Cat Vaccination Protocol

Cat vaccination protocols are established by the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

Veterinarians take into account a list of factors such as age, medical history, current health status, physical location and daily routine when determining a vaccination schedule for your cat, even though standard vaccination guidelines are available. Other factors also include county and state pet vaccination laws, when to start vaccinating and how often to ensure immunity. Factors that influence vaccination effectiveness are maternal antibodies and the cat's immune system. General guidelines state the first vaccine is at 12 weeks of age, the second comes within three to four weeks and an annual or tri-annual booster is set thereafter.

Core Vaccines

Initial vaccines are usually given at 12 weeks of age.

Core feline vaccines are feline panleukopenia (FPV), feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1), feline calicivirus (FCV) and rabies. Cats receive these vaccines at the first medical visit, usually at 12 weeks of age. Boosters are given 12 months later, and every three years thereafter. These vaccines should not be given to kittens less than 4 weeks of age or pregnant cats. If the age of an older cat is unknown, two core vaccinations, three to four weeks apart should be given, then a booster at one year and every three years thereafter.

Rabies

Rabies is the most widely mandated vaccine.

Kittens should receive the first rabies vaccine at 12 weeks of age, then again at one year. Boosters can be given annually or every three years, thereafter. If the cat's age is unknown, the rabies vaccine protocol should be followed the same as you would at 12 weeks of age. This vaccine is the most widely regulated by state and county laws governing pet vaccinations.

Non-Core Vaccines

The FeLV vaccine is given to socially active kittens and cats.

FeLV is a socially transmitted disease among cats and is usually transmitted to kittens less than 16 weeks of age, as cats naturally develop immunity to this disease as they get older. This vaccine is only given if the cat tests negative for the virus. General guidelines for the FeLV vaccine are applied to socially active cats only, as indoor-only cats are not exposed to the virus. Cats receive the first vaccine, then a booster within three to four weeks and then annually.

Other Feline Vaccines

Not all feline vaccines are necessary.

According to the Ohio State University Feline Vaccination Guidelines, the following vaccines are not recommended as they have not been clinically proven to prevent disease and can cause adverse reactions: Chlamydophilia felis, infectious peritonitis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Giardia, immunodeficiency virus and Microsporum canis.

Individualized Vaccine Protocol

Feline vaccinations are ultimately determined by the veterinarian.

A veterinarian will require the kitten or cat to have a complete physical examination including social and medical history and blood work to determine its risk factors and potential for disease. Even though most veterinarians have established standard vaccination guidelines based on the recommendations of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, they still determine the best vaccination protocol for your cat.

References

• Ohio State University VTH Canine and Feline Vaccination Guidelines
• "1998 Report of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines": JAM Veterinary Medical Association: 1998
• The Cat Fanciers' Association: Feline Vaccine Protocol