How Much To Get Your Kitten Vaccinated

How Do Vaccines Work

Vaccines work by stimulating the body’s immune system to recognize and fight a particular microorganism such as a virus, bacteria, or other infectious organism. Once vaccinated, the animal’s immune system is then primed, or prepared to react to a future infection with that microorganism. In other words, the vaccine mimics a true infection so that the immune system can better protect the body in the future.

“the vaccine will help the body prevent infection or lessen the severity of infection and promote rapid recovery.”

Depending on the disease, the vaccine will help the body prevent infection or lessen the severity of infection and promote rapid recovery.

While a vaccine can prevent illness, it cannot block microorganisms from getting into the body. This means that sometimes a cat may not look sick thanks to the vaccine, but the cat can still spread the invading microorganisms to other cats. This is not a major consideration in the pet cat but may be important in the breeding colony.

Protecting An Unvaccinated Cat

Full immunity develops around 3-4 weeks after the final injection in a primary course of vaccinations, but until then you will need to keep your feline friend indoors and away from cats outside of your household. Youll need to keep your cat entertained and stress-free during this time especially if they have previously been used to going outside.

Cat Castration And Spaying Helps Save Australian Wildlife

Stray cats are cats that have been abandoned or become lost while out wandering. Stray cats often resort to feeding on Australian native wildlife. Some stray cats carry nasty diseases and bacteria which can be passed on to wildlife or humans.

Feral cats are cats that have never been domesticated and survive by killing and eating wildlife. Feeding feral and stray cats is not usually recommended. If you want to help them, it is recommended to contact your local animal shelter for advice on the best course of action.

For more information on stray and feral cats, see our article here.

One of the benefits of desexing a male cat is that is stops them roaming to find a mating partner. A desexed male is less likely to go on unauthorised outdoor adventures, which also helps protect our wildlife.

Don’t Miss: How Much Does Tdap Cost At Cvs

What Diseases Can You Catch From Your Cat

Its not common for humans to catch diseases from their cats, but it does happen. These types of diseases are referred to as zoonotic diseases. Small children, pregnant women, the elderly or sick are more susceptible to the transmission of disease from cats, due to their vulnerable immune systems. These zoonotic diseases include worms, ringworm, giardia, toxoplasmosis and cat scratch diseases.

Healthy tips for cat owners

You can reduce the risk of zoonotic disease by:

• Washing your hands frequently
• Cleaning out litter trays regularly
• Disposing of faeces in the tray quickly
• Washing your cats bed if it is soiled or dirty
• Isolating infected cats

Do I Need To Keep A Pet Vaccination Record

When going to the vet for the first time, youll typically receive a pet health record, which vets will use to list what vaccinations your pet has received. This may be an electronic record or physical booklet.

When you adopt or buy a pet, particularly when its older, you should inquire from the breeder or adoption agency about what health records they have for the animal.

You May Like: Cvs Pharmacy Tdap Vaccine Cost

When Should Kittens Be Vaccinated

Your kitten will need two sets of vaccinations to get them started – their first set at nine weeks old and a second booster set at three months old. After this, kittens and cats usually need ‘booster’ vaccinations once a year.

Until your kitten is fully vaccinated , you should keep him or her inside.

Basic Vaccine Schedule For Cats

Cat vaccinations can get confusing. Not only are there different schedules and needed vaccines for cats and kittens, but there are also some extra vaccines for different lifestyles.

Its difficult for pet parents to understand their cats vaccination schedulefrom which ones they need to how often they need them.

While there are certain mandatory, or core vaccines for cats, there are also noncore vaccines for different lifestyles or vaccines that are only recommended during the kitten years.

Your veterinarian is your best resource for figuring out the best vaccine routine for your feline family member, but this chart will help you understand the basics.

To help you navigate the world of feline vaccines, the chart covers a kittens vaccination schedule all the way into adulthood.

Help us make PetMD better

Was this article helpful?

What did you find helpful?

• This article had helpful info and advice that I trust.
• Article was somewhat helpful, but could be improved.

What was not helpful?

• Article wasn’t very helpful and needs improvement.

Say more…

Recommended Reading: How Much Does A Tdap Shot Cost At Cvs

Why Should I Vaccinate My Kitten

Vaccinations are a crucial part of the preventative care system you should provide your kitten. By vaccinating them, you safeguard your kitten from contracting severe illnesses that can have major health implications. Many of these diseases are highly contagious and some of them cannot be treated. Its vital that you protect your kitten by building their immunity when they are young.

Should You Vaccinate Your Indoor Cat

I suspect this is a question every veterinarian is asked at least once a day and I also suspect there are many cat families with this question in their minds as well. Research shows the average cat sees their veterinarian less than once a year, suggesting that some cat owners have answered the question without the input of their cats veterinarian and answered the question with a NO!

Common Cat VaccinesMost vaccinated cats receive two separate vaccines which the American Association of Feline Practitioners has designated core vaccines: a rabies vaccine and a trivalent vaccine against feline herpes virus, panleukopenia virus and calicivirus also known as FVRCP.

Herpes virus and calicivirus cause upper respiratory signs and panleukopenia is the feline version of canine parvovirus, a deadly diarrhea-causing virus. In addition to cats, rabies can affect wildlife, dogs and humans, and infection with the rabies virus is nearly always fatal.

Why Vaccinate Cats Against Rabies?

Some state and local governments mandate rabies vaccinations for cats and nearly all municipalities require dog rabies vaccinations. This regulation arises from a concern on the part of our government for public health and because cats are the domestic animal most commonly infected with rabies. Two hundred and forty-seven cases of feline rabies as compared to 89 cases of canine rabies were reported in the United States in 2013, the most recent year with data available.

Why Vaccinate Cats with FVRCP Vaccine?

Also Check: Tdap Booster Cvs

What Are Ear Mites

Ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal of cats where they cause itching. The most common sign of ear mite infection is vigorous and persistent scratching of the ears or shaking of the head. Sometimes the outer ear canal will appear dirty and contain black debris.

Your veterinarian will examine the ear canal with an otoscope that magnifies the tiny mites, or will take a small sample of the black debris and examine it under a microscope. Although the mites may crawl out of the ear canals for short periods, they spend the majority of their lives within the protection of the ear canal.

Ear mites are easily transmitted between cats and dogs by direct contact. Kittens will usually become infected if their mother has ear mites. If one pet in the household has ear mites, it is advised to treat all of your pets. Successive applications of topical medication to the kittens ear or skin will eliminate ear mites .

Feline Herpes Virus And Feline Calicivirus

Vaccines for feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus are always combined, as these two viruses together are the main causes of upper respiratory tract infections in cats .

Affected cats typically show sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, eye discharge, and mouth ulcers. Clinical signs vary from mild to extremely severe, and occasionally other complications may develop including viral pneumonia. With FHV-1, even after the initial signs subside, most cats will remain permanently infected with the virus and some go on to develop recurrent eye infections or other signs.

The viruses are often transmitted by direct or close contact between cats , but they may also survive for short periods in the environment.

Both of these viruses are ubiquitous in cat populations, and because infection is so common, and can often be quite severe , vaccination is considered important for all cats. Although vaccination does not always prevent infection with these viruses, it will help greatly in reducing the severity of disease if a vaccinated cat does become infected.

See feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus

Read Also: Can You Get Tdap At Cvs

Cat & Kitten Vaccinations

A vaccination appointment is a chance for your cat to get a thorough physical health check, as well as offering them protection against a range of diseases.

A routine procedure, a vaccination appointment is more than just a jab its a chance for your cat to get a thorough physical health check, as well as offering them protection against a range of diseases that can be debilitating, or even kill.

Vaccination appointments are performed by a vet, and should be a routine part of the care of all cats throughout their life even house cats. Although house cats may be less exposed to disease, many of the diseases we can vaccinate against are hardy, and can survive outside of a cat for some time. This means they can be transmitted inside the house, on people or objects, and are still a risk to cats via indirect exposure.

Keeping your annual vaccination appointment every year is really important for both you, and your cat. If you would like to learn more about vaccinating your cat, contact your local Vets4Pets practice here.

Are Cat Vaccinations Covered By Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is designed to cover high costs for unexpected injury or illness. So, planned regular care such as vaccinations, flea and worming treatment is not usually covered.

You may, however, be offered lower insurance premiums if your cat is vaccinated, while some insurers may require your cat to be up-to-date with its vaccinations for your policy to be valid so always read terms and conditions carefully and set reminders in your calendar for vaccination dates.

You May Like: Cvs Tetanus

Annual Booster Vs Restart Costs

If your dog has missed their annual vaccinations, you can expect to pay for a course of primary vaccines to catch them back up again. The price will depend on the clinic and you should always check with your local vet on the right thing to do for your particular circumstances.

Titre testing is a blood test that your vet can do to show which illnesses your dog already has immunity against, but it doesn’t replace vaccinations and pets will still need to have had their initial course.

“Some individuals choose to titre test following these primary core vaccines,” says veterinary surgeon Dr Sophie Bell. “This involves a blood test to look for the antibody levels. If they are moderate to high, vaccination may not take place that year but if they are low a booster will be required.

“It is important to note that some establishments such as boarding kennels, will not be able to board your dogs based on a titre test alone. They often require full vaccination history.”

There will be a cost to performing the titre test as well and it might not be lower than the cost of an annual booster.

Myth: Indoor Cats Dont Need To Be Vaccinated

Wrong!

Some of the nastier viruses, such as feline panleukopenia virus, are equivalent to a super-villain in terms of toughness. They can survive on sidewalks in all weathers for long periods of time. If you walk on the virus you can bring it indoors on your shoes, so not even indoor cats are safe.

Therein lies the crunch. An indoor cat is low risk but not no risk. However, your veterinarian will risk asses the cat, and may opt out of vaccinating against conditions that require close contact to spread, such as feline leukemia virus.

You May Like: Tdap Vaccine Cvs

What Is The Kitten Vaccination Schedule

All kittens need vaccinations to help keep them healthy. Vaccinations, by definition, protect your kitten from contracting specific diseases. Cat vaccinations are divided into two types:

• Core cat vaccinations are those that protect against especially common and/or particularly dangerous diseases and are recommended for all kittens and adult cats.
• Non-core vaccinations are not necessarily recommended for all cats. Instead, these vaccines are recommended only for those cats that are at high risk of infection. In the case of non-core vaccinations, your cats lifestyle must be evaluated to determine the risk of disease and whether the risk associated with vaccination is greater than the risk of your cat getting the disease.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccinations For Cats

Unfortunately, pet insurance in the UK doesn’t cover vaccinations for kittens and cats. Generally speaking, pet insurance won’t reimburse you for any preventative care such as vaccinations, flea & tick treatments, etc. Pet insurance is meant to help with higher cost bills from unexpected incidents or illnesses.

In addition to pet insurance you may want to join your vet’s Pet Health Club, if they have one. By joining a Pet Health Club, you essentially spread the cost of preventative care throughout the year via monthly payments, and if used to its full potential the club can secure you discounts around 10% to 15% on vaccinations.

If you also have a dog, you can read about the average cost of dog vaccines here.

Compare Cheap Insurance

Also Check: Does Cvs Give Tdap Shots

What Diseases Should Cats Be Vaccinated Against

The core vaccines for cats in the UK protect against:

• feline enteritis: Feline infectious enteritis is a disease caused when cats become infected with feline parvovirus . It spreads easily in unhygienic conditions and is sadly often fatal, with unvaccinated kittens being most at risk. Not all infected cats show symptoms, but those that do may vomit, become unable to eat or drink, and have watery diarrhoea.
• feline influenza, or cat flu: Cat flu is like a human flu it can cause a runny nose and eyes, and a sore throat. Other symptoms include aches and pains in the muscles and joints, mouth ulcers, dribbling, sneezing, loss of voice and fever. Cat flu is not usually serious in adult cats, although they can be quite ill. However it can be serious, even fatal, in kittens, and in adult cats with other serious underlying illnesses. Read more about cat flu here.
• If your cat goes outside, or lives with cats who go outside, we recommend vaccinating them against feline leukaemia virus: Feline leukaemia virus is an incurable viral infection that eventually produces fatal illness in cats which become permanently infected. It is estimated that one to two per cent of cats in Britain are permanently infected, and the majority die within four years of FeLV detection. Read more advice about FeLV here.

Cost Of Kitten Vaccinations

According to our research, the average cost of a kitten vaccination course in the UK was £74.7 when feline leukemia virus is included to protect outdoor or social animals. If you and your vet decide that your feline doesn’t need protection against FeLV then the kitten vaccination course would be around 25% cheaper, costing around £52.6. The sample prices in our study ranged from £59.95 up to £91.26 for the full course with FeLV, showing the significant difference in prices between vets.

A kitten vaccination course involves two sets of injections and protects against cat flu and feline infectious enteritis, plus the option of FeLV for outdoor cats, cats who stay in a cattery, etc. Kittens can get their first set of vaccinations around 9 weeks old and the second set of injections at around three months old.

Recommended Reading: Does Cvs Offer Tdap Shot

What To Expect At A Vaccine Appointment

• Your vet will give your cat a full health check to make sure they are okay to have a vaccination and if they are concerned about anything they may delay the injection until they are better.
• Your cats vaccine will be an injection under the skin. You might be asked to hold him/her still while the injection is given, but if you dont feel comfortable doing so just let your vet know.
• Vaccinations arent usually painful, but they can feel cold or sometimes sting a little, and every cat reacts slightly differently.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your cat, the vaccination appointment is a good opportunity to discuss them, for example if you think they might be gaining weight, need a worming tablet, or youre having trouble with dental care.

Myth: Vaccines Do More Harm Than Good

Every responsible cat parent is right to make an informed decision about whats best for their pet as an individual. However, when weighing up the pros and cons of vaccination, its relevant to know the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Diseases such as cat flu, distemper, and feline leukemia are still out there and have life-changing consequences. Balance this against the risks of vaccination which can be divided into common-but-mild reactions and rare-but-serious, as outlined below.

Read Also: Tdap Shots Cvs

How Do Kitten Vaccines Work

When kittens are born, they receive temporary immunity from infectious diseases from their mothers. Mother cats pass on protective antibodies through their milk, which kittens absorb into their bloodstream immediately after theyre born. However, this immunity only lasts for a few weeks.

As their immune systems mature, kittens need to remain protected against disease this is where vaccines come in. Vaccines teach a kittens immune system to build antibodies against infectious diseases and help prevent future infections.

The timing of kitten vaccines is extremely important. It should be after the antibodies from their mother start to fade but not after theyre completely gone. Getting this timing right is vital to successful immunization. Kittens generally begin receiving immunizations starting at six to eight weeks old, with boosters at three to four-week intervals, completing the regiment when theyre around four months old.