Do Kittens Really Need Booster Shots

To help protect kittens they ll need two sets of vaccinations to get them started.

Do kittens really need booster shots. And even adult cats will need an initial series of shots and boosters for certain vaccinations to achieve the best level of protection. Three year interval recommended current vaccine protocol is to properly immunize puppies and kittens with two or three doses starting later than we used to maybe at eight weeks and not earlier. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old. Some high risk cats may need re vaccination more often.

Until your kitten is fully vaccinated and neutered you should keep him or her inside. After this kittens and cats usually need booster vaccinations every twelve months. However individual cats differ as do different brands of vaccines in terms of potency. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4.

Reasons why a kitten may not fully respond to a series of vaccines as a kitten and would benefit from a 1 year booster are. Most vets recommend adult cats receive an annual fvrcp booster shot while others recommend the booster shot every 3 years. To achieve the best protection possible your kitten will need boosters over the first several months of their life at least until they are between 16 20 weeks old. However if the kitten responds as he should to the kitten series this booster should not be needed.

Usually boosters are needed once a year and most vet practices will send you a reminder if you ve had jabs there before. The rationale behind the 1 year booster shot is to cover any kitten that did not properly respond to the kitten series. Then they must be boostered a year latyer. Kittens should receive this shot at 6 8 weeks because they are very vulnerable to calicivirus and distemper.

Revised thinking holds that cats should receive booster shots every three years for feline panleukopenia feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus.