When Do Kittens Need To Get Their Shots

Kitties need several immunizations during their first year to protect them against serious diseases.

When do kittens need to get their shots. After the second round of vaccinations kittens will need boosters at one year and every three years after for all of their recommended vaccinations. Most vets give this shot when a kitten is about 6 weeks old. After this kittens and cats usually need booster vaccinations every twelve months. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old.

Some vaccines might be given together in one injection that is called a combination vaccine. Kittens are vaccinated once every three to four weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age or older. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4. And even adult cats will need an initial series of shots and boosters for certain vaccinations to achieve the best level of protection.

To achieve the best protection possible your kitten will need boosters over the first several months of their life at least until they are between 16 20 weeks old. Kittens should have their first set of vaccinations at nine weeks old and at three months old they should receive the second set to boost their immune system. See the kitten vaccine schedule for more. Until your kitten is fully vaccinated and neutered you should keep him or her inside.

These vaccines help protect against upper respiratory diseases herpes and fatal viruses. Your cat has to be at least 8 weeks old to get this vaccine. When a kitten is at least 3 months old he will need to get a rabies shot. First year kitten vaccinations when kittens are nursing antibodies in their mother s milk help protect them from infections.

Vaccines kittens need the first series of shots a kitten will usually get is a drcc fvrcp vaccination against feline distemper panleukopenia rhinotracheitis and calici virus. However to avoid over vaccination most veterinarians will recommend starting the vaccine at 8 weeks of age followed by boosters at 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. Kittens should be vaccinated starting at 6 weeks old with the shots ending at around 19 weeks old with boosters afterwards to keep their immunization strong. Kitten vaccines are usually first given at about six to eight weeks of age and repeated approximately every three weeks until about 16 to 18 weeks of age.

Some vets also recommend a new vaccine which protects your kitten from virulent systemic feline calicivirus a form of feline viral respiratory disease. Rabies is the other core kitten vaccination.