As with its canine counterpart, vaccinations are an essential part of raising your kitten. Knowing the ins and outs of how to vaccinate your kitten can be beneficial, but knowing exactly when to vaccinate your kitten is absolutely crucial. This is because, unlike puppies, kittens are far more sensitive, less resilient at young ages, and require more attention to keep healthy. So, in this segment, we’ll take a look at some important aspects surrounding kitten vaccinations that will help you make more informed decisions:
Should you vaccinate your kitten as soon as possible?
Not exactly. Although it is highly recommended that you get your kitten all its shots within the first few months, you need to be wary of its development. When the queen is still feeding her litter (i.e., if the kitten is still weaning), most of the essential antibodies will be derived from her milk. These can adversely affect the potency of the vaccine, however, will also protect the kitten for as long as it weans. So, we recommend that you wait at least six full weeks after birth until you vaccinate your kitten.
Who vaccinates your kitten?
As with all feline medical procedures, vaccinations are and should be administered by a certified veterinarian. Typically, kittens derived from breeders are already fully vaccinated since you can only adopt them after they’ve stopped weaning. These vaccinations are usually for one disease at a time (i.e., multiple jabs) but can also be a cocktail against closely related infections (which is still completely safe). Regardless of the technique, a vet is the only person who should vaccinate your kitten and handle its medical history, so be sure to check the vaccination certificate provided by the breeder.
When should you vaccinate your kitten?
There are two main types of vaccines for kittens you should be aware of – the core vaccines and the non-core vaccines. As the names suggest, core vaccines are essential and must be administered at the advised time (e.g., Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline viral infection cocktail (FVRCP)), while the non-core vaccines are available for additional circumstances (e.g., Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), Chlamydophilia, and Bordetella). That being said, a typical kitten vaccination schedule could be:
| Vaccine | Core/Non-core | First Dose | Second Dose | Third Dose | Booster |
| FVRCP | Core | 8 weeks | 10 weeks | 14 weeks | 16-20 weeks |
| FeLV | Core | 8 weeks | 10 weeks | 14 weeks | 16-20 weeks |
| FIV | Non-core | 8 weeks | 10 weeks | 14 weeks | 16-20 weeks |
| Rabies | Non-core | 8 weeks | 10 weeks | 14 weeks | 16-20 weeks |
The times for each dosage are tentative; give or take one week. Regardless, if you still do not vaccinate your kitten on time, they may be prone to a myriad of infections – most of which can be lethal. And now that you’ve grasped the importance of vaccinating your furry companion, feel free to bring one home today by going down to Camlist for a selection of adorable, fully vaccinated kittens!