Answer: If the kittens haven’t received any substantial amount of maternal antibodies, because they never suckled after birth (for example in cases where the mother dies giving birth), then it would seem logical to vaccinate them as soon as possible. However, the value of vaccination depends upon the ability of the kittens’ immune mechanisms to be able to respond to the vaccine, and in the first two weeks of life the production of antibodies following the administration of a vaccine may be poor. Indeed, giving them live vaccine during that time might even be harmful. Since there are hyper immune sera available against FIE and rabies, it might appear preferable to give a dose of serum followed four weeks later by vaccination. However, present evidence indicates that the use of FIE antiserum provides less effective protection then multiple doses of vaccine.
Current recommendations therefore are that colostrums-deprived kittens should be vaccinated against FIE regardless of age, re-vaccinated at eight to ten weeks’ old, again two weeks later, and then possibly at sixteen weeks’ of age. Where mother cat has not been vaccinated against rabies, then vaccine can be given to kittens as young as four weeks’ old. Protection against FRD (cat ’flu) can be given by intra-nasal vaccination at one week old followed by further doses (by injection or intra-nasally) every three weeks until twelve weeks’ old.
