What Vaccines Do Kittens Need

Kitten distemperment is both highly contagious in cats and often fatal.

What vaccines do kittens need. Non core kitten vaccinations include feline leukemia felv feline immunodeficiency virus fiv feline infectious peritonitis fip chlamydophila felis and feline giardia vaccines. If certain risk factors apply to your cat your vet might recommend one or more of these non core vaccinations. On the other hand some vaccines are only needed depending on conditions that are specific to your cat their lifestyle or their environment. Depending on your location and your kitten s environment certain non core vaccines may also be recommended.

Kittens can start their vaccinations from nine weeks old and will need a second set of injections usually 2 4 weeks after their initial set to complete their course. Cats are commonly vaccinated against. The final vaccine however should not be given before your pet turns sixteen weeks. If you have kittens or puppies the first round of vaccinations usually two or three vaccines are given at around six to eight weeks old.

Core vaccines are considered essential for kittens in most geographical locations. The core vaccines for cats are described in the table below. Your vet can advise which vaccinations your cat or kitten will need to help protect them from infectious diseases. Cat flu feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus feline infectious enteritis.

The initial vaccination series consists of two doses three to four weeks apart followed by revaccination one year later for all pet cats. According to the american association of feline practitioners aafp the core vaccines those that are recommended for all cats are feline panleukopenia virus fpv feline herpesvirus 1 fhv 1 and feline calicivirus fcv as well as rabies. Talk to your veterinarian about your kitten s risk of exposure to these diseases. This is because the antibodies in the mother s breast milk can interfere with the vaccinations.

I recommend starting vaccinations at about 8 weeks of age continuing until the kitten is 4 months old. The felv vaccine is recommended as core for kittens. All kittens need certain core vaccines which provide immunity against the most dangerous and widespread diseases. The virus goes to work on white blood cells and cells in the intestinal lining and is a common cause of fading kitten syndrome.

Feline leukemia is a viral disease that can be transferred to. The chlamydia vaccine is not a core kitten shot but your vet might recommend it. The shot for panleukopenia also known as feline distemper is another recommended vaccination. The decision should be based on your pet s lifestyle and a discussion with your vet.

The initial vaccination series consists of two doses three to four weeks apart followed by revaccination one year later for all pet cats.