Kittens receive antibodies from their mother’s colostrum until they are about 4-5 months old. The length of time that the antibodies stay in the kitten’s system is dependent upon the mother’s exposure to disease during her lifetime. Since we cannot guarantee how long the colostrum protection will last, we need to vaccinate them every 3-4 weeks until they reach 16-20 weeks of age. Without these vaccination boosters, your kitten may not have the proper immune system to fight off diseases which could be life-threatening. As a result, you should expect to visit CHV many times in the first few months of owning your new kitten.
While vaccinations are essential, there can be some side-effects from the vaccines. Kittens may become very sleepy and sometimes sensitive at the area of the injection. If your kitten experiences an upset stomach or swollen face/hives, we will want to see you back as soon as possible.
Core vaccinations are recommended for all cats regardless of lifestyle. These vaccines protect against diseases that are very serious and can easily spread from pet to pet. At CHV, the core vaccinations includes Rabies (required by law) and the FVRCP vaccine.
Core Vaccine | First Vaccine Series | Lifelong |
Rabies | 1 vaccine after 12 weeks old | 1 vaccine 1 year later, then 1 vaccine every 3 years |
FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calici, Panleukopenia | 1 vaccine every 3 weeks for 2-4 vaccines (based on age) | 1 vaccine 1 year later, then 1 vaccine every 3 years |
A Non-Core vaccination is recommended by a veterinarian based on the risk of the cat’s exposure due to the cat’s lifestyle and environment
Non-core vaccine | Symptoms | Exposure Risks | First Vaccine Series | Lifelong |
Leukemia | Immunodeficiency, cancer, infections | Regular boarding/grooming, going outdoors, feline positive pet in the home | 2 vaccines, 3 weeks apart | 1 vaccine annually |
The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Vaccine is not currently recommended.