Vaccinations for Cats


BBVH follows the guidelines below provided by the AAFP. We attempt to individualize the vaccination protocol for each of cat depending on many factors. Factors are discussed prior to vaccination.
The vaccinations designated with ** are the those that we administer on a routine basis.
 

American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommended guidelines for vaccination of cats

Primary Vaccination

Antigen

Vaccination Types

Cats < 12 weeks old

Cats > 12 weeks old

Booster vaccination

Comments

**Feline parvo-virus

(panleukopenia)

MLV (Modified Live Vaccine) for injection

Adjuvanted inactivated- virus vaccine for injection

If > 6 weeks old, vaccinate at initial visit and every 3 to 4 weeks until > 12 weeks old†

Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart

1 year after primary vaccination, then no more frequently than every 3 years

Rrecommended for all cats; in most cats, protection derived following administration of booster vaccination 1 year after; MLV vaccines should not be administered to pregnant queens or kittens < 4 weeks old

**Feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calici-virus

Combined MLV vaccine for injection

Combined adjuvanted inactivated-virus vaccine for injection

if > 6 weeks old, vaccinate at initial visit and every 3 to 4 weeks until > 12 weeks old†

Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart

1 year after primary vaccination, then every 3 years

Recommended for all cats; MLV vaccines should not be administered to pregnant queens

**Feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calici-virus

Combined MLV vaccine for administration

in nose and in eyes

If > 6 weeks old, vaccinate at initial visit and every 3 to 4 weeks until > 12 weeks old**

Administer 1 dose

1 year after primary vaccination, then every 3 years

Recommended for all cats; may be used instead of the injection; may be preferable to injection in cats reared in or entering environments in which viral upper respiratory tract disease is endemic (catteries, boarding); MLV vaccine should not be administered to pregnant queens

Rabies

Adjuvanted inactivated- virus vaccine for parenteral administration every 3 years‡

Not eligible for vaccination

Administer 1 dose

1 year after primary vaccination, then every 3 years

Recommended for all cats. Rabies vaccination of cats in required by law

**Rabies

Canarypox virus-vectored recombinant vaccine for parenteral administration

Administer 1 dose to cats as young as 8 weeks old

Administer 1 dose

1 year after primary** vaccination, then every year

Recommended for all cats. Rabies vaccination of cats in required by law

**Feline leukemia virus

Adjuvanted and non- adjuvanted inactivated-virus vaccines for injection

Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart to cats as young as 8 weeks old††

Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart

Annually

Recommended for outdoor cats. and is most important for cats < 16 weeks old; not recommended for cats > 1 year old with minimal to no risk of exposure to FeLV-infected cats. (indoor cats)

Chlamydia psittaci

Modified-live vaccine for injection

Adjuvanted inactivated vaccine for injection

If > 9 weeks old, administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart

Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart

Annually

Not recommended for routine use, can be considered for use in cats in multiple-cat environments where C. psittaci clinical infections have been documented

Feline infectious peri-tonitis virus

(FIP)

MLV vaccine for topical administration

Not approved for cats < 16 weeks old

Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart to cats > 16 weeks old

Annually

Not recommended for routine use; no evidence to support the conclusion that the vaccine induces clinically relevant protection

Microsporum canis

(ringworm vaccine)

Adjuvanted inactivated vaccine for parenteral administration

Not approved for cats< 16 weeks old

First dose administered SC to cats > 16 weeks old; second dose administered SC 12 to 16 days after the first dose; third dose administered SC 26 to 30 days after the second dose

Not stipulated

May be considered as 1 component of a comprehensive control program in multiple-cat environments in which M. canis infection is endemic or as adjunctive treatment to hasten resolution of clinical signs in individual cats

Bordetella bronchi-septica

Modified-live vaccine for topical administration#

Administer 1 dose (0.2 ml) intranasally to cats > 4 weeks old

Administer 1 dose (0.2 ml) intranasally

Not stipulated

Not recommended far routine use; vaccination may be considered for cats entering or residing in multiple-cat environments where clinical B. bronchiseptica infections have been documented

Giardia lamblia

Adjuvanted inactivated vaccine for parenteral administration

Administer the first dose to cats 8 weeks old and a second dose 3 to 4 weeks later

Administer 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart

Annually

Not recommended far routine use; vaccination may be considered as 1 component of a comprehensive control program in multiple-cat environments in which G. lamblia infections associated with clinical disease have been documented

**Often, the product approved for use annually is given for initial vaccination, followed 1 year later and every 3 years after that by administration of the product approved for use every 3 years; however, vaccination interval must comply with local and state statutes.
**Feline leukemia virus testing is recommended prior to vaccination; infected cats do not derive any benefit from vaccination.

MLV = modified-live virus