Vaccines for Kittens & Cats

No pet should suffer from a painful disease that could have been prevented. Fortunately, vaccinations are all it takes to shield your pet from dozens of serious and potentially fatal conditions. Our team can help you stay on top of your pet's vaccination schedule from their kitten days and well into their senior years. Call us at 416-762-5558 for more details. If your cat is due for vaccinations or if you're not sure of your cat's vaccination schedule, then now is a great time to schedule an appointment with our team.

What type of vaccines do kittens and cats need?

Generally speaking, vaccines fall into two main categories: core (mandatory) and non-core (optional). If your cat has seen a veterinarian in the past year or so and you still have the paperwork, you may be able to find your cat's recommended vaccine schedule on your most recent paperwork. If not, it's okay. We can provide that information for you during your cat's health assessment in our office. Core vaccines include rabies, feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia virus. Non-core vaccines include chlamydia felis, bordetella bronchiseptica, and FeLV.

What non-core vaccines do cats need?

This will depend on your cat's unique lifestyle, environment (geographic location), and exposure risk. The veterinarian will determine the type of vaccines needed to optimize your pet's protection. For example, cats that live mostly outdoors (farm or barn cats) are at a higher risk of catching infectious diseases and typically need more vaccines than cats who live primarily indoors.

When should I get my kitten vaccinated?

Every patient is different, but here is a general vaccination schedule we follow for most kittens:

1. First Visit: 6-8 Weeks
   • A fecal examination to determine whether or not your kitten has any kind of parasites
   • A blood test will be taken to find out if your kitten has feline leukemia
   • Your kitten will receive its core vaccinations that consist of panleukopenia, chlamydia, calicivirus, and rhinotracheitis
2. Second Visit Around 12 Weeks
   • External examination for parasites
   • Your kitten will receive a second round of vaccinations for rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, and calicivirus
   • An additional vaccine for feline leukemia virus will be discussed
3. Third Visit: Per Veterinarian Recommendation
   • Our veterinarian will administer the rabies vaccine and a follow-up vaccination for feline leukemia, if required