A global shortage of feline vaccines has forced cat boarding facilities in NSW to suspend vaccination requirements which is a relief for "cat parents". But it also means animal shelters are having to turn away cats and kittens.
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00:00 It's a core vaccine generally referred to as F3, so it protects cats against feline
00:06 parvovirus, feline calliticivirus and feline herpesvirus.
00:11 Most cats, if they receive their full course of vaccinations as kittens and receive boosters
00:16 as adults, they'll be fairly protected.
00:18 So if they're not getting an update at the moment, the delay won't be crucial.
00:23 But the issue is with kittens who don't have that immunity.
00:26 It's a yearly job, is it?
00:28 Usually it depends.
00:31 As a kitten, they'll usually get a course of three or four, one at six months, then
00:35 at a year, and then after that it might be yearly or it might be less frequent, depending
00:40 on the cat's circumstances.
00:41 If they're regularly boarding or at high risk, they might be annual vaccination.
00:46 The period in between might be a bit longer.
00:48 That's usually a matter that's discussed with the vet.
00:51 So your vets just simply can't get it?
00:54 A lot of the vets we work with have completely run out.
00:59 Some still have some supplies and in line with the AVA recommendations, they're prioritising
01:04 kittens because they're most at risk.
01:07 We still have some supplies at our shelter and we've been able to vaccinate our kittens.
01:11 So we have a fantastic shelter manager, Nerida Atkin.
01:15 She's always prepared.
01:17 But it is a really difficult time because we're in kitten season and kittens are the
01:21 most vulnerable.
01:22 It must be difficult to turn away kittens as well.
01:26 So what happens?
01:28 You just say, "I'm sorry, we can't take any more now."
01:30 We have a waiting list and we typically have a waiting list anyway because we're a managed
01:36 admission shelter.
01:37 So as cats are rehomed, we can take more in, but we also have a lot of foster carers and
01:43 they're an absolute lifeline to us.
01:45 And thank you to all our foster carers and to all the people who do fostering for rescue
01:49 because they're so important because they help you to manage those peaks and troughs
01:53 of cats coming in and cats going out.
01:57 Might we see, Christina, an increase in cat illnesses then if this problem persists?
02:04 I think for cats who are homeless, it's going to be a very, very high risk period and kittens
02:11 will be most at risk.
02:13 And it can be fatal, things like pavovirus can be fatal.
02:16 Humphelin herpes virus can leave a cat blind.
02:22 These can be really severe diseases.
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