At Franklin, our vets emphasize the importance of prevention in ensuring your cat's long, healthy life. We advise administering the FVRCP vaccine to safeguard cats from serious feline conditions.

Core Vaccines to Protect Your Cat

The FVRCP cat vaccine and the Rabies vaccine are the two core vaccines your cat should receive. These shots are strongly recommended for all cats, regardless of whether they spend most of their time indoors or outdoors. In fact, the Rabies vaccine is not just recommended; it's legally required in most states.

Even if your cat is primarily indoors, it's crucial to understand that the viruses causing serious feline conditions listed below can survive on surfaces for up to a year. So, if your indoor cat manages to slip outside for even a short period, they could be exposed to these viruses and become seriously ill.

This post delves into the conditions the FVRCP vaccine protects your cat against and outlines when your cat should receive the vaccination. We'll also cover potential reactions and side effects from the FVRCP vaccine in cats and guide what to do if they occur.

Conditions That The FVRCP Vaccine Protects Against

The FVRCP vaccine shields your feline friend from three serious and highly contagious diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (represented by the FVR in the vaccine's name), Feline Calicivirus (the C), and Feline Panleukopenia (indicated by the P at the end of the vaccine's name).

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1)

The FVRCP vaccine actively shields your feline companion from three potent feline diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Feline Calicivirus (C), and Feline Panleukopenia (P). FVR, associated with up to 80 to 90% of all infectious upper respiratory diseases in cats, affects the nose and windpipe, causing complications during pregnancy.

FVR manifests as inflamed eyes and nose, eye and nasal discharge, fever, and sneezing. While these symptoms may be mild in adult cats, resolving within 5 to 10 days, severe cases can extend symptoms for six weeks or more.

For kittens, senior cats, and immune-compromised felines, symptoms of FHV-1, a component of FVRCP, can persist and worsen, resulting in loss of appetite, severe weight loss, mouth sores, and depression. Cats already afflicted with Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis often face bacterial infections, exacerbating their health.

Even after apparent recovery, the FVRCP vaccine ensures that the virus remains dormant in your cat's body, potentially reactivating throughout their lifetime. This vaccination serves as a crucial defense against these contagious and life-threatening feline diseases.

Feline Calicivirus (FCV)

The FVRCP vaccine shields your feline companion from three potent feline diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR), Feline Calicivirus (C), and Feline Panleukopenia (P). FVR, which is associated with up to 80 to 90% of all infectious upper respiratory diseases in cats, affects the nose and windpipe, causing complications during pregnancy.

FVR manifests as inflamed eyes and nose, eye and nasal discharge, fever, and sneezing. While adult cats may experience mild symptoms that resolve within 5 to 10 days, severe cases can extend symptoms for six weeks or more.

Feline Panleukopenia (FPL)

Feline Panleukopenia (FPL) is a prevalent and severe virus in cats, causing harm to bone marrow, lymph nodes, and the cells lining the cat's intestines. Symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, severe diarrhea, nasal discharge, and dehydration.

Cats with FPL often develop secondary infections due to their weakened immune systems. Although this disease can affect cats of any age, it is particularly fatal in kittens.

Currently, there are no medications to eliminate the FPL virus. Therefore, treating cats with feline panleukopenia involves actively managing symptoms such as dehydration and shock through intravenous fluid therapy and providing intensive nursing care.

When Your Cat Should Recieve The FVRCP Vaccination

Ensure optimal protection for your cat against FHV, FCV, and FPL by administering the first FVRCP vaccination at 6-8 weeks old. Follow up with booster shots every three to four weeks until your cat reaches 16-20 weeks. Provide another booster just over a year later, and continue with boosters every three years for the rest of their life.

See our vaccination schedule for more information about when your cat should receive their vaccines.

FVRCP Cat Vaccine Cost

The cost of this vaccination will vary depending on the brand of vaccine your veterinarian uses and where you live. Your vet can provide a cost estimate for the vaccination.

Risk of Reactions & Side Effects from The FVRCP Vaccine

Vaccines rarely cause side effects in cats; when they do, the effects are typically mild. If your cat experiences a reaction, it may develop a slight fever and feel a bit off for a day or two. Sneezing after the FVRCP vaccine and some swelling at the injection site are also not uncommon.

In extremely rare cases, more severe reactions can occur. Symptoms may manifest either before leaving the vet's office or up to 48 hours after vaccination. Signs of a severe reaction include hives, swelling around the lips and eyes, itchiness, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and breathing difficulties.

Should your cat exhibit any of these severe symptoms, promptly contact your vet or head to the nearest emergency animal hospital.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Is it time for your kitten or cat to have their shots? Contact our Franklin vets today to book an appointment for your feline friend.

What is the FVRCP cat vaccine?