Vaccines for Cats

The veterinarians at All Creatures constantly review and research what are the best protocols for vaccines to provide your pet with the best wellness care. Vaccines that are required for your pet to socialize or be in public environments are considered “Core Vaccines;” there are other vaccines available that are not strictly enforced as well. The guidelines we follow indicate that the core vaccines are:

• FVRCP Vaccine: is commonly known as the ‘feline distemper vaccine’ and is a combo vaccine to protect against rhinotrachetitis, calicovirus, and panleukopenia. These are airborne and potentially deadly diseases that can be caught at any age through contact with an infected cat or contaminated objects.
• Feline Leukemia Vaccine – to protect against the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) that can lead to anemia and cancers of several types. 
• Rabies - a severe viral disease with no cure. Can be transmitted from the bit of an infected mammal that can be found in wildlife and is very prevalent in Dekalb County, GA.

As kittens, they require a series of vaccines to be given during certain age ranges under a year old – between 7 weeks to 20 weeks of age. For the complete kitten vaccine schedule, check out this vaccine chart! Once all the kitten vaccines have been given, they are not due again for one year. Once you come in for your first adult yearly, your cat can get booster vaccines that cover for a year. At your pet’s 2nd adult yearly with vaccines, you can then choose if you would like to administer the FVRCP and FeLV vaccines every 3 years. Rabies is due yearly by county ordinance. We recommend all vaccines be administered yearly as a reminder your pet needs a yearly check-up. We find when people select 3-year vaccines, their feline friends do not regularly come in for a yearly preventative wellness exam. It is important to keep up with your pet’s vaccine schedule so that it has the best protection possible.

If you plan to have your pet board or be groomed at any facility, they will require that your pet’s vaccines be up to date. Check the requirements for those facilities ahead of time so you have time to come for an exam and vaccines ahead of your boarding or grooming appointments. We are happy to provide you a ‘Vaccine Certificate’ indicating when vaccines were last given and next due dates upon request.

For more information about vaccines for cats, check out these links and documents:

Need more cat care info? Check out our links on the main Cat page!