Kitten Vaccinations

Vaccinating your kitten is very important to help prevent them from getting diseases. At Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital, we recommend vaccinating your kitten at 8, 12, & 16 weeks of age to keep their immunity strong against feline upper respiratory tract disease, feline distemper virus, and feline leukemia virus. When you bring your Kitten, along with the vaccinations your kitten will get a nose to tail wellness exam and a dewormer will be sent home.

When do kittens get their first vaccinations?

Your kitten requires the feline distemper, upper respiratory, and leukemia vaccinations at 8 weeks of age. A “booster” vaccination is required at 12 & 16 weeks of age. This series of vaccinations are very important because they help build up immunity against the diseases if your kitten comes in contact with them. Along with the vaccinations, your kitten will receive a nose to tail wellness exam, and a dewormer will be sent home.

How often do my kittens need vaccines?

Kittens require vaccinations at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. As a kitten, they are more susceptible to contracting diseases, so it is important to follow our veterinarian’s vaccine protocol. Vaccinating your kitten at 8, 12 & 16 weeks builds their immunity, so they stay protected against diseases. If your kitten has been vaccinated before 8 weeks the mother’s antibodies are still present and it’s like the vaccination never happened. If you have any questions regarding vaccinations for your kitten, please contact us.

Does my kitten need only core vaccines?

FVRCP (feline upper respiratory and distemper) is a core vaccine, whereas feline leukemia is a non-core vaccine. We strongly recommend having your kitten vaccinated against feline leukemia. It is easily transmitted from cat to cat through biting, sharing bowls, and grooming. The other downfall is that there is no cure. The FVRCP and Feline leukemia are combined into one syringe, so your kitten requires only one injection to get the extra protection. The staff at Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital are available to answer any questions you have regarding vaccinating your kitten.

Are there any risks associated with vaccines?

Occasionally, as with people, the leg where the vaccine is given may be a bit sore. In extremely rare cases kittens can have a reaction which causes vomiting, diarrhea and a swollen face. If your kitten has a reaction to a vaccine, please contact us.