All about cat vaccinations
Vaccinating your cat is important to keep them as healthy as possible. This protects them from serious illnesses like cat flu and feline distemper, prevents unnecessary suffering, and stops the spread of disease to other cats. Many owners wonder when their cat really needs to be vaccinated, and what exactly they're being vaccinated against.
When does your cat need to be vaccinated?
Kittens are usually vaccinated at 8 and 12 weeks of age, before they come to their new home. The breeder often ensures the kitten has had both vaccinations. Always check this with the breeder to see if you need to take your kitten to the vet for its 12-week vaccination.
The vaccinations kittens receive at 8 and 12 weeks form the basic immunisation. The next vaccination is given at 1 year old. Adult cats are then vaccinated annually against cat flu and every three years against feline distemper.
What are cats vaccinated against?Feline distemper is a serious, highly contagious, and often fatal disease for cats of all ages. It's caused by a parvovirus. While vaccination has made the disease uncommon in some regions, the risk to unvaccinated cats remains wherever they might encounter the virus. Properly vaccinated cats should have protection against the parvovirus, meaning they usually won't get sick and won't spread the virus to others.
Cat flu is an umbrella term for several different viruses and bacteria that can cause upper respiratory symptoms. This means the cat has an infection affecting the nose, sinuses, larynx, trachea, and sometimes the eyes.
If you plan to travel abroad, your cat will usually need a rabies vaccination (this applies to all countries except Norway). Always check well in advance of your trip what vaccinations your cat needs to enter your destination country.
Do I need to vaccinate my indoor cat?
It's not just outdoor cats that need vaccinating; it's important for indoor cats too. Infections can be carried indirectly into the home, for example, on clothing and shoes. Adult indoor cats with no exposure to other cats may only need the combination vaccine every three years.
