Calicivirus Vaccines

What Is Feline Calicivirus?

Feline calicivirus is a common and highly contagious pathogen that causes upper respiratory infections in cats. It is not a single virus. Instead, calicivirus refers to a large family of virus strains. The strains range from mild to very severe and can also quickly mutate to produce a brand-new strain.

Calicivirus spreads quickly between multiple cats. As a result, it is frequently found at locations that house multiple cats, including rescues, shelters, cat cafés, and breeding facilities. It is not uncommon to bring home a new cat that is already sick from calicivirus. If you own multiple cats, then the infected cat may pass their sickness on to the others. Kittens and young adult cats are at the highest risk of contracting calicivirus, but felines of any age can be affected.

What Are the Symptoms of Feline Calicivirus?

Symptoms of feline calicivirus can range from mild to severe, and some cats may not show any clinical signs at all. In most cases, however, cats show minor symptoms, such as:

• Sneezing
• Nasal discharge (snot)
• Open sores on the nose, lips, or tongue
• Conjunctivitis (eye inflammation)
• Eye discharge
• Fever
• Lethargy
• Dehydration
• Poor appetite

More rarely, cats may experience a severe form of calicivirus that infects the lungs, joints, or other organs. When this happens, you may notice:

• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Swollen joints
• Limping
• Swollen face
• Bloody nose
• Bloody stool

If you notice these signs in your cat, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Severe strains of calicivirus can cause permanent organ damage and organ failure without emergency care.

What Causes Feline Calicivirus?

Feline calicivirus spreads through spit, nasal discharge, and other secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes. These secretions can get onto a pet carrier, food bowl, or toy, spreading the virus to any cat that comes into contact with them. They can also get onto your cat’s fur and, if you pet your cat, onto your hands. It is vital to wash your hands after touching any cat with calicivirus.

Proper hygiene and sanitation can slow the spread of calicivirus. So can careful vetting. Before adopting a cat from any location, pay attention to the overall population’s health and living conditions. Are the cats overcrowded? Do they share items, food, and toys? Does everything look clean? Are there lots of cats with snotty noses or runny eyes? While calicivirus can spread quickly even at facilities that take precautions, wise decision-making can reduce the risk that you bring calicivirus home with you.

How Do Vaccines Help?

Vaccination is an essential part of calicivirus prevention. Vaccines deliver a tiny amount of calicivirus particles into your cat’s body. These particles are reduced to a harmless state, so they won’t make your pet sick, but its immune system will still recognize them as a virus. This trains your cat’s body to identify and destroy calicivirus, boosting their defenses against future infections.

Some cats can still get infected after receiving the calicivirus vaccine, especially if they live in a crowded home, shelter, or breeding facility. With the vaccine, however, their immune system will fight the virus more effectively. They will experience fewer symptoms, recover more quickly, and be less likely to spread the virus to other cats.

Recommended Calicivirus Vaccine Schedule

Because feline calicivirus spreads so quickly and because it has a high rate of mutation, its vaccine is considered core worldwide. It is typically delivered as part of the FVCRP vaccine, which combines feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), and feline calicivirus into a single shot.

The standard recommendation is to start vaccinations at six to eight weeks of age. The cat should be revaccinated every three to four weeks until it reaches 16 weeks of age, then once again at six months. Afterward, the cat should be revaccinated every three years. If your cat lives in a high-risk situation such as a shelter or multi-cat home, then the recommendations change slightly. The cat should be revaccinated every two to three weeks until it reaches 20 weeks of age, then revaccinated annually.

Get Your Cat Vaccinated Near You in the Tri-State Area

Calicivirus vaccines protect your pet’s health while providing peace of mind. Get your cat up to date on their vaccinations with Westwood Regional Veterinary Hospital and Pompton Lakes Animal Hospital. We provide a full range of veterinary services, including preventative care, for pet lovers in Westwood and Pompton Lakes, NJ, and throughout the Tri-State area. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.