If you ask your cat what vaccines they need, they’ll likely tell you none! However, The Old 41 Animal Hospital team says vaccines are essential for keeping your feline friend healthy. Vaccination provides unbeatable protection against infectious diseases, which may not seem that important for indoor cats who never leave their home. However, you’d likely be surprised to know how easily house cats can contract infectious diseases, despite never poking a whisker outdoors.

To better understand what vaccines your cat needs to stay healthy and safe, learn about feline vaccination ins and outs. Our team explains why all cats, including indoor-only cats, need vaccines, and what vaccines are necessary.

Factors that influence your cat’s vaccination protocol

Several important factors influence which vaccinations your cat should receive, as not all cats need the exact same shots. When determining your whiskered pal’s vaccination protocol, our team considers the following factors about your cat:

  • Age — To build strong immunity against infectious diseases, kittens need several frequent vaccinations. For example, all cats younger than a year old should receive the feline leukemia (FeLV) vaccine, but older cats do not need this shot unless they have the potential for viral exposure.
  • Exposure risk — Although most cats stay indoors, they can still contract infectious diseases. You can carry pathogens on your clothes or hands, or friends and family may bring viruses or bacteria into your home. In addition, you never know when a new cat may find their way into your heart and your home, potentially exposing your current cat to diseases.
  • Carrier status — Cats who have been infected with respiratory viruses often become lifelong disease carriers and continue to shed the virus, although they do not appear ill. To reduce potential viral flare-ups, minimize the illness’ severity, and prevent further infection, regular vaccination is essential for these cats, and those who live with them. 

Core vaccines for cats

Core vaccines are essential for all cats, largely because of certain diseases’ severity and transmission potential. Essential feline vaccines protect against:

  • Feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1) — One of cats’ most common respiratory infection causes, FHV-1 is incredibly contagious and can spread like wildfire through closely housed feline populations.
  • Feline calicivirus (FCV) — Calicivirus is one of cats’ leading respiratory infection causes. This virus can cause painful oral ulcers that prevent an infected cat from eating.
  • Feline panleukopenia virus — Feline panleukopenia causes signs similar to those of dogs infected with parvovirus. This incredibly infectious virus leads to diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration and will ultimately prove fatal if left untreated. Kittens and unvaccinated cats experience extreme illness and can rapidly succumb to this serious disease.
  • Rabies — While house cats rarely interact with wildlife, bats and rodents can slip into your home and transmit rabies to your feline friend. This neurologic condition is fatal to animals, and if you or a family member contract rabies, a painful injection series is necessary. 

Noncore vaccines for cats

Noncore vaccines are not considered essential for all cats. The Old 41 Animal Hospital team only recommends certain noncore vaccines if a cat’s lifestyle dictates it. Susceptible cats who need noncore vaccines can receive protection against:

  • FeLV — FeLV attacks the immune system, leaving a cat weak and vulnerable to secondary infections. This virus is one of cats’ leading causes of disease and death, although the illness can take months to become apparent. The leukemia vaccine is considered a core vaccine for cats younger than a year old, but a noncore vaccine for older cats with no exposure risk.
  • Chlamydia felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica — In crowded living situations, cats may develop bacterial respiratory infections, but they are much less common than viral infections. Cats living in shelters or catteries may benefit from these respiratory vaccines, but household cats generally do not need them.

Feline vaccination frequency

Your cat’s age and exposure risk influence how frequently they require vaccination. A cat in a later life stage generally requires less frequent vaccination than a young kitten, while the potential for disease exposure increases vaccination frequency.

Kittens need frequent vaccination so their immune system develops the appropriate response to infectious diseases. The Old 41 Animal Hospital team typically begins your kitten’s vaccination series when your whiskered pal is between 6 and 8 weeks of age, with boosters given every three to four weeks until your kitten reaches 16 to 20 weeks of age.

Adult and senior cats should have fully developed immune systems and sufficient antibody levels to avoid disease, so they may only need to be vaccinated annually or every three years. If your adult cat may be regularly exposed to cats who have FeLV, annual vaccination is recommended. Otherwise, FeLV vaccination can be extended to once every two or three years.

If your cat’s vaccination protocol has you confused, contact The Old 41 Animal Hospital team with questions about what vaccines your whiskered pal needs to stay healthy.