No doubt pets are our family members and being more loyal they are a continuous source of joy and happiness. Whenever you are feeling sad, playing with your cat will enrich your brain with cheerfulness. But we have some responsibilities to take care of them for their wellbeing and as well as for our safety like cat vaccinations. From their food to their health every parameter needs to be monitored otherwise you will end up at a great loss.

You have heard the famous saying “Prevention is better than cure!”, just like that, vaccination is a procedure of vital importance to protect our pets against deadly and fatal diseases.

Many people have a lot of questions about cat vaccinations and dog vaccinations, many even don’t know if their pet is vaccinated or not? We will try to cover almost every question that arises in mind about cat vaccination.

Let’s get into it to know more about vaccinating your meow.

Is Cat Vaccinations or Kitten Vaccinations necessary?

Yes, being a caretaker of your cat, you should vaccinate your cat. Its scientifically and medically proven that vaccination prevents disease by stimulating the immune system before the attack of germs.

According to the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases, Vaccines prevent infections as well as it stop the transmission of causative agents in a population.

Cat vaccinations will not only lengthen the life of your pet but also ensure the safety of the owner.

Does My Cat Need a Vaccine?

It is recommended to vaccinate all of your cats and kittens at appropriate timings. Sometimes, if a disease is endemic in the area it might be required by law to vaccinate your pets. Whether you have a kitten or an adult cat, ensure the vaccination schedule by visiting the nearby vet. Based on age, breed, lifestyle, premedication history, and travel history, your vet will suggest you the best match vaccines for your cat.

Types of Cat Vaccines

Core Cat Vaccines

According to The American Association of Feline Practitioners, core vaccines for a cat include the following vaccines

Feline distemper or feline panleukopenia
Feline Herpes Virus cause Feline rhinotracheitis
Feline calicivirus

Non-core Cat Vaccines

Non-core vaccines for cats include

Feline leukemia (FeLV)
Chlamydia
Feline immune deficiency Virus (FIV)

Cat Vaccination Schedule

Many factors like indoor and outdoor situations, age, lifestyle, history, etc. will decide the schedule of your cat vaccination or kitten vaccination. You need to talk to your Vet to design an appropriate schedule. Moreover, we have listed an approximate cat vaccination schedule which will give you a clear understanding of cat vaccination.

Kitten Vaccination Schedule

6 to 10 weeks old: FVRCP; Feline distemper, feline rhinotracheitis, and Feline calicivirus (all core vaccines)

11 to 14 weeks old: FVRCP (all core vaccines), FeLV or feline leukemia (non-core), and Rabies

15 to 16 weeks old: Third shot of all the above core vaccines

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)recommends the start of core vaccination from 6 weeks of age, repeating vaccination every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age.

Adult Cat Vaccination Schedule

After the completion of kitten vaccinations, an adult cat will be administered annually that’s why you can call it yearly cat vaccinations. At the examination, a Veterinarian can also administer the vaccines against chlamydia and feline flu.

5 Things You Should Do Before Vaccinating Your Cat

Vaccination can put little or high doses of stress on your cat. Be careful, when you are going to vaccinate your cat.

Always See a vet or talk to the Vet online to administer the optimal dosage of the vaccine. A higher dose doesn’t mean higher protection or a lower dose can cause health problems.
Prefer a titer test before revaccinating your cat, it will provide you the accurate figures before taking any decision.
If you are planning travel then vaccinate your cat a week before you go.
Always choose a licensed and experienced practitioner for vaccination.
Keep a history of vaccination and always insist on a vaccination card and update it at every visit.

Side Effects of Cat Vaccinations

Vaccines undergo a comprehensive trial examination before coming onto the market. It boosts immunity to combat infectious antigens or disease-causing agents. Normally, mild to moderate signs can be seen after vaccination. Almost all medical procedures have somewhat negative effects but that can be ignored. In sum, the risks associated with Cat vaccination are much less than its life-saving benefits.

Signs to watch after vaccinating your Cat

After proper administration of the vaccine to your cat, you can see a small temporary lump at the site of injection if the vaccine was injectable. You can also notice poor appetite and fever. Behavioral changes may include lethargy.

In case of severe signs like prolonged diarrhea, facial itchiness, breathing difficulties, seizures, and any other allergic reaction, we recommend you consult your Vet immediately.

Cat Vaccinations: All that you need to Know