Abstract
BackgroundVaccination plays an important role in feline healthcare as it is the most effective measure for prevention against feline infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important to know owners’ opinion towards cats’ vaccination and current veterinary practices in order to advice owners on the use of the correct vaccination protocol.This study aimed to investigate the proportion of cats regularly vaccinated and identify the main factors motivating cat owners’ decisions related to vaccination in Italy. A questionnaire was disseminated online (mainly via social networks) to collect data regarding Italian cat owners’ demographics, information about cats, factors regarding cats’ vaccination, and veterinary-owner relationship.ResultsA total of 1264 owners participated in the survey and 1247 questionnaires were completed and statistically analyzed. The majority (91%; n = 1131) of cats were vaccinated and 80% (n = 998) had been vaccinated within the last 3 years. Age of 2–4 years old cats and the acquisition from a breeder or cat shop were significantly associated with vaccination within the last 3 years. Cats vaccinated but not within the last 3 years were significantly associated with cat’s indoor lifestyle, cats’ age ≥ 5 years old and low annual household income. Importance of vaccination cost, low annual household income and owners’ job not related to healthcare was statistically associated with the lack of cat’s vaccination. In addition, 86% of the owners took their cat regularly to veterinary clinics. Veterinarians play a significant role in owners’ decision, and they are considered the most useful source of information about vaccination by 97% of owners.ConclusionsThe high number of recently vaccinated cats suggests owner’s attention towards feline vaccination and cat’s health. The importance of veterinarian’s advice along with the knowledge of factors associated to the unvaccinated status of cats may help veterinarians to grow owner’s confidence and increase prevention of feline infectious diseases.However further investigations based on a more comprehensive sample of the general population are needed to confirm the results of this survey.
Highlights
Vaccination plays an important role in feline healthcare as it is the most effective measure for prevention against feline infectious diseases
Answers of respondents who had not answered to the question about the vaccination status of the cats (n = 10) and to the question about the last vaccination (n = 2) were excluded as this information was essential for data analysis
Results obtained through the sample The very high percentage (86%) of the owners that had taken their cats for vaccination to a veterinarian at least once showed Italian owners trust in cats’ vaccination
Summary
Vaccination plays an important role in feline healthcare as it is the most effective measure for prevention against feline infectious diseases. According to the international vaccination guidelines drawn up and shared by various pet veterinary association (e.g., World Small Animal Veterinary Association, − WSAVA, American Association of Feline Practitioners – AAFP, Advisory Board on Cat Diseases - ABCD), all cats, regardless of circumstances or geographical location, should be vaccinated against feline parvovirus (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) [1,2,3,4]. These vaccines have been defined “core vaccines”. Rabies vaccination in Italy is mandatory only for travels abroad
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