Aaliyah Pasols is an award-winning journalist and editor who primarily covers lifestyle, culture, and entertainment. Originally from South Florida, she studied at Florida International University, where she completed a B.S. in Communications-Journali.
Aaliyah Pasols ContributorAaliyah Pasols is an award-winning journalist and editor who primarily covers lifestyle, culture, and entertainment. Originally from South Florida, she studied at Florida International University, where she completed a B.S. in Communications-Journali.
Written By Aaliyah Pasols ContributorAaliyah Pasols is an award-winning journalist and editor who primarily covers lifestyle, culture, and entertainment. Originally from South Florida, she studied at Florida International University, where she completed a B.S. in Communications-Journali.
Aaliyah Pasols ContributorAaliyah Pasols is an award-winning journalist and editor who primarily covers lifestyle, culture, and entertainment. Originally from South Florida, she studied at Florida International University, where she completed a B.S. in Communications-Journali.
Contributor Kelly Anne Smith Lead Editor, Growth ProjectsKelly Anne has over six years of experience with reporting and editing in the personal finance space. Her work has been featured in national publications including Reader's Digest, CNBC and Forbes. She has a background in business education and a mas.
Kelly Anne Smith Lead Editor, Growth ProjectsKelly Anne has over six years of experience with reporting and editing in the personal finance space. Her work has been featured in national publications including Reader's Digest, CNBC and Forbes. She has a background in business education and a mas.
Kelly Anne Smith Lead Editor, Growth ProjectsKelly Anne has over six years of experience with reporting and editing in the personal finance space. Her work has been featured in national publications including Reader's Digest, CNBC and Forbes. She has a background in business education and a mas.
Kelly Anne Smith Lead Editor, Growth ProjectsKelly Anne has over six years of experience with reporting and editing in the personal finance space. Her work has been featured in national publications including Reader's Digest, CNBC and Forbes. She has a background in business education and a mas.
| Lead Editor, Growth Projects
Updated: Mar 29, 2024, 3:04pm
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There’s a lot that goes into caring for a kitten, especially if it doesn’t have a mother; you’ll have to step in and provide warmth, milk and baths. Another integral part of raising a kitten is ensuring it gets its vaccinations, as they are most likely to contract diseases at under 6 months old.
“Vaccines are a low-cost, low-risk way to protect your kitten from the most common diseases they will be put up against,” says Dr. Shawna Varichak, D.V.M., a traveling associate veterinarian based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Although vaccines go a long way in helping kittens stay healthy, you’ll want to make sure you have a pet insurance policy for your kitten in case it runs into any health issues as it matures.
Get Peace of Mind With the Best Pet Insurance of 2024
A kitten vaccination schedule covers the most crucial time period (between 6 to 16 weeks) when your kitten will need to get all of its necessary vaccines. This timeline can vary by veterinarian, so be sure to check with yours about when and what vaccines your kitten should get.
Overall, there are three recommended vaccines: The feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccine, a rabies shot and a feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccine.
FVRCP (booster), Rabies FVRCP (booster) FVRCP (booster), Rabies (booster) Recommended: FeLV (booster) FeLV (booster) See More See LessWhen you take your kitten for its first veterinary exam, you’ll find out when and which vaccines are required for your cat. A typical schedule is as follows:
Kittens may need different shots based on their lifestyle. If your cat will spend a lot of time outside or around outdoor cats, certain non-core vaccinations may be recommended.
Core cat vaccines are the shots that are recommended and necessary for all kittens. This includes FVRCP, rabies and for cats under 1 year old, FeLV.
FVRCP is a combination vaccine that helps to prevent three diseases: feline panleukopenia virus, feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes virus 1) and calicivirus. Feline panleukopenia virus is common in kittens and is known to be extremely contagious.
“It makes them immunodeficient so that they’re defenseless against different infectious diseases,” explains Varichak. In some cases, it can be fatal.
Feline viral rhinotracheitis and calicivirus both cause upper respiratory infections. Calicivirus, in a severe form, can lead to pneumonia and even death.
Rabies shots are typically required by law as it can be transmitted to any mammal—including humans—but check with your local government for guidance on requirements where you live. Raccoons, dogs, bats, foxes and other animals commonly carry it, and the rabies virus is typically contracted through bite wounds. The virus is usually fatal once symptoms begin, making routine vaccination crucial.
FeLV protects against feline leukemia virus and is a core vaccine for kittens under 1 year of age. It’s also a core vaccine for cats over 1 year old that spend time outdoors. FeLV is one of the most common infectious diseases in cats. There is no cure for FeLV and the median survival time for cats diagnosed with it is 2.5 years.
Non-core vaccines are those that are recommended for kittens with certain lifestyles or health risks.
“There are some cats that may qualify for [these] but it’s very few and far between,” Varichak says. “Cats that are severely immunodeficient, like cats with FeLV, could be considered for [these non-core] vaccinations.”
Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease caused by a feline coronavirus. It’s a progressive disease that can result in seizures, incoordination, vomiting and death. However, the FIP vaccine is not generally recommended by veterinarians because it has been found to be mostly ineffective in preventing the disease.
Your kitten is really only at risk of kennel cough if it’s in a shelter or boarding facility. In these environments, where numerous cats are around, kennel cough can spread. It’s generally only recommended by veterinarians in these situations.
Chlamydia felis is a bacterial infection that mainly affects a part of a cat’s eye called the conjunctiva. Symptoms include yellow or green eye discharge, closed eyes, fever and loss of appetite. This infection can be treated with antibiotics. The chlamydia felis vaccine isn’t typically recommended unless your cat is at an increased risk.
Yes, you should still vaccinate your indoor cat to protect it against the most common diseases. Even though most diseases are transmitted through cat-to-cat contact, there’s always a risk.
“We get indoor, unvaccinated cats coming in with these diseases all the time. Being an indoor cat is not good enough protection from these diseases,” Varichak says.
You might drag something in on your shoe that could infect the cat or it may slip out the back door one day without you noticing.
“[Also], kittens can contract these diseases from their mother via the placenta or breast milk. It’s important to vaccinate because it’s [hard] to tell which cats are carrying the virus and which ones aren’t,” adds Varichak.
Vaccines typically cost around $20 to $30 per vaccine, according to Varichak. She estimates between $100 and $150 for the full course of core vaccines. Of course, this price will vary based on your location, your kitten’s needs and your pet insurance.
Some facilities, like government animal shelters, nonprofits, mobile vet clinics and veterinary medicine colleges may offer vaccinations at a low cost or for free.
Although pet insurance typically doesn’t cover vaccines, many may offer an add-on wellness plan that does. Some pet insurance companies that offer wellness plans include ASPCA, Figo and Lemonade.
“A benefit of getting a young kitten on a pet insurance policy is that, if you continue that policy, they won’t have any pre-existing conditions so pretty much everything will be covered if anything happens,” Varichak says.
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ContributorAaliyah Pasols is an award-winning journalist and editor who primarily covers lifestyle, culture, and entertainment. Originally from South Florida, she studied at Florida International University, where she completed a B.S. in Communications-Journalism and a minor in Sociology. She currently resides in New York City.
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