Since most cats will be exposed to Feline Panleukopenia (FPV) at some point in their lifetime, the most effective prevention is through vaccination. There are three categories of vaccines:

• Core - vaccine that every cat should receive at some point in its life
• Noncore -- vaccine that only some cats need, the decision to use these vaccines is dependent upon factors such as geographic location and the lifestyle of the cat
• Not recommended -- vaccine that is not generally recommended for any cat

The vaccine for Feline Panleukopenia is categorized as core, and young kittens should receive core vaccines as soon as they are old enough to build immunity.

Vaccine Recommendations for FPV

Kittens should receive the first FPV shot between 6 to 8 weeks of age. If the living environment is known to be in risk of FPV, re-vaccinate kittens every three to four weeks until they are 16 weeks old. Booster vaccination should be at 1 to 2 years of age, after discussing with your veterinarian.

What types of vaccines are used for FPV?

There are three kinds of vaccines for cats:

• Injectable killed virus -- recommended for use in disease-free colonies
• Injectable Modified live strain -- not recommended for pregnant cats or kittens under 4 weeks of age
• Intranasal

Alternative Vaccines

An injectable vaccine containing FPV and strains of the herpes virus (FHB) and calicivirus (FCV) is also available. The recommendation for this combination vaccine is that:

• Kittens should receive two doses with the first, given as early as 6 weeks of age and the second after 16 weeks of age
• Adolescent and adult cats should receive two doses given three to four weeks apart
• Both kittens and adults should receive boosters after one year, and then every three years

While vaccinations are the best way to combat diseases, they do not prevent all diseases. It is possible for a cat to be exposed to different strains of a virus that are not countered by their vaccinations. However, when this happens the illness severity is usually much more mild than it would be in a cat that was never vaccinated.

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