Severely affected kittens may have eyes completely swollen shut and have prolonged conjunctivitis. The incidence and severity of Feline Infectious Diseases has been greatly reduced through the use of vaccines. This immune response provides protection for the cat against the specific infectious agents in the vaccine. Vaccination and immunization are used interchangeably but they are not identical in meaning. The proper use of vaccines will provide kittens with the best amount of protection against devastating and potentially fatal feline infectious diseases.
Kittens receive protective antibodies from their mother's milk.
This is called maternal immunity. These antibodies begin to wear off between six and ten weeks of age. Vaccination typically occurs at six to eight weeks of age in kittens. The kitten's maternal immunity prevents immunization from occurring if vaccines are given too early. When the maternal immunity decreases, the kitten may then be successfully immunized through vaccinations.