When Do Kittens Get Their Rabies Shots
Vaccinations should begin when your kittens turn 8 weeks old.
When do kittens get their rabies shots. Your kitten can receive a rabies vaccination as early as 12 weeks of age but this depends on state laws and the veterinarian. Most vets don t like to give a rabies vaccination until a kittens is 12 to 16 weeks old and usually not at the same time as other vaccinations. Generally your little fuzzball will need her rabies shot at the age of 8 or 12 weeks. But rabies vaccinations are a little different.
But after about six weeks old and eating solid food it s time for them to be vaccinated. When kittens are nursing antibodies in their mother s milk help protect them from infections. Non core kitten vaccinations non core kitten vaccinations include feline leukemia felv feline immunodeficiency virus fiv feline infectious peritonitis fip chlamydophila felis and feline giardia vaccines. Kitties need several immunizations during their first year to protect them against serious diseases.
There are three different types of rabies vaccines so the age your kitten gets her rabies shot depends on the specific vaccine your vet uses. After that they ll only need annual boosters. Of all vaccines rabies and feline leukemia are the most likely to cause sarcomas in cats. Originally this vaccine was only released as a one year vaccine.
Some vaccinations like feline distemper and calicivirus are usually started when kittens are 6 weeks old and then boostered two to three times. On average a kitten can receive his first rabies shot as early as 8 12 weeks of age although the standard is between 4 and 6 months and will need a booster to insure immunity a year later. Feline distemper feline herpes virus and feline calcivirus should all be administered at 10 weeks and again at 14 weeks. Since your kitten needs his rabies vaccine at 12 to 16 weeks it is typically administered with his second round of shots.
They usually continue until they turn 12 weeks. Kitten vaccines are usually first given at about six to eight weeks of age and repeated approximately every three weeks until about 16 to 18 weeks of age. Basic vaccination will protect against rabies feline distemper rhinotracheitis and calicivirus. Some vaccines might be given together in one injection that is called a combination vaccine.
Most veterinarians have now changed to the non adjuvanted form of the rabies vaccine for cats. He ll receive an initial one year vaccine but after that your vet can give him a three year vaccine unless local law stipulates more frequent rabies inoculation. That meant that starting at the age of 12 weeks a cat would need to receive the vaccine annually to ensure protection from the disease.