While a bit less common, oral vaccines for cats do exist. Oral vaccines offer alternative immunity delivery modality, which may offer advantages in anxious cats due to needles or situations that are not practical for an injection. However, a majority of the vaccines against feline infections are administration routes of injection. Examples of such oral vaccines include:
* Rabies Vaccine (Oral)
There is an oral vaccine for rabies that is used in wildlife, such as for raccoons and foxes. However, this oral form of the vaccine is not generally used in domestic cats. Most cats receive the rabies vaccine by injection, because it is the most effective way to ensure immunity.
Feline Calicivirus (FCV) & Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1)
A few oral vaccines have been explored or employed experimentally for the feline respiratory viruses; these are usually given by a vet in certain cases but, more often, diseases resulting from these viruses are treated with the use of injectable forms.
Oral Worming and Other Parasite Treatments
Not technically vaccines, many cat owners also use oral medications to treat internal parasites, such as intestinal worms or heartworm. These are preventative treatments but do not provide immunity in the same way as vaccines.
Why Oral Vaccines Are Less Common
Effectiveness
Injectable vaccines tend to be more effective in providing long-term immunity since they directly stimulate the immune system.
Absorption
Oral vaccines may not always be absorbed as consistently or as well through the digestive system. Current Usage: Fewer oral vaccines are given to cats, as most vaccines require the controlled, directed delivery that injectable forms offer. Benefits of Oral Vaccines: Less Stressful: Cats especially sensitive to needles may handle oral vaccines less stressfully than injections.
Convenience
Sometimes, depending on the formulation, an oral vaccine can be more readily given in certain situations than other vaccines.
Conclusion
Some vaccinations for cats are available as oral variants, but the injectable types remain common for the most core vaccinations, including rabies, distemper, or panleukopenia, and feline leukemia, known as FeLV. But when considering other alternative vaccine options, the first way would be by having a consultation with your veterinarian regarding the type that works best for your cat.