Wobbliness (ataxia) after Feline Core Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 101 reports of wobbliness (ataxia) in cats after Feline Core Vaccine. That is 6.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.7% across reports for all cat medicines.

101Reports

63%Marked serious

22%Recovered

18%Died or euthanised

1 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

28 29%

1–2 days

30 32%

3–7 days

13 14%

1–4 weeks

19 20%

Over a month

5 5.3%

How the animals did

Recovered

21 21%

Recovered with lasting effects

1 1.0%

Still unwell when reported

37 37%

Died

6 5.9%

Euthanised

12 12%

Not known

24 24%

Problems reported at the same time

48 48%

44 44%

18 18%

17 17%

16 16%

16 16%

15 15%

13 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: vaccine.

Mild, short-lived lethargy, soreness or a small lump at the injection site are the most commonly reported vaccine reactions.

Questions owners ask

Can Feline Core Vaccine cause wobbliness (ataxia) in cats?: 101 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 1 day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Wobbliness (ataxia) with similar medicines

Wobbliness (ataxia) after Rabies Vaccine 206 reports · 8.0% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Feline Leukemia Vaccine 68 reports · 8.5% of its reports
Wobbliness (ataxia) after Distemper-parvo Vaccine 37 reports · 13% of its reports

All reported side effects of Feline Core Vaccine in cats · Medicines most reported with wobbliness (ataxia)