Cat Vaccine Schedule: What Kittens and Adult Cats Actually Need

Kittens get their first vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks of age, then a booster every 3 to 4 weeks until at least 16 weeks, a booster at about one year, and after that revaccination every one to three years depending on the vaccine, the law where you live, and the cat's risk. An adult cat with an unknown history starts a two-dose series three to four weeks apart and is then treated as up to date.

Core vaccines and non-core vaccines

Core vaccines are the ones every cat should receive, because the diseases are serious, widespread, or transmissible to people. For cats that means the FVRCP combination and rabies. FVRCP covers feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopenia; rabies is required by law in many countries and is fatal once symptoms appear.

Non-core vaccines are decided case by case. Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is recommended for kittens and for adults that go outdoors, live with an FeLV-positive cat, or come from a shelter or multi-cat household. A vaccine against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) exists in some countries but is not widely recommended, because protection is incomplete and vaccinated cats can test positive, which complicates rehoming and diagnosis.

The kitten series, in order

The reason for repeated shots is maternal antibody. Antibodies a kitten drinks in colostrum block vaccines for an unpredictable number of weeks, so a single injection may do nothing. Vaccinating every three to four weeks from 6 to 8 weeks until 16 weeks catches the moment the kitten's own immune system can respond. Many clinics finish at 16 weeks; some extend the last dose to 18 or 20 weeks in high-risk situations.

Rabies is usually given once at 12 to 16 weeks, then according to the product label and local rules. FeLV, if used, needs two doses three to four weeks apart, and kittens should be tested for FeLV first when possible, since vaccination does not help a cat that is already infected.

Adult cats: boosters and realistic gaps

A cat that completed its kitten series gets a booster at roughly 12 months, then core boosters no more often than every three years. Indoor cats are not exempt: panleukopenia virus survives for a long time in the environment and travels in on shoes, and rabies exposure can happen through a bat or a rodent in the house.

If an adult cat is overdue by months or years, you do not restart the whole series from scratch. One dose brings most cats back to a protected state; the clinic may prefer two doses if the gap is very long or the cat is high risk. Antibody titres are a reasonable alternative for owners who want to avoid unnecessary injections, though titres are not available or validated for every disease, and rabies vaccination is usually a legal requirement regardless.

What you can do at home

Bring the cat's vaccination record to every visit, and keep a photo of it on your phone. Ask which product was used and when the next dose is due, and write it down before you leave the clinic. A cat that is due for vaccines should be healthy on the day: eating, no fever, no diarrhoea. Mild sneezing or a recent mild illness is a reason to postpone by a week or two, not to cancel.

For kittens, plan the series before adoption if you can. Shelters and breeders often start at 6 to 8 weeks, and a kitten rehomed at 10 weeks may already be mid-series. Ask for the exact dates, not just "vaccinated".

What not to do

Do not give vaccines yourself. Injectable vaccines need correct storage, dose, and site, and a reaction is only manageable if a vet is involved. Do not skip rabies because the cat never goes out, and do not assume a cat is protected because it had "all its shots" as a kitten with no record of dates.

Do not treat vaccination as an alternative to parasite control or to keeping an infected cat away from others. And do not schedule elective surgery and vaccination on the same day if you can avoid it, because a reaction then becomes hard to attribute.

Red flags: call the clinic the same day

• Facial swelling, hives, vomiting, diarrhoea, or difficulty breathing within minutes to hours of a shot — this is anaphylaxis and needs immediate treatment.
• Collapse, extreme weakness, or pale gums at any point after vaccination.
• A lump at the injection site that is larger than 2 cm, still present after three months, or growing a month after the injection.
• Fever above 40°C (104°F), or a kitten that stops eating for more than 12 to 24 hours afterwards.

The normal reaction, and how long it lasts

Most cats have nothing more than a tender spot, mild sleepiness, and a slightly reduced appetite for 24 to 48 hours. A little limping on the injected leg is common. These signs should improve steadily; if they worsen on day two or three, call.

Serious reactions are uncommon but real, and injection-site sarcoma — a rare cancer linked to injection sites — is why the 3-2-1 rule exists: a lump lasting more than three months, larger than 2 cm, or growing one month after vaccination should be sampled. Ask your vet to record the injection site each time so a future lump can be judged against it.

Records, timing, and the yearly check

Vaccination is a good hook for the annual examination, which is where weight loss, dental disease, heart murmur, and kidney changes are usually found first. A cat that is due for a booster but has lost weight or started drinking more should have that investigated before the injection, not after.

Keep a simple table: date, product, batch if given, clinic, and next due date. If you move or change vets, that table is the difference between a sensible plan and starting over.

This is general information, not a diagnosis.

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