How to Make Sure Your Cat's Vaccinations Are Up to Date

From 6-8 weeks onward your cat will require a series of vaccinations in order to stay healthy and avoid illness. This schedule can be a bit daunting to manage, but it is quite possible to do so with careful planning. Start by discussing your cat’s vaccination schedule with your vet. Get a vaccine calendar or card and adhere to it closely. Be aware of the local laws regarding animal vaccines. If cost is an issue, look into attending a low cost cat vaccination clinic.

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Tracking Your Cat’s Vaccinations

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Talk with your vet. Make an appointment to have your cat examined. After the examination, talk with your vet about the vaccinations that your cat currently has or needs. Ask them about their approach to vaccinations and boosters. Do they believe in spreading them out or lumping them together in combo shots?^{[1]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
- If you move to a new area, make an appointment with the new vet as soon as possible. They will be able to help you to register your cat with local officials. They can also provide advice regarding that vaccinations that your cat is required to get.
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Create a vaccination card. Vets will usually hand you a card showing the vaccinations completed as well as those that will need to be done in the future. Make sure to place this card in a secure area where you keep your pet’s other records. If your vet does not give you a card, you can go online and search for a “printable cat vaccination card.”
- Many boarding facilities require that your vet provides a signature for each vaccine update. Your card should have a place for signatures on the back or bottom.
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Mark down all core vaccines. These are the vaccines that all cats should get, unless their health prevents them from doing so. The vaccines for the Feline Panleukopenia Virus, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP, and Rabies virus will protect your cat from these more commonly spread illnesses.^{[2]XResearch source}
- These vaccines are often suggested because the illnesses that they prevent can be life-threatening to cats. For example, a cat infected with rabies may suffer from brain swelling and hemorrhaging, resulting in death.
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Mark down all non-core vaccines. Depending on your cat’s age and lifestyle, your vet may suggest that you add extra vaccinations into the core schedule. These vaccinations are optional, but can protect your cat from certain commonly spread diseases. The vaccines for chlamydia, leukemia, Bordetella, and FIV, can save your cat a great deal of pain in the long run.^{[3]XResearch source}
- These non-core vaccines are particularly important for cats who will have contact with a wide variety of other animals, such as in a boarding facility.
Not all vaccines are the same, even for the same illness. Talk to your vet about the exact brand and type of vaccine that your cat is getting. Some vaccines are single-shot, but include coverage for a combination of illnesses. The type of vaccine will also determine how often your cat will need a booster shot, whether in a year, three years, or not at all.
Once the vaccination schedule is set, do your best to stick to it. Make a mark down on your calendar or create a note on your phone indicating when your cat needs another vet visit. This is especially important to do with the first round of vaccines, when your cat will require a shot every few weeks.^{[4]XResearch source}
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Adhering to Local Requirements

Each jurisdiction sets their own regulations regarding animal vaccinations. Your vet will be familiar with these rules. But, you can also contact local government authorities for more information. It is possible that you will need to send in a copy of your cat’s rabies vaccination every year, every three years, or less frequently depending on the area.^{[5]XTrustworthy SourceAmerican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsLeading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal crueltyGo to source}
The vaccination schedule should start as soon as your kitten is starting to less frequently nurse from their mother, usually around 6-8 weeks of age. This means that the antibodies from the mother’s milk will coincide with the protections provided by the vaccines, providing overlapping protections. If you didn’t take your kitten to the vet early on, it is possible to catch them up via later boosters.^{[6]XResearch source}
If you’ve started the sequence, don’t try to space out or remove booster shots, otherwise your cat will only be partially protected, if at all. This means that you will need to get one initial shot and then expect a series to follow. There are guidelines regarding how far apart these boosters must be placed in time.
If you’ve decided to adopt or purchase a new cat, make sure to get all of their personal records as part of that transaction. Look over the records with your vet to see if there are any gaps in coverage. Particularly with adoption, you may need to start from ground zero.
Because a cat is not fully covered until they’ve received the full vaccination sequence, which can take weeks, make sure to plan well in advance before you attempt to board or travel with your cat. Many boarding facilities will require that your cat has completed a full course of yearly vaccinations. And some require that this occurs weeks prior to boarding.
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Follow all travel restrictions. Each country has a list of restrictions regarding the conditions of animals allowed in from elsewhere. Make sure to look at that government’s website to determine the exact requirements that your cat must meet for entry.
- For example, in the UK, a pet cat must be microchipped with a vet certificate showing proof of a rabies vaccination.^{[7]XTrustworthy SourceOfficial UK government websiteOfficial website for the public sector of the UK governmentGo to source}
You may want to get extra vaccine coverage for your cat if there is an outbreak of a particular illness if your area. Leukemia, for example, often occurs in waves in communities, leading cat owners to seek out their vets. For information on outbreaks, contact your local Department of Agriculture in the U.S.^{[8]XResearch source}
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Overcoming Any Challenges

If you are rather busy and afraid that you’ll miss an important vaccination appointment, request that your vet email you or text you an appointment reminder. They usually do this routinely anyway, so it is not a problem.
There is a great deal of information available online, both positive and negative, about vaccinations. All vaccines carry some type of risk, although it is usually quite minimal. Talk with your vet about possible reactions and be prepared to talk your cat to an emergency clinic if they exhibit serious signs of breathing difficulties.
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Go to a vaccination clinic to off-set costs. Multiple vaccinations and office visits can become costly over time. To save yourself some money, look into low-cost or free vaccination clinics available in your area. These, often mobile, clinics can give your cat a yearly exam or just a series of vaccinations. Be aware that these clinics are often quite busy, so give yourself plenty of time.^{[9]XResearch source}
- As these clinics are attempting to vaccinate cats en masse, be aware that many of them will not treat an animal that has any underlying health issues. You will need to go to your vet if this is the case.
Recognizing the burdens of payment, many vets will now accept various payment plans or even vet-specific credit cards. Discuss this with your vet’s office staff and see what your options are before your cat’s visit. They may also suggest that you investigate getting pet insurance, which may cover some of the core vaccination boosters.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceThe Humane Society of the United StatesNational organization devoted to the promotion of animal welfareGo to source}
Even though your cat is fully vaccinated, avoid putting them in situations that can lead to illness. If you know that another neighborhood cat is ill, try to keep your cat indoors. Make sure that your cat eats a proper diet and is not overly stressed as well.
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