Cat vaccinations are a necessary part of pet ownership so that you can keep your furry family member healthy for years to come. At Bridge Veterinary Hospital, we are here to help you get the information you need to keep your pet as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, a lot of untruths can spread on the internet– that’s why we’ve taken the most frequently asked questions about cat vaccinations and answered them thoroughly and accurately so that you can get your cat vaccinated as part of an effective preventive care protocol. 

If you’re looking for a highly trained veterinarian in Point Pleasant, NJ, we’d love to help you care for your cat and any other pets that you have. If your kitten or cat hasn’t yet been vaccinated, that’s the first order of business, so please call us right away at (567) 361-3407. 

American shorthair cat getting vaccination at animal hospital

What exactly are cat vaccinations?

Like any vaccination, a cat vaccination is an injection of a modified version of a pathogen – usually a virus or bacteria – that stimulates an immune response. Hence, the body recognizes the pathogen and fights it off when encountered. You want your cat’s body to produce antibodies against that substance if they are exposed to it, so they have some immunity to fight it off more effectively.

Are cat vaccinations necessary?

Yes. Certain cat vaccines are necessary, or what we would call core vaccines, which means we recommend them in all cats. That's going to include the rabies vaccine and the core viral vaccine called FVRCP; some individuals call it feline distemper. And then, other vaccines might be necessary based on the lifestyle of your cat, particularly the feline leukemia vaccine.

What cat vaccinations are typically recommended, and what are they for?

  • Rabies – This is highly recommended and required by law for all domestic cats in the United States. The rabies vaccination starts when they are a kitten and continues throughout their life.
  • Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia – This combination vaccine covers upper respiratory infections common in cats. Since these are viral, they can be inadvertently brought into the home from outside. Even if you have an indoor cat, we recommend protecting them against these viral infections every year.
  • Feline Leukemia Virus – Bite wounds can transmit this from cat to cat. This is more of an issue for cats in catteries or that go outside. However, the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that all cats get the initial feline leukemia vaccine series and the 1-year booster, and then additional boosters only if they're going to be outside.

We recommend these core vaccines at a bare minimum, covering the most life-threatening illnesses and those your cat will most likely be exposed to.

Black and white cat getting vaccination at animal hospital.

What is the vaccination schedule for kittens?

At Bridge Veterinary Hospital, we recommend a comprehensive kitten vaccination schedule to ensure your kitten receives all the essential core vaccines. Starting at six to eight weeks of age, your kitten should begin a series of vaccinations to protect against critical diseases. The initial vaccination includes the FVRCP vaccine, which covers feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.

Following the initial vaccine, booster shots should be administered every three to four weeks until your kitten reaches 16 weeks of age. This typically means vaccinations at 9, 12, and 16 weeks. At around 12 weeks, your kitten should receive their first rabies vaccine.

Additionally, it’s important to discuss the FeLV (feline leukemia virus) vaccine with your veterinarian, especially if your kitten will have outdoor access or be exposed to other cats. This vaccine is often given at 12 and 16 weeks of age.

Maintaining this vaccination schedule ensures your kitten develops strong immunity against common and potentially fatal feline diseases. Regular veterinary visits will keep your kitten on track with their vaccination plan, providing them with the best start in life.

What is the vaccination schedule for adult cats?

Keeping your adult cat up-to-date with vaccinations is important for their ongoing health and protection against diseases. At Bridge Veterinary Hospital, we recommend a structured adult cat vaccination schedule to cover all core vaccines.

  • Annually, your cat should receive the FVRCP vaccine, which protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. 
  • Your adult cat should also receive a rabies vaccine every year or every three years, depending on the specific vaccine used.
  • For cats with outdoor access or those exposed to other cats, we recommend the FeLV (feline leukemia virus) vaccine.

Regular veterinary visits are required for assessing your cat’s health and determining any additional vaccines that may be necessary based on their lifestyle and risk factors. Keeping your cat on a consistent vaccination schedule allows them to remain protected against infectious diseases, promoting a long and healthy life.

American shorthair cat getting vaccination at animal hospital.

Are there any risks or side effects associated with cat vaccines?

There's always going to be some inherent risk. Fortunately, nowadays, vaccines are going to be minimal risk. The most common thing you'll see is a bit of lethargy for the rest of the day after the vaccines, but it's usually pretty minimal. Sometimes your cat might have a decreased appetite or soreness over the site where the vaccine was given, but most of the time, these things are very minimal.

The more rare side effects are vomiting, diarrhea, severe lethargy, hives, swelling of the face, and, while they aren’t very common, they require immediate evaluation. The most discussed vaccine reaction in the cat is called the feline injection site-associated sarcoma. Fortunately, that is extremely rare. Some studies show it's as rare as 0.0001% of the time, but that is always a possibility that's important to consider, which is why we only want to vaccinate as often as we need to keep their immunity up, and no more than that.

If my cat is going to strictly live indoors, do they still need to be vaccinated?

Absolutely. Rabies is still a risk even if your cat never goes outside. We still recommend distemper in most cases, too, just because we keep our windows open in the summertime here, and some cats go out and about. We want to minimize any potential risk factors by keeping those indoor kitties vaccinated.

Why is it important to avoid missing a cat vaccination?

Vaccines rely on immune memory cells, so when you booster a vaccine, you remind those cells of what this pathogen looks like and how to respond to it. If you miss boosters, your cat no longer has the proper protection and may need to restart the series to ensure adequate protection.

It’s also vital that you don't administer vaccines any closer than three weeks apart because the immune system cannot form an anamnestic response and produce adequate antibodies to that second or third set. Conversely, you don't want them to be administered more than six weeks apart. After six weeks, the antibody production will spike and then dwindle to the point that it's almost like starting again.

The AVMA has released its vaccination guidelines for cats, which can also be highly beneficial. If you still have questions about cat vaccinations, please don’t hesitate to call us at (567) 361-3407 or email us at [email protected].