(336) 855-5821
AAHA AccreditedGeneral Vaccine Information
Kitten vaccinations are given in a series to protect your kitten against a number of serious infections diseases. We recommend that all kittens and cats be protected against:
- Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia)
- Rhinotracheitis
- Calicivirus
- Chlamydiosis
- Rabies
In addition, kittens that go outside or are in contact with other kittens and/or adult cats should be protected against:
- Feline Leukemia
- Feline Infectious Peritonitis
We recommend that vaccinations for Feline Distemper, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Clamydiosis begin at 6-8 weeks of age, then boosted every 3-4 weeks until at least 12 weeks of age. Protection from Rabies is started in a single booster after 16 weeks of age. Protection from Feline Leukemia can be started at 9 weeks of age. Protection from Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) can start at 16 weeks of age. Both Leukemia and FIP boosters are given 3-4 weeks after the first vaccination for each of these diseases.
After the initial series of kitten vaccinations, all vaccinations are given yearly with the exception of Rabies which can be given every three years after the first booster. For outdoor cats, we suggest annual vaccines for the highest protection.
Kittens should be tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Feline AIDS) before being introduced to other cats in the household and before vaccinating for Feline Leukemia or FIP. Cats that go outdoors should be retested annually for these diseases.
We recommend your kitten be Dewormed at least twice during the kitten series and that the stool then be examined for parasite eggs microscopically.
You should also consider protecting your outside cat against Heartworm Disease with a simple monthly tablet or a topical product. Heartworms do occur in cats (both indoor and outdoor) and can be a serious problem as there is no safe treatment and the most common first symptom is death.