Cat Vaccines

Cat vaccines are highly recommended by veterinarians for the prevention of life threating diseases, and the health and well being of cats. Vaccines are required when moving cats across international borders and before entering cat shows or kennels.¹

Fast Facts

1. Injections are given either subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into the muscle)²
2. Some vaccines can be given intranasally (in the nose) without an injection²
3. May be core, highly recommended, or optional³
4. Optional vaccines should only be given to cats with risk factors for the disease⁴
5. Many vaccinations can be done at home²
6. Made from modified live or killed microbes¹
7. May cause lethargy, fever and loss of appitite^{3 1}
8. In rare cases, may cause sarcomas¹

Vaccine Risks

Swelling at the injection site, fever, decreased appetite and lethargy are common reactions to vaccines.

Vaccine induced sarcoma is a rare side effect affecting one to three in every 30,000 vaccinations.⁵ The vaccine induced sarcoma is a cancer that begins at the injection site. The risk of sarcomas is associated with feline leukemia virus vaccines and killed rabies virus vaccines. If a cat develops a palpable granuloma—a bump that can be felt at the injection site—the risk of sarcoma should be discussed before future vaccines are given.^{3 1} Pregnant cats and kittens younger than 4-5 weeks should not be given modified live virus vaccines as they may cause miscarriages, birth defects or infection.⁵

Core Vaccinations

• Feline calicivirus
  • For kittens under 12 weeks: At first visit, then every 3-4 weeks until 12 weeks
  • For kittens over 12 weeks: 1 dose if killed virus, 2 doses, spaced 3-4 weeks, if modified live
  • Boosters: A year later, then every three years
• Feline herpesvirus 1
  • For kittens under 12 weeks: At first visit, then every 3-4 weeks until 12 weeks
  • For kittens over 12 weeks: 1 dose if killed virus, 2 doses, spaced 3-4 weeks, if modified live
  • Boosters: A year later, then every three years
• Feline panleukopenia virus
  • For kittens under 12 weeks: At first visit, then every 3-4 weeks until 12 weeks
  • For kittens over 12 weeks: 1 dose if killed virus, 2 doses, spaced 3-4 weeks, if modified live
  • Boosters: A year later, then every three years
  • Warning: Do not use modified live viruses for pregnant cats or kittens younger than 4-5 weeks
• Rabies
  • For kittens over 12 weeks: 1 dose
  • Boosters: A year later, then every three years

Optional Vaccinations

• Feline leukemia virus
  • For kittens under 12 weeks: 2 doses 3-4 weeks apart no earlier then the 8th and the 12th week in age for each dose respectively
  • For kittens over 12 weeks: 2 doses 3-4 weeks
  • Boosters: Once a year
• Chlamydophila felis
  • For kittens under 12 weeks: 1 dose if modified live virus, 2 doses of killed virus, spaced 3-4 weeks
  • For kittens over 12 weeks: 1 dose if modified live virus, 2 doses of killed virus, spaced 3-4 weeks
  • Boosters: Once a year^{3 4}

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