Their guidelines, published by theAmerican Association of Feline Practitioners, are among the most trusted and utilized recommendations in the field. This happens because the immune response generated by a vaccine can make cats feel tired, achy, and generally unwell. These symptoms are common and should subside independently in a few hours. Some vaccines are recommended for all cats. Some data suggest that adult animals may maintain immunity for 5-7 years after their initial vaccinations as young animals, suggesting that the annual revaccination veterinarians had recommended for years is not necessary. WebAfter a vaccine, around one-in-ten cats experience a soft swelling at the injection site. WebLow energy (lethargy) Eating less Sleeping more Fever (high temperature) Mild swelling around the vaccine site that disappears in two - six weeks. Because of this, after your cat receives any vaccine, it is sensible to monitor the injection site regularly and if a swelling at the site persists for several weeks and/or continues to enlarge, get it checked immediately by your vet. A vaccination against rabies would usually happen in the right back leg, while a vaccination for FVCRP would happen in the right front leg. Contact your veterinarian if you have a lethargic kitten. Your vet should examine the cat to determine whether it has developed a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine. Dr. Debra, Recently, my kitten (2 months old) had her first installment of vaccinations. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Some cats may also have trouble walking and experience stomach upsets. The most common side effects are mild and include lethargy, inappetence or tenderness at the injection site, usually lasting no longer than a few days. It may also run a high fever. However, after that, the frequency of booster vaccinations may be only every 1-3 years depending on the vaccine, disease and risk of with the individual cat. Recently, my kitten (2 months old) had her first installment of vaccinations. Cats can be allergic to anything. After those initial rounds of vaccinations are finished, all youll have to do to keep your cat vaccinated is periodically get him booster shots. More serious, but less common side effects, such as allergic reactions, may occur within minutes to hours after vaccination. If your cat has little energy or limping syndrome, the walk can feel like a long journey, especially for an older cat with joint problems or arthritis pain. Lethargy After vaccination, it is normal for your pet to exhibit a few symptoms like fever, lameness, swelling, and 2. An allergic reaction is more concerning than a typical reaction to a vaccine. This usually takes a day. WebDecreased appetite and activity. If your cat does not show any such severe symptoms, you can wait for a few hours to see if it stops shivering. However, these adverse effects should subside after 24 to 48 hours. In some cases, affected kittens may develop pneumonia. This is only a concern if it does not quickly recover. As the cat receives its shot, its body starts adapting to the vaccine, causing some changes in the body and function. If your cat refuses to eat after getting a shot, you should not worry about it. The disease is commutable among animals and humans. WebThere are usually three distinctive stages with rabies in cats. Also, she wants to clean herself and tries to play like she used to. The cat can behave strangely, get aggressive, show lethargy or refuse to eat. Complete Guide To Cat Paw Pad Growth, Cat Acting Strange After Vaccination? However, if you see any severe reactions like swollen eyes or face, breathing difficulty, diarrhea or collapse, you should report to the veterinarian. While cats are not natural carriers for the disease, they can be infected by a bite from any infected mammal and then pass it on to others. Cats of any age can get FeLV, but its typically considered a core vaccine for cats under 1 year old. More marked side effects may include vomiting, diarrhoea, lameness, fever, signs of respiratory tract infection, or lumps at the site of injection. Feline panleucopenia virus(also known as feline parvovirus or feline infectious enteritis) is a severe and frequently fatal cause of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis. The rabies virus targets your cats central nervous system, causing aggression, paralysis and coma. Some experts believe that the felines already have tumors. When it comes to medicine, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Young kittens in multicat households (eg, breeding households) are most likely to be affected and there may also be mild upper respiratory signs. However, vaccination is essential for his health and your familys safety. Cats withBordetella bronchispeticacan be treated effectively with appropriate antibiotics, and vaccination is not required in most cats. Designate this as his recovery area where he can rest without being disturbed by the other members of the household. Talk to your vet to figure out which approach is best for your pet. From time to time, check on your cat. Since then we noticed her behavior changed. The FeLV vaccine is tricky because it is required for kittens but optional for cats that are at least a year old. They tend to be either fully onrunning around like maniacsor fully offresting up for another round. If your kitten or senior cat becomes lethargic, contact your veterinarian right away. WebCan your cats personality change after a vaccination? Dehydration and electrolyte abnormalitiesWater and appropriate electrolyte levels are essential for a cats body to produce energy and function normally. WebAffected cats may have sneezing, eye and nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, lethargy, loss of appetite, sores on the gums and soft tissues of the oral cavity, and lameness. Please consider making a contribution, big or small, to keep our content free, accurate and relevant. Your veterinarian can assess your cats risk of FeLV infection and decide on an appropriate vaccination schedule. The right vaccinations. Respiratory illnesses, which certain vaccinations protect against, can be lethal for senior cats. It has also been strongly recommended that all kittens are vaccinated against FeLV on the basis that younger cats are more susceptible to this infection and it cannot usually be predicted what the risks for the cat would be as it grows up. Heart diseaseA heart that isnt pumping normally cant move blood around the body well. In short, almost any health condition can lead to lethargy in cats, including: InfectionsFighting off bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens takes a lot of energy. This will naturally make them more lethargic. (The exact requirements will depend on the vaccine, so always make sure to walk through your kittens vaccine schedule with your vet.) They could even react to the rubber gloves that your vet wears to administer the vaccine. It should start to disappear within a couple weeks. You should call the vet for advice if your cat feels ill after 48 hours of vaccination. This is because the immune system has started reacting to the vaccine. Ondansetron For Cats (Zofran) All You Need To Know, Mini Hippo Dog - Everything You Need To Know. We use cookies to improve our website to make sure you have a better browsing experience. Vaccination causes a chemical reaction in the cats brain that lasts 24-48 hours. After your cat gets his first shot, hell need a few more doses usually two to four weeks apart until hes 16 to 20 weeks old. Here are the general cat vaccination guidelines to use as a starting point: Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. You should note all the changes you see in the cats behavior and find the pattern. Assess whether your cat isnt eating or is just reluctant to walk to its bowl. Older cats have weaker immune systems and are more prone to illness. To help your pet stay healthy, limit their contact with infected animals and to environments where diseases may be more common. It should start to disappear within a couple weeks. 6 Challenges of Owning a Cat You Need to Know, Changes In Cat Behaviour After Vet Visit? Adverse effects from vaccines are very rare, especially in view of the millions of doses that are administered every year. The American Association of Feline Practitioners also considers the FVCRP to be a core vaccine. FISS remains rare. However, as with any other product, no vaccine can ever be entirely without side effects so it is important to carefully choose which vaccines are necessary for any individual cat and to evaluate how frequently they should be given. While the rabies vaccine is not listed as a core vaccine by the AAFP guidelines, it is required by law in most regions. Rabies is a zoonotic disease (it can be transmitted from animals to humans), so it is a public safety issue to keep your cat up to date on their rabies vaccine. Do they seem drowsy or out of it? Are they not interested in whats going on around them? As cats age, they often spend more time quietly observing the world around them (or napping), but this isnt lethargy; its growing up. However, these adverse effects should subside after 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes, a cat can become aggressive to their humans and other pets in the household after vaccination or even after a visit to the vet for other purposes. Support International Cat Care from as little 3, Sign up to our monthly newsletter and free e-magazine Intelligent Cat Care, Sign up to our monthly charity newsletter, Reg Charity 1117342 (England and Wales) Place Farm, Chilmark Road, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6LW, You are now being re-directed to an external website www.thecatgallery.co.uk. If it persists more than three weeks, or seems to be getting larger, you should contact your veterinarian. (The exact requirements will depend on the vaccine, so always make sure to walk through your kittens vaccine schedule with your vet.). Rare vaccine side effects In very rare circumstances, a vaccine can cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Better yet, schedule routine visits to the clinic so that you can bring your cats together. WebThere are usually three distinctive stages with rabies in cats. Any movement will be painful for the full duration of this side effect. Hi thanks for your email. In the early stages the affected cat may suffer from lethargy and pain in the affected area. However, as a charity, we need your support to enable us to keep delivering high quality and up to date information for everyone. Its natural for a cat to become listless and sleepy after vaccines are administered. Read the latest news about the AVMA and the veterinary profession, and search archives dating back to 2000. The journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica has stated that instances remain as low as 1 in 10,000. There are certain vaccines all cats need aka core vaccines. Some cats are temporarily different or never quite the same after vaccination. There is always risk involved in vaccinating a cat. FeLV is found worldwide. Get best-in-class CE in some of your favorite cities. FVCRP, FIP, and Bordetella can be inhaled nasally but may not be as effective as injections. Although vaccination does not always prevent infection with these viruses, it will help greatly in reducing the severity of disease if a vaccinated cat does become infected. The availability of different vaccines will vary between different countries, because some diseases are not present everywhere, and because vaccines are not necessarily licensed (and therefore available) in every country. Feline calicivirusencompasses a number of viral strains that cause signs of upper respiratory infection, such as sneezing and nasal discharge as well as oral ulcerations. He told me to bring her in and he would get to her when he could. A vaccine is usually given by an injection under the skin, although sometimes may be given as drops into the eyes or nose. Heres What It Means, Cat Behavior After Vaccination A Complete Guide. WebDecreased appetite and activity. Rabies is endemic worldwide, and the vaccine is recommended for all pet cats. That can upset your cats stomach. But some cats will behave differently. You can also use a towel to extract the scent of the other cats and then rub that towel on the cat that visited the vet. These effects should subside in a few hours or days. Cats that stay at a boarding cattery will generally require an annual vaccination (or booster vaccine before the cat goes into the cattery) as this is a higher risk situation. Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Vaccines: Benefits and Risks., American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: Vaccinations for Your Pet., American Humane: Vaccinating Your Pet.. This should go away on its own in 2-3 days as the symptoms ease. If these side effects last for more than a day or two, or cause your pet significant discomfort, it is important for you to contact your veterinarian: A small, firm swelling under the skin may develop at the site of a recent vaccination. All vaccines have the potential to cause side effects in cats. Keep track of product alerts for pet foods, animal feed, and products used by veterinarians or animal owners. TheFeline Vaccination Advisory Panelregularly evaluates and researches cat vaccination developments to make science-based recommendations. Many illnesses will also make a cat lethargic, so its quite likely that a sick or recently vaccinated cat will be lethargic. 1. However, these adverse effects should subside after 24 to 48 hours. Independence America Holdings Corp. All Rights Reserved. WebYou may notice your cat has a temporary loss of appetite or is less lively a day or two after a vaccination, but this should resolve within 24-48 hours. Some of the more virulent strains cause hair loss and crusting on other parts of the body, as well as hepatitis and even death. Lethargic and VomitingVomiting is seen with problems directly affecting the digestive tract (inflammatory bowel disease, for example) and metabolic diseases like diabetes or kidney failure. This happens because the immune response generated by a vaccine can make cats feel tired, achy, and generally unwell. After an incubation stage, clinical signs of aggression, disorientation, and death rapidly progress. And when you consider the pain of an injection, you will better understand why your cat may not interact with people and other cats like he usually does. Some owners report that their cats never remained the same after vaccination. Since then we noticed her behavior changed. Some data suggest that adult animals may maintain immunity for 5-7 years after their initial vaccinations as young animals, suggesting that the annual revaccination veterinarians had recommended for years is not necessary. Most persistently infected cats will die as a result of their infection. Dr. Debra, Recently, my kitten (2 months old) had her first installment of vaccinations. You can try feeding the cat to see if it helps. Cats dont actually have nine lives, so you need to do what you can to protect them. If they are outdoor or indoor/outdoor, or they are young cats or seniors, your vet may recommend yearly FVRCP shots. In addition, vaccines can cause allergic reactions. We took her to our vet. Feline herpesvirus, also known asfeline rhinotracheitis virus, causes severe signs of upper respiratory infection. Cats that have this vaccination often experience stiffened joints. The bacterium can also be an occasional cause of pneumonia in young kittens. Black Spots, Gunk & Blackheads On Dog Nipples: What Do They Mean?? All our advice is freely accessible to everyone, wherever you are in the world. This may include: Tests for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus. You can seek guidance and advice from your vet regarding such behavioral transformation. For example, fleas may remove so much blood from cats that they become anemic. Cat Behavior After Vaccination A Complete Guide. Your vet always tells you how important it is to get your cat vaccinated, but you might still be wondering if its worth it. If youre up too late, youll be tired the next day but will feel fine once you get some extra sleep. During times of stress, the virus can reactivate, and the cat can start to show signs of infection againeven if they have not been re-exposed to the disease. You have to consider the fact that visiting the vet often entails a lot of things that can be scary for your pet, including getting handled by the clinic staff. However, it is normal for cats to feel ill for a few hours or days after vaccination. I had then decided to take her to our local emergency vet clinic. Very few cats may be allergic to one or more components of the vaccine and have more serious side effects such as difficulty in breathing, vomiting, or diarrhea. I just dont think putting her down without knowing exactly what she has is a reasonable option, but it seems to be the in thing to do these days. This tumor would need to be removed, and this is not easy around the neck. In this stage, a rabid cat will usually exhibit changes in behavior that aren't typical for their personality: A shy cat can become For further information on FeLV, seeFeline leukaemia virus. There are so many possibilities of what it could be. One type of cancer in cats, for example, is known to be caused by vaccinations. When used appropriately and as recommended they are both safe and provide crucial protection for cats against a number of diseases. Bordetella: Cats who go to the groomer or stay at a kennel may get vaccinated for this infection that spreads quickly in spaces where there are lots of animals. The FVCRP vaccine is most likely to cause limping because lameness is a symptom of feline calicivirus. WebCan your cats personality change after a vaccination? Among the behavioral changes that you can see in your cat are lethargy, aggression, and fear. All rights reserved. While the rabies vaccine is not listed as a core vaccine by the AAFP guidelines, it is required by law in most regions. In the vast majority of cases, your cat will feel fine and you wont notice any change in their behavior. Some that may be available include: Vaccination is generally a very safe procedure that has substantially reduced the impact of several very serious diseases. Nutritional disordersCats cant be energetic and engaged without good nutrition. Here at MyCuteAnimals.com we cover everything from training, care, health, nutrition, breeds, products, and much more. Check the requirements in your state using this table compiled by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Just as in humans, vaccinating your cat helps to protect him or her against several serious and/or life-threatening diseases. Its advisable to get your cat inoculated if your cat roams outside. You have to understand that cats that share a home pass each others scent to one another. He told us she had a screw loose and that she had a shot knot. Make a note of all the changes to your cats behavior. Beyond this, all other vaccines are optional. WebMany pet owners and some animal scientists believe that we are over vaccinating our pets. He did not know what was wrong. In addition, vaccines can cause allergic reactions. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Most cats want to sleep for a few hours after getting their shot. WebHow will your cat feel after receiving a vaccine? Mild signs, such as tiredness, mild fever, and decreased appetite, may be present for a short time.