Your young cat’s boosters will be coming due in the next few months! One year after finishing their initial kitten vaccine series, cats need their next round of vaccines. Vaccines are incredibly important—they stimulate your cat’s immune system to recognize specific diseases so your cat can better fight off the illness in the future!
Let’s review what vaccines are recommended for cats, as well as what you can expect throughout your cat’s adulthood.
FVRCP: This vaccine protects your kitten from feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), calicivirus (C) and panleukopenia (P). Panleukopenia is sometimes called feline distemper. Your kitten received 3 to 4 FVRCP vaccines during young kittenhood. Your kitten should receive FVRCP again 1 year after finishing the initial kitten series, likely when your cat is around 16 to 20 months old. Because adult cats who’ve been previously vaccinated develop long-lasting immunity, the vaccine will be recommended every 3 years (triennially) from then on.
Rabies: Rabies vaccines are often required by local regulations. As a youngster, your cat should have received this vaccine once they were at least 12 weeks old. Rabies is due again 1 year after the first rabies vaccine. Following this, your cat may get a rabies vaccination annually or every 3 years, depending on local regulations and vaccine availability.
Feline Leukemia (FeLV): The FeLV vaccine is recommended for all cats under 1 year of age, with the initial series consisting of 2 doses given 3 to 4 weeks apart. Prior to vaccinating, the cat should be tested for FeLV. The vaccine is recommended again 1 year after the initial series. Afterward, the vaccine is only recommended in at-risk cats every 2 years (biannually). At-risk cats are those who go outside, those who frequently board or interact with other cats, and cats who live with FeLV-positive cats.
There’s so much to keep track of for your kitten that it can quickly become overwhelming! You can check their due dates by downloading the myVCA™ app.
Review how to care for your pet after vaccination.
