Expert: Norman Auspitz - 8/12/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a four week old orphaned kitten that is now 10oz. and is eating 4 to 6 hrs apart. I have to travel on an airplane for 2.5 hrs. and was wondering if it was safe so long as the kitten is in the passenger cabin with me.  Are there any health issues that could arise from flying with a kitten this young?

ANSWER: Sarah,

Basically, the only health issue is that the kitten has not had any shots or immunization against diseases such as panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, and calici.  You can discuss this with your vet and see if he has a 3-1 intranasal killed vaccine which will offer some immunity until the kitten is old enough to get its normal injectable vaccination against these diseases.

These viruses tend to be airborne and live very long times outside the cat's body, so they are fairly pervasive in the environment.  Other than that, there should be no problem flying with this kitten.

BTW, this kitten is old enough to begin the weaning process if you have not already done so!

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Norm,
Thank you for your help.  To follow up, my kitten and I have already flown and I did not have a 3-1 intranasal killed vaccine administered before the flight.  Is this something I should look into now that I am hope with the kitten?

BTW, he was brought in by the neighbor's dog, almost dead and his name is Clark Kent Super Kitty, because of how well he is doing.  We are going to begin weaning tomorrow!!!

Thank you, to a new mom your advice is very reassuring!
Sarah

Answer
Sarah,

I am glad your kitten did well and you are home.

I would not worry too much about vaccinations, yet.  Here is what we do:

When the kittens are 6 weeks of age and fully weaned, we give them a half dose of the Scherring-Plough FVR-CP modified live 3-1 vaccine (panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calici viruses) .

They get a full dose at 9 weeks of age and, again at 12 weeks of age.  We ALWAYS give any vaccines at least 3 weeks apart (vets sometimes tend to over vaccinate).

Given the local anti-rabies laws, we will have an adjuvant free rabies vaccine given at 16 weeks.

ALL VACCINES ARE GIVEN INTRAMUSCULARLY (IM) IN THE THIGH MUSCLE OF A REAR LEG. This is just in case of the unlikely event of the kitten developing a needle site sarcoma.

If the kitten is indoors only, it does not need either FeLV or FIV vaccinations.  If you have a dog that goes out, you may consider giving the kitten a bordatella vaccination.

Remember, no matter what the vets may say, we always wait at least 3 weeks between vaccinations of any kind.

I would give a 3-1 booster 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, 7 years, and, then, never again!!!!!

These are based on the recommendations of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

(See:  http://www.cfa.org/articles/health/vaccination-guidelines.html  )

BTW, if you need instructions on weaning your kitten, please let me know.

Best regards... Norm.