Welcoming a new kitten into your home is a joyous occasion filled with cuddles, playtime, and the promise of a long, healthy life together. One of the most crucial steps in helping your kitten grow into a healthy cat is to ensure they receive the proper vaccinations. Vaccines protect your kitten from a host of potentially life-threatening diseases, regardless of whether they seldom go outside or they spend many of their waking hours outdoors. Our Bartow Animal Clinic team guides you through the essential vaccines your kitten needs, the diseases they prevent, and a sample vaccination schedule to keep your whiskered pal safe and healthy.

The importance of vaccinating your kitten

Vaccines are biological preparations that provide immunity to specific infectious diseases. They stimulate the immune system to recognize and fight the pathogens they target, without causing the disease itself. Vaccinating your kitten not only protects your pet but also helps prevent the spread of diseases within the pet community.

Core vaccines for kittens

Core vaccines are considered essential for all kittens because they protect against severe, widespread diseases. The primary core vaccines for kittens include:

  • Feline panleukopenia (FPV) — This highly contagious and often fatal viral disease affects the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and nervous system of cats.
  • Feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR) and feline calicivirus (FCV) — These viruses are major causes of feline upper respiratory infections. Signs include sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, and oral ulcers. Once infected, cats can become carriers of the viruses for life, experiencing recurring illness during times of stress or other health issues.
  • Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) — This virus can cause immunosuppression, making cats susceptible to other infections, anemia, and lymphoma. This vaccine is considered a core vaccine for all kittens under one year.
  • Rabies — This fatal viral disease affects the central nervous system of mammals, including people. Vaccination against rabies is not only crucial for your cat’s health but is also required by law.

Non-core vaccines for kittens

Non-core vaccines are recommended based on your kitten’s lifestyle, environment, and risk of exposure to certain diseases. These include:

  • Chlamydophila felis — This bacterial infection causes conjunctivitis and upper respiratory illness. The vaccine is recommended for cats in multi-cat environments or shelters.
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica — This bacterium can cause respiratory infections in cats, particularly in multi-pet households or catteries.

After your kitten receives their initial FeLV vaccination and booster, subsequent vaccinations are only administered on an at-risk basis. If your kitten will be strictly indoors with no contact with other cats, future FeLV vaccination is unnecessary.

Sample kitten vaccination protocol

A typical vaccination schedule for kittens looks like this:

  • 6 to 8 weeks — Initial FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia)
  • 10 to 12 weeks — FVRCP booster, initial FeLV
  • 14 to 16 weeks — FVRCP booster, FeLV booster, rabies

After the initial kitten series, your cat will need regular booster vaccines to maintain immunity. The frequency of these boosters can vary based on the vaccine type and veterinary recommendations, but they are typically administered every one to three years.

Monitoring your kitten for vaccine reactions

After your kitten is vaccinated, it’s important to monitor for any potential adverse reactions, which, although rare, can occur. Common mild reactions include slight swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever, decreased appetite, and lethargy for a day or two. 

More serious reactions, though uncommon, may involve persistent vomiting or diarrhea, severe swelling or pain at the injection site, difficulty breathing, hives, or a noticeable decrease in energy levels. 

Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, is extremely rare but life-threatening and is characterized by the sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and collapse. If you observe any of these more severe signs, contact our team immediately for prompt evaluation and treatment. Regular monitoring and timely intervention are key to ensuring your kitten’s well-being post-vaccination.

Vaccinating your kitten is a critical step in ensuring a healthy start to their life. Give our Bartow Animal Clinic team a call to set up your whiskered pal’s vaccination visit or request an appointment online.