How Often and Which Vaccines Does a Cat Need?

1 Cat Vaccination: Schedule and Vaccines

1. How often to vaccinate

1) A kitten can get the first FVRCP shot at about 6–8 weeks, then one every 3–4 weeks for three shots in a row. After the first course, boost once in the first year, then every three years.

2) If the cat is over 16 weeks old, the first course needs only two FVRCP shots, 3–4 weeks apart. Boost once in the first year, then every three years.

3) The rabies shot can be given once after 12 weeks, usually with the third combined shot or a week apart. By regulation, it is then given once a year.

2. Which vaccines

1) Core vaccines: feline panleukopenia (parvovirus), herpesvirus type 1, calicivirus, and rabies. The first three combined make the common FVRCP (cat triple) vaccine — an imported panleukopenia vaccine used worldwide that prevents panleukopenia, calicivirus infection, and infectious rhinotracheitis.

2) Non-core vaccines: feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline infectious peritonitis virus. In most places the core vaccines are still the ones given most often.

3. Things to note

1) Vaccinate strictly by age and the vaccine’s instructions, and keep watching the cat’s state after each shot.

2) Health-check and deworm before vaccinating; sick or weak cats must not be vaccinated.

3) Even indoor cats that never go out need vaccines.

4) Cats below the vaccination age are generally not vaccinated.

5) The living environment affects how well the vaccine works; spring or autumn is the best time to vaccinate.

Vaccines effectively prevent infectious disease and rabies and boost the cat’s own resistance, so owners should take them seriously. For other questions, you can consult an online vet.