Like dogs, cats require vaccinations to stay healthy and safe.

Even if your feline friend stays indoors, you should still keep them up-to-date on core vaccines to protect them from potentially serious diseases. Core vaccines for cats include the rabies vaccine and the FVRCP vaccine, which covers feline herpesvirus (rhinotracheitis), feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia. These vaccines are crucial for preventing common and often fatal diseases that can easily be transmitted, even to indoor cats. Feline panleukopenia, for example, is a highly contagious virus that can be deadly, particularly to kittens, while feline herpesvirus and calicivirus are leading causes of respiratory infections. In addition to these core vaccines, we may also recommend non-core vaccines, such as the feline leukemia vaccine, depending on your cat’s lifestyle, particularly if they have any exposure to the outdoors or other cats. 

At Eastside Animal Hospital, we work closely with you to determine the appropriate vaccination plan for your cat or kitten, taking into consideration their specific lifestyle and risk factors. If you have a tiny new furry friend, we are happy to discuss kitten vaccine schedules. Our goal is to ensure that your cat receives the necessary protection without unnecessary vaccinations, helping them live a healthy life.

Ferrets must be vaccinated as well.

We offer essential vaccinations for ferrets at Eastside Animal Hospital. The rabies vaccine, crucial for preventing this fatal disease that can also pose a risk to humans, is required by law for ferrets in Michigan. Sometimes, we can administer a distemper shot for ferrets due to their susceptibility to this often-deadly virus. While the distemper vaccine is not always readily available, when it is, we administer it with caution for your ferret's safety. By keeping your ferret up-to-date on these vaccines, you help safeguard them against these dangerous diseases and contribute to their long-term well-being.