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Vaccinations for cats

Help protect your cat’s health by staying current with their vaccinations.

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Key takeaways

Good cat health starts by making sure your feline friends are up to date with their vaccinations! Vaccinations for your pet fall into two categories: core vaccinations and non-core vaccinations that your veterinarian recommends based on your pet’s individual needs.

Quick reference guide: Core and non-core vaccines

Core vaccines for cats

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)*
Feline calicivirus
Feline panleukopenia
Feline herpes virus type 1 (rhinotracheitis)
Rabies

Non-core vaccines

Chlamydophila felis
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)**

*Considered a core vaccine for kittens and young adult cats <1 year of age owing to age-related susceptibility, and for cats >1 year of age considered at risk
**For cats >1 year of age, who are not considered to be at risk

Core vaccinations for cats

Core vaccines help to protect cats against diseases that can cause serious illness and are widely distributed. Kittens typically receive their first set of vaccines at the age of 6 to 8 weeks, and several boosters at defined intervals during their first year. For adult cats, vaccines are often administered at their annual veterinary check-up, although boosters may be required at other times. Your veterinarian can advise you about the recommended schedule.

Rabies

Rabies is a deadly viral disease transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. It affects an animal’s central nervous system causing changes in behavior such as loss of appetite, nervousness, irritability, uncharacteristic calmness or aggressiveness. Eventually, the disease will lead to death of the affected animal. Rabies can be transmitted to humans and vaccination of pets is an important way to keep pets and people safe. Talk to your veterinarian to learn more about rabies and prevention options.

HCP

HCP is the common abbreviation for a set of core vaccines that protect cats against the following disease causing agents:

H: Herpes virus type 1 (rhinotracheitis) – which can cause respiratory symptoms, discharge from eyes and nose, and sneezing.
C: Calicivirus – which can cause respiratory symptoms, ulcers in the mouth, lethargy, fever and lack of appetite.
P: Panleukopenia virus – also known as feline distemper, this is a highly contagious and often fatal disease. The virus attacks rapidly growing and dividing cells, like those found in the lymph nodes and intestines.

Talk to your veterinarian to learn more about these diseases and prevention options.

Non-core vaccines for cats

FeLV

The Feline Leukemia virus (FeLV) is a slowly progressive virus that affects the cat’s immune system. This can lead to an increased risk of infections and certain cancers. The virus is found in the saliva, nasal secretions, urine, feces and blood of infected cats. Vaccination is recommended for all cats <1 year of age, and then re-vaccination is based on individual risk factors. All cats should be tested for the presence of FeLV prior to vaccination. Talk to your veterinarian to learn more about FeLV as well as the potential risk factors and prevention options for your cat.

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References

Ontario Veterinary Medical Association. “Pets and Vaccinations: What You Need to Know.” OVMA, 30 Oct. 2023, https://www.ovma.org/news/pets-and-vaccinations-what-you-need-to-know-757da48888a6d83fc695b9ce87d5aa35.
Toronto Humane Society. Feline (Cat) Vaccine Information. Apr. 2022, https://www.torontohumanesociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Feline-Vaccine-Information.pdf.

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