Cat care

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Vaccinations are one of the most important things you can do for your cat.

Feline vaccines are grouped into ‘core vaccines’ and ‘non-core vaccines’.

Core vaccines are recommended for all cats regardless of their lifestyle or risk factors and include protection against feline panleukopenia (feline enteritis), feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus. An F3 vaccine will cover these diseases.

Non-core vaccines are only given to cats who are in specific risk categories. These include vaccinations that protect against feline leukaemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus and Chlamydophila felis.

One of our vets will discuss your cat’s lifestyle with you so we can individualize its vaccination program.

6-8 weeks of age F3 vaccination
12 weeks of age F3 vaccination
16 weeks of age F3 vaccination

Annual cat vaccination

A first annual booster should be given 12 months after the 16 week vaccination. A reminder will be sent to you prior to your pets vaccination due date.

After that the frequency of the booster vaccination varies depending on the individual risk of the cat. Most cats require a yearly ‘cat flu’ vaccination to prevent against feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus.

Testing for vaccine immune response

New studies have shown that after the annual vaccination booster many cats retain their immunity against the panleukopenia virus for 3 years or longer.

A blood test can be taken from your cat to determine if a three yearly vaccine is necessary or if your cat’s immunity levels are high enough to last another 3 years.

Your cat will still need a ‘cat flu’ vaccination yearly as, like our flu vaccines, the immunity will only last for 12 months.

Non-core vaccinations

12 weeks of age FeLV, FIV, Chlamydophila vaccination
14 weeks of age FIV vaccination
16 weeks of age FeLV, FIV, Chlamydophila vaccination

Yearly booster for those cats at continued risk.