Do Kittens Need Vaccinations

Core vaccines are considered essential for kittens in most geographical locations.

Do kittens need vaccinations. Rabies is the other core kitten vaccination. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old. Your kitten should be vaccinated against the serious core diseases as soon as they are old enough. There is also a vaccination that offers protection from the feline leukaemia virus which can affect the immune system.

However to avoid over vaccination most veterinarians will recommend starting the vaccine at 8 weeks of age followed by boosters at 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. It s difficult for pet parents to understand their cat s vaccination schedule from which ones they need to how often they need them. Until your kitten is fully vaccinated and neutered you should keep him or her inside. This timing is important too early and the antibodies they receive from their mother will interfere with the immune response to the vaccine preventing it from working properly.

The first vaccinations should be given to kittens from around eight to nine weeks of age. Not only are there different schedules and needed vaccines for cats and kittens but there are also some extra vaccines for different lifestyles. Most vaccinations are best given to your kitten when they are young and your vet will help you put together a vaccination schedule. Too late and kittens will be left susceptible to infection.

Cat vaccinations can get confusing. These kitten vaccinations will protect them as they re growing and with boosters throughout their adulthood. Kittens need a course of two vaccinations to protect them from potentially fatal infections feline infectious enteritis which can cause severe vomiting and diarrhoea and feline influenza also known as cat flu. Then they must be boostered a year latyer.

Depending on your location and your kitten s environment certain non core vaccines may also be recommended. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4. Remember your kitten won t be fully protected until several weeks after their second set of jabs so it s best to keep them indoors and away from any unvaccinated pets until your vet says they re safe to mingle with other cats and go outside. For adult cats if you are not sure if your cat has had vaccinations previously or if you know that they have not had a vaccination appointment within the last 12 months your cat will need to restart their vaccinations with a primary course just as if they were a kitten.

After this kittens and cats usually need booster vaccinations every twelve months. Kittens are vaccinated once every three to four weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age or older.