Turkish Vans are a natural breed and generally very healthy cats.
Since they haven't been seriously inbred like some long established
breeds, they have a strong immune system. There
are no genetic problems common to the breed. But like any cat, good care
involves following a proper vaccination regime and keeping them from
exposure to diseases and parasites. Recently the American
Association of Feline Practitioners and the Academy of Feline Medicine
Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines issued their 2000 report. This useful
report contains information on the recommended vaccination protocols for
cats. It can be viewed on line at http://www.aafponline.org/
Feline Parvovirus, Herpesvirus (Rhinotracheitis),
and Calicivirus
In general the report recommends vaccination for feline
parvovirus, herpesvirus-1, and calicivirus. This can be done in the form
of a combination vaccine. If the kitten is >12 weeks old one dose is
to be administered with a booster vaccine 1 year following the primary
vaccination - then revaccination no more frequently than every 3
years.
*** One
interesting point to remember regarding vaccinations, is that they
induce only relative protection. Most vaccines are considered to
be 40-60% effective at most. At best, these
vaccines induce an immune response that lessens the severity of the
disease. Vaccinated cats are not immune to the disease nor are
they protected from all signs of the disease. Stress may weaken
the immune response, so the less stress on your cat the better.
Rabies
Rabies vaccinations are to be administered at > 12
weeks of age and then annually or as required by law. There is
some evidence that a rabies vaccine and a booster will provide life long
immunity. But you should continue the yearly rabies vaccine for
liability reasons, to prevent your pet from being seized from you in the
event it should bite someone, for whatever reason.
Feline Leukemia Virus
Feline leukemia virus vaccines are not recommended
for cats >16 weeks of age that are restricted to a closed indoor FeLV-negative
environment. If your kitten is to be in contact with outdoor animals, it
is important that they be vaccinated prior to 16 weeks of age.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
The Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) vaccine is not
recommended for routine use - insufficient evidence exists to show that
this vaccine induces protection. According to the report, feline
coronaviruses are widespread. The FIP virus is currently believed to be
generated as mutant variants in cats carrying feline enteric
coronaviruses and may have a genetic basis. However, this is not
proven as yet, it is only a working theory of the feline medical
research community. There is still no accurate screening test for
FIP, so a breeder cannot guarantee against it. Research into FIP
is proceeding with increased intensity, so hopefully in the next couple
of years, we can protect our cats from this dreaded and fatal disease.
Spaying or Neutering your Van
If you have purchased a Turkish Van as a pet, you will
be required to get it spayed or neutered by a certain age. We
recommend having the surgery between 6 and 8 months of age. At
this age, they can better handle the anesthesia and other stresses that
come with surgery. Also, we recommend using Isoflorane. Vans
seem to do better under this type of anesthesia and wake up sooner with
less grogginess. Bbe sure to ask your vet for a pain shot for your best
friend. Cats can definitely feel pain after surgery, and a pain
reliver will help with their recovery. (Don't try to use home
remedy's, aspirin and ibuprofen can be toxic to cats.)
