Ragdoll Cat Forums

Hi

Just wanted to get some expert advise. When breeding your kittens have they ever suffered allergic reactions to their 1st vaccinations.

The litter I am getting my girl from have all had a reaction to their 1st vaccination. I cannot tell you what type it was, but, there were varied reactions.

Some had runny noses and eyes, one had a cough, some had back leg problems. Sounds horrific I know but the litter was a big one of 7 kittens.

Most are now better and ready to go to their new homes. But I was wondering if this can happen often and could there be adverse affects later on.

My girl had the cough but has bounded back as she was the biggest of the litter and did not seem hit as bad. Apparently the vet said that where the injections went in if other cats lick very soon after (ie litter mates) and then themselves it can spread the reaction.

These do not sound like allergic reactions to me - or even direct effects of the shots. It is possible that some URI broke based on the stress of the vaccination, trip to the vet, coincidence, etc, but it is very rare for a vaccination to cause signs of illness beyond some lethargy - and even that is not usual for 3/1 shots. I have never heard that oral ingestion of the shot would cause anything other than an ineffective shot if too much was lost. If it worries you - and there is no reason it should - ask your own vet about it. Depending on how fast the symptoms started, it seems more likely to me that they picked up a URI at the vet's office. Otherwise, it was probably something in the household. In any event, kittens and cats are going to have URIs over the years and the vast majority will be easily treatable in vaccinated cats.

Fortunately I have not had a kitten or cat get a reaction to a shot. I have heard that if they were to get one it is usually Not on the first shot but a later one. The symptons usually appear within the hour or two after the shot. They would have trouble breathing and be throwing up. The sysmptons you described sounded more like an URI or something similar. Again, I am not a vet.

I checked with my vet and she said she has heard of several cases of a asthmatic type reaction to vaccination and can happen to dogs as well. Not that common but does happen occasionally. She suggests to guard against a reaction for he next needle to give an antihistamine injection 10 mins prior.

My little girl has bounded back from a very short bout and is very robust and well.

Thanks

Did you tell the vet of the back leg "problems." That is indicative of a fever and would not be an asthmatic type symptom. In any event, glad it is over.