensland is particulary known for these pests. There is now a spot on treatment that will prevent these deadly pests endangering your pets life and for a small cost save you thousands of dollars in associated vet costs. These spot on treatments also cover fleas and some cover worms and mites. Discuss with your vet for the best treatment for your cat.
Fleas are widely known as awful pests to have latched onto your pet because it can often take so long to get rid of them. However, doing either a monthly preventative will prevent your cat from ever getting fleas.
Fleas are fast spreading, and if one pet in a small area (such as a cattery) has them, then it is safe to assume all pets in the shared space either have it or will soon enough. Although most catteries ask visitors be treated prior to arrival, it is best for you to treat your cat to ensure they are protected.
Because there are multiple kinds of flea and tick treatments from cats (ranging from collars to topical solutions), it is always best to consult your vet about the best option for your pet.
Note: Although flea treatment is not necessary to bring your cat to a cattery, it will help prevent your pet from bringing home fleas that other cats at the kennel may have.
Conclusion
If you are looking to board your cat within a cattery for any period, they will need vaccinations meant to prevent common feline conditions in addition to leukemia, worms, and Bordetella. These diseases can spread easily from cat to cat, which can happen all too quickly in any cat boarding center. To protect your cat and all other cats he or she will be staying near, vaccinations are required.
It is highly suggested to vaccinate your cat when you first get them if they are kittens and make sure you maintain their records to keep up with yearly vaccinations as adults. Vaccinating your pet makes their quality of life better, saves you money in the long run, and keeps them and their furry feline companions happy for years to come.
