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An award winning veterinary clinic devoted to feline healthcare

Just Cats Veterinary Clinic

57-59 Duke Street

Southport

Merseyside

PR8 5BT

Opening Hours

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday *

Thursday *

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

09:15 - 17:30

09:15 - 17:30

09:15 - 17:30

09:15 - 17:30

09:15 - 17:30

Closed

Closed

[Closed Bank Holidays]

reception@justcats.co.uk

Contact us by e-mail at

Click here for a map of our location.

Telephone :

01704 544640

Fax :

01704 532593

Veterinary consultation by appointment only. Please contact the clinic if you would like to arrange an appointment.

*

Additional Hours

Wednesday & Thursday

Evening surgery 17:30 - 20:00 for pre-booked vaccinations and medication reviews only.

Wednesday *

Thursday *

Vaccinations

Vaccines can be divided into core vaccines and non-core vaccines. The core vaccines could be considered essential for all cats, whereas the non-core vaccines are given dependent on the individual cat's requirement for them. Decisions regarding requirement for non-core vaccines may be based on the cat's age, lifestyle and contact with other cats.

How frequently should my cat be vaccinated?

All cats should receive a primary core vaccination course of two injections three to four weeks apart, commencing from 8-9 weeks of age. The cat's need for non-core vaccines can be assessed at this time. In order to ensure a good level of continuing protection, the first booster vaccination should be given a year after the primary course. Thereafter, the recommended frequency of boosters may depend on individual lifestyle and risk.

The current vaccine manufacturers' recommendations are for annual vaccinations, as the product licenses have been based on immunity studies of one year's duration.

“At Just Cats we believe that where evidence supports it we should avoid over vaccinating”

Our Policy is to follow the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases guide lines on vaccinations:

Cat Flu Viruses (Herpes/Calicivirus)

Kittens have 2 injections 3-4 weeks apart, and then annual booster injections with a healthcheck.

Cats whose vaccines have lapsed but have had a kitten course will be given one injection to re-start cover. We no longer insist on a course of 2 injections.

Enteritis Virus (panleukopaenia)

Kitten course as above (mixed with flu vaccines)

Booster injection(with flu vaccine) given after 1 year and then 3 yearly after that.

Feline Leukaemia (for cats that go outdoors)

Kitten Course as above (mixed with flu vaccines).

Annual booster till aged 2 years then every 2-3 years according to risk.

If you have any questions regarding our policy please ask.

Vaccinations for Catteries

Cats that stay at boarding catteries will require an annual flu viruses vaccination in order that the cattery's insurance is valid and because it is one of the higher risk areas. This should be given at least two weeks before boarding.

Core vaccines

Feline panleukopenia (enteritis)

Feline panleukopenia virus causes a severe and often fatal disease. Vaccination is very effective and has thankfully reduced the incidence of the disease substantially. However, where susceptible populations of cats exist, it is highly infectious. In addition, the virus can survive in the environment.

Feline herpesvirus (cat flu)

Once infected with feline herpesvirus cats will exhibit flu-like signs for a short time. Although the clinical signs resolve, the virus remains latent within the body, giving rise to recurrent episodes of respiratory tract infections and/or eye problems. Stress can induce an episode of the disease. Infection usually requires fairly close contact with other cats, as the virus dries out in the environment. Vaccination reduces spread of the infection from cat to cat (eg, cat shows, boarding catteries, veterinary surgeons premises) and is thought to reduce the episodes of clinical disease in chronically infected cats.

Feline calicivirus (cat flu)

Like herpesvirus, calicivirus causes cat flu, often with oral ulceration. Cats may either rid themselves of the disease or become chronically infected. Many different strains of calicivirus exist, with the vaccines being aimed at the more serious strains. The presence of different strains, and the ability of cats to become chronically infected (possibly as young kittens before first vaccination) explains why some cats may still show evidence of calicivirus infection, even though they have been vaccinated. However, as for herpesvirus, vaccination is still recommended to reduce the frequency and severity of clinical signs.

Non-core vaccines

Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)

FeLV is spread in saliva. Cats can become infected through mutual grooming, sharing food and water bowls, or from bites from infected cats. In addition, kittens may become infected via placental transmission, and the virus may be spread at mating. Multi-cat households or indoor-outdoor cats are at risk of catching this infection. A solitary indoor cat is not and, therefore, would not require vaccination. Blood tests for FeLV  may enable identification of the FeLV status of cats in a household, in order to facilitate decision-making regarding vaccination.

Chlamydophila felis

A bacterial infection with Chlamydophila felis causes conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract disease. Young kittens are most susceptible, often at an age when they are too young to be vaccinated. Most cases are managed with appropriate antibiotics, rather than vaccination, but vaccination may be appropriate where there is an endemic problem within a multi-cat household.

Bordetella bronchiseptica

A bacterial infection with Bordetella bronchiseptica can cause respiratory tract signs such as coughing or pneumonia. It is one of the agents that may be responsible for ‘kennel cough' in dogs. Cats most at risk are those in multi-cat households, or cats that share their environment with dogs. Vaccination of at risk cats may be done routinely, or strategic vaccination may be carried out before boarding in a cattery (especially if the cattery also boards dogs). This vaccine is instilled into the nostrils, rather than given by injection, as it stimulates a local immunity in the respiratory passages.

What problems may be associated with vaccination

Side effects from vaccines are very rare, especially in view of the thousands of doses that are administered every year. The most common side effects are very mild, and include lethargy, inappetence or tenderness at the injection site. More marked side effects may include vomiting, diarrhoea, lameness, fever, signs of respiratory tract infection, or lumps at the site of injection. Kittens and young cats appear to be more likely to develop problems than older cats. Another adverse effect that may be reported is lack of efficacy. Whilst this may be due to genuine vaccine failure, it may also be due to infection before vaccination, or a deficient immune system resulting in an inability by the cat to mount an immune response.

Conclusions

Vaccination is generally a safe procedure that has substantially reduced the incidence of serious disease within the feline population. That said, vaccines are not entirely without risk, and appropriate and judicious use is indicated.

For information about our vaccination policy click here.