Considering the companionship that pets bring us, it’s only natural that we, in turn, ensure they are healthy and safe since they cannot do that by themselves, and one way to achieve this is through vaccination. As a pet owner, you must be intentional about pet vaccines as they are a way of preventing sudden illnesses that would have cost you much more. Assuming your interest is in cats, and you’ve just bought a brand new kitten, you will need to budget for these annual costs, as your kitty’s immunization record must be up to date. This guide will give you a good idea of the cost of the shots your kitten needs. But before that, let’s see the reason for vaccination; in other words, the importance of vaccinating your kitten.
Why Should Your Kitten Get Vaccinations?
You might be thinking that your house cat lives a sheltered life and would never come into contact with any illnesses, but the fact is that you can bring viruses and bacteria in on your shoes and clothes, and your dog or other critters that go outside can also bring them in. “So, even if your cat never goes outside, they aren’t fully protected without proper vaccinations.
Thanks to widespread vaccine use, millions of pets are free from disease and death. Furthermore, vaccines enhance your pet’s overall quality of life while safeguarding it from deadly and extremely contagious diseases.
Your cat needs vaccinations to help prevent her from becoming critically ill from some of the most prevalent feline diseases. In fact, the vaccine is still the safest way to guard your pet against the most common diseases. The ingredients of vaccines can be living or dead bacteria or viruses, sometimes just a portion, their genetic material, or even simply the toxin they emit. The goal of vaccination is to, therefore, aid in the pathogen’s immune development. Pets that have received their vaccinations and followed a schedule are often resistant to the disease when exposed.
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Below are the major reasons your cute little kitten should get more shots, regardless of the cost:
- You’ll save yourself from the outrageous vet charges: Vaccinating your kitten helps you avoid having to pay for expensive treatments from the vet for critical illnesses.
- You become less exposed to Zoonosis. When you ensure adequate vaccination of your kitten, zoonotic disease, a disease that people can contract from animals, has no business with you.
- You’ll avoid hefty fines: Most states have vaccination laws. As a result, you risk receiving hefty fines if you disregard the laws and regulations set by each state. However, if you keep to the state’s vaccination laws, you’re good to go anytime!
- You’ll protect your cat’s life. This is the most important of all. I mean, why risk the well-being of such a cute little thing by exposing it to diseases and germs that would eventually kill it? By ensuring your kitten’s up-to-date immunizations, you’re protecting them from being prone to diseases. Furthermore, when they go outside and get attacked by other infected animals, they will be better protected.
What Vaccines Does Your Kitten Need?
As I earlier mentioned, pet owners must be intentional about their vaccinations in the sense that they must ensure they’re up-to-date as this guarantees healthy living for their pets. You can always visit your vet to prescribe a special kind of vaccine that he or she thinks is okay for your kitten. Nevertheless, your cats should receive vaccines against the following:
#1. Core cat vaccines
Every cat has to receive the following essential vaccinations:
- Panleukopenia
- Feline calicivirus
- Feline herpes virus
Feline herpes and feline calicivirus are characterized by symptoms that are similar to those of the common flu in humans. They include sneezing, runny noses, itchy or watery eyes, fever, fatigue, coughing, and sore throats. For healthy adult cats, it typically doesn’t cause any problems, but it can be significant and even fatal for kittens.
Feline infectious enteritis, also referred to as feline parvovirus, feline panleukopenia, and FPV, is a condition that affects the digestive system and immune system of cats. Additionally, it can harm the heart. More severe symptoms frequently affect young kittens than healthy adult cats. An infected pregnant cat’s kittens could have brain impairment when they are born.
Fortunately, the feline distemper vaccine offers a combo dose that includes(panleukopenia, feline herpes virus, and feline calicivirus. They get one to three shots of this combination, three to four weeks apart, and then a booster one year later. This combination is valid following the booster for the next three years.
#2. Non Core Cat Vaccines
Cats only receive non-core vaccines if their environment or lifestyle puts them at a high risk of exposure. They are
- Chlamydophila felis
- Feline leukemia
- Bordetella
- Bronchiseptica
- Rabies
Chlamydophila felis, a kind of bacteria, is responsible for cat flu-like symptoms and eye infections. Typically, your cat will only need this immunization if it has previously experienced it.
Feline leukemia virus, on the other hand, damages a cat’s immune system and can be lethal. It is vital for cats who venture outside. It makes cats susceptible to other diseases and can result in cancer and anemia. Depending on the cat’s level of risk, the leukemia vaccine requires two initial shots given three to four weeks apart, a booster shot after a year, and then yearly to every three years after that. After the first year, some cats may not require any boosters. On the other hand, high-risk cats receive annual doses of chlamydophila felis, bronchiseptica, and bordetella.
According to results, leukemia can be administered to the kitten in conjunction with the three essential shots and will cost $15 to $20 more per year, whereas the price of Bordetella will be comparable.
Another cat vaccine is rabies. It is a deadly virus that is necessary if you are adopting a cat from another country. Rabies vaccination is given after 12 weeks of age, with a booster shot after 1 year, and then every 3 years after that. For the first year, the total cost of these vaccines runs from $40 to $80; thereafter, each booster dose costs $20 to $50.
How Frequently Do Kitten Pets Need Shots?
Not all immunizations require annual booster shots, but rabies requires them. Generally, certain vaccines offer sufficient immunity when administered every few years. Some others need to be boosted annually for your kitten to keep up a high degree of immunity to infections.
As I said, you can always consult your veterinarian to provide you with a record of your vaccinations so you will know when the next round is due.
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How Much Do Kitten Shots Cost?
The number of shots your kitten requires will influence the cost; indoor cats, for instance, often need fewer shots. However, veterinary clinics estimate that the cost of the recommended kitten shots as a whole is about $155. Depending on the results of the clinical examination he does and the lifestyle of your cat, your veterinarian will be able to inform you if these vaccinations are required. To avoid any unpleasant surprises regarding these costs, give the veterinarian’s office a call in advance.
The cost of kitten shots may be one of the selection criteria you employ if you have a choice of several local veterinary clinics. Other aspects may include location and hours, referrals from friends and family, or personnel and facilities.
Does Vaccinating Your Kitten Pose Any Risks?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), any medical procedure carries potential hazards. However, these hazards must be weighed against the gains of keeping your family, community, and pets safe. Most pets respond favorably to vaccinations.
The majority of vaccination-related side effects are moderate and reversible; significant side effects are uncommon. Sarcomas, which can grow weeks, months, or even years after immunization, are a rare but severe side effect that can happen in cats. However, advancements in vaccines and vaccination methods have significantly decreased the occurrence of sarcomas.
In conclusion, taking your growing kitten to the doctor for shots is one of the most crucial things you can do to safeguard their health. You may start vaccinating them between the ages of eight and nine weeks, and as they grow older, they will need to go back for more boosters. The four primary immunizations you require are for rabies, panleukopenia(feline distemper), feline calicivirus, and feline viral rhinotracheitis. Since these illnesses are widespread and easily transmitted, safeguarding your pet early on when learning how to care for a newborn kitten will help keep them healthy for the rest of their life. Ask your veterinarian about optional immunizations as well.
FAQs On How Much D Kitten Shots Cost
At 8 weeks old, can you bring a kitten home?
Until they are at least eight weeks old, kittens should remain with their mother.
How many shots is necessary for a kitten?
Beginning at 6 to 8 weeks of age, shots are administered every 3 to 4 weeks until the kitten is 4 months old. Your kitten will be safe against diseases such as Rabies, calicivirus, feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes virus 1), and feline distemper (panleukopenia) by receiving routine or core vaccinations
When should you spay a kitten?
Kittens as early as six to eight weeks of age can be spayed or neutered, although conventional spay and neuter surgeries are most commonly performed when she is between five and six months old.
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