Matrix Vaccination Guidelines

Abstract

Overview: This article presents, in a user-friendly, tabluated form, the ABCD’s current vaccination recommendations for four broad categories of cats: outdoor cats (ie, those with access outdoors that come into contact with other cats outdoors); indoor cats (ie, those with no contact with other cats from outdoors); rescue shelter cats; and cats in breeding catteries. Note that it is not always possible to make a clear distinction between these various categories and the definition in any individual case is left up to the veterinary surgeon conducting the vaccination interview.

Introduction

It was evident during the preparation of the complete ABCD vaccination guidelines that no single vaccination protocol would be appropriate for all cats across Europe. Rather, it is important to conduct a vaccination interview in order to devise a vaccination strategy appropriate to the lifestyle, geographical location and disease risks relevant to each feline patient. These matrix vaccination guidelines were compiled to assist veterinary surgeons during the vaccination interview, summarising the ABCD’s vaccine recommendations. The ‘core’ vaccines should be administered to all cats, whereas ‘circumstan- tial’ vaccines are required under specific circumstances (for example, for cats travelling to areas where rabies is endemic, or cats with out- door access and therefore at risk of infection with FeLV), and ‘non-core’ vaccines are recommended only for cats at risk of specific infections.

Abbreviations used in the matrix tables

DOI Duration of immunity

FCV Feline calicivirus

FCoV/FIP Feline coronavirus/feline infectious peritonitis

FeLV Feline leukaemia virus

FHV Feline herpesvirus

FPV Feline panleukopenia virus

MDA Maternally-derived antibodies

MLV Modified-live vaccine

PV Primary vaccination course