Optimal Cat Vaccination Schedule: A Comprehensive Guide

For cats, there are numerous fatal diseases that humans currently cannot cure, such as feline herpesvirus and feline distemper. The best way to ensure your cat's health is to keep up with vaccinations on schedule.

"Doctor, I want to give my cat the Merial Trifel, not the Feline Trivalent!" Many cat owners have heard these terms. Are they the same product, or is there a difference?

Feline Trivalent Vaccine

The Feline Trivalent vaccine can prevent three common diseases:

① Feline Herpesvirus (Feline Rhinotracheitis: Spread by contact with asymptomatic carriers, symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, loss of appetite, keratitis, conjunctivitis, difficulty breathing, and coughing. After recovery, the cat will carry the virus for life, and the condition can easily recur.)

② Feline Calicivirus (Feline Calicivirus: Similar symptoms to feline herpesvirus, with additional symptoms such as oral ulcers, limping, pneumonia, and systemic organ failure. After recovery, 50% of cases will carry the virus for life.)

③ Feline Panleukopenia Virus (Feline Distemper: Mainly characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, loss of appetite, and other symptoms. The mortality rate in kittens can reach up to 50%.)

Merial Trifel

Merial Trifel is a brand by the Merial company. Currently, most veterinary clinics administer the Merial Trifel (with batch number core) vaccine to cats. This means that Merial Trifel is a brand, while the Feline Trivalent is a vaccine program.

Firstly, Merial Trifel by Pfizer is an inactivated vaccine and is the only catspecific vaccine to have passed the official approval of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture for import. Distributed by "Merial China," it can be purchased in most cities' animal husbandry bureaus. The regular channels ensure the cold chain transportation of the vaccine, ensuring its effectiveness.

Precautions for Feline Trivalent Vaccination:

① Before vaccination, observe your cat for a day to ensure they do not show signs of weakness, loss of appetite, or other abnormalities.

② After the first vaccination, stay at the veterinary clinic for at least half an hour to confirm that your cat does not have any adverse reactions.

③ On the day of vaccination, your cat may experience a loss of appetite or weakness, which is a normal reaction and usually resolves on its own within 1 to 3 days.

④ Pregnant cats should not be vaccinated!

⑤ Remember to request and keep the vaccination certificate provided by the veterinary clinic, as some airlines, highspeed trains, pet stores, and pet boarding facilities may require proof of vaccination.

⑥ Vaccination provides a certain level of protection, but the protection rate is not 100%.

⑦ It takes about 7 days after vaccination for a certain amount of antibodies to be produced.

⑧ Parasites may affect the efficacy of the vaccine, so it is not suitable to vaccinate cats that have not been dewormed.