A Recommended Cat Vaccination Schedule

Whether your cat is an indoor cat or allowed to roam freely outside, there are serious diseases that can be prevented by giving your cat a vaccination. Vaccinations provide protection from diseases on a variable timeline basis and can prevent diseases from spreading in the feline population. Your kitten can be especially vulnerable, as well as a cat that has to be kenneled or spend time with other pets while you are away.

The Need for Rabies Shots for Cats

There are a number of factors to consider when owners set up cat vaccination schedule for their cats, and the local veterinarian could help you decide when and how your cat should be vaccinated, including using cat boosters. The vaccination schedule will depend on the age of the cat, breed and breeding potential, overall health, susceptibility to disease and geographic location. Once a cat vaccination schedule is set up, you should not delay or skip any vaccinations, as this could be detrimental to your cat's health.

Cat Vaccination Schedule

A typical indoor cat vaccination schedule might look like this:

• 6 to 7 Weeks - Combination vaccine which includes: feline distemper, feline herpes, rhinotracheitis, calcivirus and sometimes, Chlamydia
• 10 Weeks - Combination vaccine
• 12 Weeks and up - Rabies, which is administered by a local vet according to local laws; mandatory age for vaccination may vary by location
• 13 Weeks - Combination vaccine plus Chlamydia and FeLV (Feline leukemia-especially for outdoor cats)
• 16 and 19 Weeks - Combination vaccine plus FeLV
• Adult Boosters - Combination vaccine, Chlamydia, FeLV and Rabies

This vaccination schedule may vary according to your veterinarian's recommendations and by what is happening in your daily schedule. While it is not wise to skip vaccinations (due to the importance of each and every shot for cats) the rabies vaccinations and the FeLV vaccinations are especially important. These two diseases are very contagious, and are deadly to cats. You may find that your veterinarian recommends greater or fewer number of vaccinations depending on whether or not your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat. Some veterinarians may mandate adult boosters, while others may think they are not necessary. Cats with diabetes may need a specialized vaccination schedule to keep them healthy.

However you decide to vaccinate your cat, be sure to keep vaccination records for your pet. If you have to kennel your cat, or if you move, the kennel administrator or your new veterinarian will want proof of vaccination. This is especially true in geographic areas where Rabies is widespread.