Our team continues to be here for you and your cherished pets. We are OPEN and are now able to provide a wide range of services. To learn more about the changes we have implemented in response to COVID-19 and what to expect during your next visit, click here.

Clayton Park at 902.443.4345
CALL NOW  •   Clayton Park at 902.443.4345
cat-services

Cat Vaccinations

Vaccination is the best preventative medicine for your cat. It is a way of ensuring that the cat’s immune system builds up a tolerance to common invading organisms. There are both core vaccinations and optional vaccinations for cats. Even indoor cats should be vaccinated. Please visit this page for Kitten Vaccination

Does my indoor cat need to be vaccinated?

Keeping your cat indoors is an excellent way to protect them from many sources of harm. But even indoor cats are still at risk of catching certain diseases. These diseases can be prevented with vaccination. At a minimum, your indoor cat should be vaccinated with the FVRCP (feline distemper) vaccine. This combination vaccine protects against the very severe distemper infection, as well as two types of viruses that cause upper respiratory illness. These upper respiratory viruses are very hardy and easy to catch. They can be carried into your home on your clothing, or your cat could contract it from sniffing another cat through a screened window. The FVPCR vaccine protects your cat from these infections for up to three years.

What vaccines does an outdoor cat need?

Outdoor cats are exposed to more sources of infection, and so need more vaccinations to keep them safe. Outdoor cats also need the FVRCP vaccine. This is the core vaccine that all cats should have. Two optional vaccines are usually suggested for indoor/outdoor cats. Those are the Feline Leukemia (FeLV) vaccination and the Rabies vaccination. The Leukemia vaccine is important for outdoor cats, as the virus is often transmitted through nose-to-nose contact with an infected cat, and since cats greet each other through nose-to-nose contact, outdoor cats are at risk for this virus. It is also transmitted through fighting and breeding, so it is especially dangerous for cats that have not been spayed or neutered. You can get rabies if it is bitten by infected animals, usually bats or raccoons. Although it is not a common disease, we recommend that every pet is vaccinated against Rabies since it can be transmitted to humans and is always fatal.

How often does my adult cat need vaccination?

Adult cats should have an annual health exam performed yearly, much like us humans, so that medical changes can be detected before they lead to more severe disease. For a strictly indoor cat, the FVRCP vaccine is usually re-administered every three years. If the cat is at a higher risk of exposure, from trips to the groomer or regular boarding, a yearly vaccine is recommended. Rabies is also usually a three-year vaccination, while Leukemia is performed annually for cats that go outdoors.