Rabies vaccination is given every year or every three years, depending on state laws and the brand of vaccine used.
Rabies is significant not only for its effect on the cat but also because it is a disease that is transmissible to humans and can be fatal.
@ 14-16……..Rabies
@ 1 year……..Rabies booster
While cats are not natural carriers for the disease, they can be infected by a bite from an infected mammal and then pass it on to others. After an incubation stage, clinical signs of aggression, disorientation, and death rapidly progress.
Rabies is endemic worldwide, and the vaccine is recommended for all pet cats.
While the rabies vaccine is not listed as a core vaccine by the AAFP guidelines, it is required by law in most regions. Rabies is a zoonotic disease (it can be transmitted from animals to humans), so it is a public safety issue to keep your cat up to date on their rabies vaccine.
The other three core vaccines are combined into a single three-in-one vaccine called the FVRCP vaccine. This allows veterinarians to efficiently administer the vaccines all at once, instead of having to inject a cat three separate times in one visit:
Feline rhinotracheitis virus/herpesvirus 1 (FVR/FHV-1)
Feline Calicivirus (FCV)
Feline Panleukopenia (FPV)
If your cat is an indoor adult cat, FVRCP can be done every three years. If they are outdoor or indoor/outdoor, or they are young cats or seniors, your vet may recommend yearly FVRCP shots.
Cats heading into stressful situations, such as boarding, may benefit from a core vaccine booster 7-10 days before.
Feline panleukopenia, also known as feline parvovirus, is a highly infectious disease with a high mortality rate in kittens.
@ 6-8……..FVRCP (core)
@ 10-12……..FVRCP (core; first or second shot)
@ 14-16……..FVRCP (core; only if first shot given at 10-12 weeks)
@ 1 year……..FVRCP booster
While the disease usually starts with decreased energy and low appetite, it progresses to vomiting and diarrhea. The virus also kills off white blood cells, leaving the young cats even more susceptible to secondary infections.
Feline herpesvirus, also known as feline rhinotracheitis virus, causes severe signs of upper respiratory infection.
Some symptoms you can expect to see include sneezing, nasal congestion and discharge, and conjunctivitis. In some cases, it also causes oral ulceration and pneumonia.
@ 6-8……..FVRCP (core)
@ 10-12……..FVRCP (core; first or second shot)
@ 14-16……..FVRCP (core; only if first shot given at 10-12 weeks)
@ 1 year……..FVRCP booster
After the cat recovers from the initial infection, the virus enters a latency period in the nerves. During times of stress, the virus can reactivate, and the cat can start to show signs of infection again—even if they have not been re-exposed to the disease.
Feline calicivirus encompasses a number of viral strains that cause signs of upper respiratory infection, such as sneezing and nasal discharge as well as oral ulcerations.
@ 6-8……..FVRCP (core)
@ 10-12……..FVRCP (core; first or second shot)
@ 14-16……..FVRCP (core; only if first shot given at 10-12 weeks)
@ 1 year……..FVRCP booster
FCV is thought to be associated with chronic gingivitis/stomatitis, a very painful inflammation of the gums and teeth. Some of the more virulent strains cause hair loss and crusting on other parts of the body, as well as hepatitis and even death.
The FeLV vaccine works to protect your cat against feline leukemia virus.
FeLV is found worldwide. Transmitted through body fluids including saliva, urine, and feces, FeLV is spread when an infected cat comes into close contact with another cat that they groom or share bowls with.
@ 6-8……..FeLV (core)
@ 10-12……..FeLV (core; first or second shot)
@ 14-16……..FeLV (core; only if first shot given at 10-12 weeks)
Infection with FeLV is not an automatic death sentence. Many cats are fortunate to go into a regressive state and appear perfectly healthy throughout their lives, but some do not fare as well.
After a latent period lasting months or even years, the disease often progresses to a variety of associated conditions: lymphoma, anemia, or immunosuppression resulting in secondary disease.
The FeLV vaccine is recommended as core for kittens. The initial vaccination series consists of two doses spaced three to four weeks apart, followed by revaccination one year later for all adult cats.
However, based on most recent data, the Vaccine Advisory Panel recommends that subsequent vaccines may be administered based on risk: yearly for high-risk cats, and every two years for lower-risk cats.
Your veterinarian can assess your cat’s risk of FeLV infection and decide on an appropriate vaccination schedule.
