Ragdoll Cat Forums

Hello everyone,

I was reading the past postings on this forum, and I came across samsam's post about vaccinations.. What is the differences between F3 and F4 vaccinations? Why are there different requirement for different countries? In Singapore, we need the stronger vaccination F4. But, in Australia, the cats only need F3 vaccination.. I am not sure about other countries though..

Also, I understand from several breeders from Australia that their Ragdoll kittens do not react too well to F4, and hence are unwilling to export their kittens to countries that need F4 vaccination.. Why will Ragdoll kittens have problems with F4? I thought vaccinations is supposed to help the kittens, and not harm them.. :-(

Thks in advance!

~Wilson~

Although vaccines are safe and effective in general, each element of a vaccination has some risk of causing an adverse reaction. The 4/1 adds chlamydia vaccination. There are medications that are quite effective against chlamydia, unlike the other three infections that are protected against in the 3/1 vaccines (distemper, rhino and calici). That is the reason many choose to get 3/1 vaccination rather than 4/1.

Also be aware that the shots should be in particular locations (3/1 and 4/1 in the upper part of the right front leg). This is to more easily treat any shot site cancer and to try to narrow down which vaccines are more implicated in shot site cancers. It is also now accepted that these vaccines can be on a three year booster cycle rather than an annual one after the kitten series (the last of which should be after the kitten is 16 weeks old) and a first annual booster.

Some areas or households where chlamydia is an increased risk may go ahead with 4/1 vaccination.

Ragdoll kittens are not any more likely to have a reaction to a 4/1 shot than any other kitten.

Hi JanH,

Thks for the super quick reply! Sometimes I wonder whether do you have time to sleep.. LOL... What does Chlamydia protects the cats from?

Thks!
~Wilson~

Chlamydia in cats is a bacterial Upper Respiratory Infection. (Yes, there is a vaccine even though it is not viral.)