When Should Kittens Get Shots
Kittens should be vaccinated starting at 6 weeks old with the shots ending at around 19 weeks old with boosters afterwards to keep their immunization strong.
When should kittens get shots. Kitten vaccines are usually first given at about six to eight weeks of age and repeated approximately every three weeks until about 16 to 18 weeks of age. When a kitten is at least 3 months old he will need to get a rabies shot. Between 16 and 19 weeks of age the kitten needs combination vaccine. The latter two are needed if these diseases are a concern in the area.
Here s the timeline breakdown of the typical cat vaccination schedule. All kittens should receive vaccines for rabies upper respiratory infections and distemper. Kitties need several immunizations during their first year to protect them against serious diseases. But after about six weeks old and eating solid food it s time for them to be vaccinated.
If any cats in your home spend time outdoors you should also have your kitten vaccinated against the feline leukemia virus. Then they must be boostered a year latyer. Kittens are vaccinated once every three to four weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age or older. Rabies is the other core kitten vaccination.
Some vaccines might be given together in one injection that is called a combination vaccine. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4. Your vet will follow up these shots with regular booster visits which will continue for a few months. The first series of shots a kitten will usually get is a drcc fvrcp vaccination against feline distemper panleukopenia rhinotracheitis and calici virus.
At 13 weeks of age the kitten should be again given a shot of combination vaccine along with chlamydophila pneumonitis and feline leukemia felv. The timing of the kitten shot series the series of kitten shots should begin when your kitten is a few weeks old or when you get a new cat. These vaccines help protect against upper respiratory diseases herpes and fatal viruses. See the kitten vaccine schedule for more.
However to avoid over vaccination most veterinarians will recommend starting the vaccine at 8 weeks of age followed by boosters at 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. By the time she reaches eight weeks old your kitten should see the veterinarian to begin a series of vaccinations. Some vets also recommend a new vaccine which protects your kitten from virulent systemic feline calicivirus a form of feline viral respiratory disease. Most vets give this shot when a kitten is about 6 weeks old.
Your cat has to be at least 8 weeks old to get this vaccine.