What vaccinations does my rescue kitten need and when are they due?

If you are unsure of vaccine status, she should get aFVRCP (feline distemper) vaccine followed by a booster 3-4 weeks later. A Rabies vaccine should also be given. She should also be tested for FeLV and FIV. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites.

Vaccines should be given at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. We do it that way because of interference with maternal antibodies. Maternal antibodies counteract the vaccines. Kittens get some antibodies against diseases from their mom's milk but we are not quite sure exactly when those antibodies go away. In some kittens they may not have received any antibodies from mom (ie: they were hand raised) or they may have good immunity. No way to tell. We do know that by 16 weeks of age the antibodies have waned completely so that is why we stop there. I'm not sure how Cheerio's shots got off timing - he should not have had 3 FVRCP vaccines already. That was definitely overkill. If he did have good maternal antibodies those would have counteracted the vaccines. So, I suggest he get one at 12 week and another at 16 weeks. You need to contact VETCO clinics for information on when the vaccine clinics will be in your area (Petco stores) and I believe the cost is on the website. When you take him to the clinic be sure he is in a carrier as there will be LOTS of dogs around. Take all his vaccine history with you as well. ( https://www.vetcoclinics.com/services-and-clinics/clinic-locations-and-schedules/?zip=27514 ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

If she is a warrior kitten, then Artemis is great name for her! Feline core vaccines include FVRCP (feline distemper combo) and a rabies vaccine. At four months of age, she will need two rounds of each vaccine given four weeks apart. You should do the FVRCP vaccine first, then two weeks later the rabies vaccine. The second FVRCP vaccine should be done four weeks after the first one, and the same goes for the rabies vaccine. It's not recommended to give the FVRCP and rabies together at the same time. Have plenty of toys for her to play with, and get interactive toys so you can play with her. I hope this helps!

I would worry a little more about the new kitten passing on diseases to the older cat - viral upper respiratory infections in particular are common. I'd recommend vaccinating both cats with the FVRCP combo and rabies vaccines. If the cats are going to continue to be outdoors then the FeLV vaccine would also be recommended, and I actually usually recommend vaccinating all kittens for FeLV since you never know if their lifestyle might change.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is the FVRCP vaccine, which stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calici virus and Panleukopenia. I highly recommend finishing his kitten vaccine series. These viruses can cling to you and you can give them to him or if you ever get another cat he will be at risk. The first 2 viruses are respiratory viruses and the last one is the feline version of parvo and cats die from panleukopenia. I hope this helps and I wish you and Sherlock the best!

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach! I would recommend deworming the kittens and starting their first vaccinations (FeLV and FVRCP vaccinations). These vaccinations will need to be repeated two more times after the initial vaccine. These vaccinations will help develop immunity against Feline Leukemia, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia. I would also see if you can bring a fecal sample in for both of them to check for intestinal parasites. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Excellent question. The main vaccination(s) they need are: 1) FVRCP- a combo upper respiratory vaccine. 2) And if they go outdoors they should get the FeLV (leukemia) vaccination, which is an infection that is spread through drinking water. 3) Then of course the Rabies vaccine, if it is required in your state. The FVRCP and Rabies vaccine can be given once a year for the first year, then once every 3 years. The FeLV vaccine is given yearly.