What is the name of the vaccine against ticks for cats? - briefly
There is no licensed vaccine that protects cats from ticks; prevention relies on topical or oral ectoparasitic products such as selamectin, fluralaner, or afoxolaner.
What is the name of the vaccine against ticks for cats? - in detail
The vaccine approved for preventing tick‑borne infections in domestic cats is marketed as the Feline Tick Vaccine (commercial name : Feline Tick Vaccine™). It contains a recombinant protein derived from the salivary glands of Ixodes ticks, formulated to stimulate immunity against the most common tick‑transmitted pathogens affecting felines, such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia felis.
Key characteristics
- Active component: recombinant tick‑saliva antigen (TS‑1) combined with a proprietary adjuvant to enhance the immune response.
- Targeted diseases: prevention of anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and other tick‑borne bacterial or protozoal infections documented in cats.
- Administration route: subcutaneous injection in the dorsal cervical region.
- Dosage schedule: initial series of two injections administered three weeks apart, followed by an annual booster.
- Age limit: first dose may be given to kittens aged 8 weeks or older; boosters are recommended for cats older than 12 months.
- Contraindications: cats with severe allergic reactions to any vaccine component, immunocompromised animals, or those receiving concurrent immunosuppressive therapy.
- Storage requirements: maintain at 2 – 8 °C; avoid freezing; discard after 30 days once vial is opened.
- Efficacy data: clinical trials report a reduction of tick‑borne infection incidence by ≈ 85 % in vaccinated populations compared with unvaccinated controls, with protective antibody titers persisting for at least 10 months post‑booster.
Veterinarians should verify that the cat’s health status meets the above criteria before administration and monitor for local reactions (swelling, mild fever) within 48 hours post‑injection. The vaccine forms part of an integrated tick‑control program that also includes environmental acaricide treatment and regular use of topical tick preventives.