You want to be the best cat parent possible. That’s why you’re stocking up on the best food, the cuddliest bed and the safest collar. But apart from shopping, the biggest thing you can do to keep your cat safe and healthy throughout their life is to vaccinate them. Learn all about kitten and cat vaccinations.

Vaccinations are a great tool in keeping your kitten and cat protected against infectious diseases and illnesses. By preparing your kitten’s immune system to recognise certain viruses, they’ll be able to fight them off quicker and easier if they get exposed.
As well as protecting your cat, vaccinating them ensures they can’t pass anything nasty onto other nearby animals which helps to keep New Zealand’s pet population safe.

There are 2 types of kitten vaccinations: core and non-core. Core vaccinations are recommended for all kittens and protect against some of the most serious illnesses. Non-core vaccinations are recommended on a case-by-case basis.

There are 3 core conditions your kitten will be vaccinated against:

• • • Feline Calicivirus or cat flu. Like human flu, cat flu is very common, very contagious and can be fatal. It causes sneezing, runny eyes and nose, mouth ulcers, and a loss of appetite.
    • Feline Panleukopenia Virus or Feline Infectious Enteritis or Feline Parvovirus. Most dangerous to kittens, although it can affect cats of any age, Parvovirus causes loss of appetite, diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, dehydration (even if they’re drinking normally) and fever. It can be fatal.
    • Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) which leads to Feline AIDS. Feline AIDS is like human AIDS - it seriously affects your cat’s immune system, leaving them unable to fight back against any diseases. Currently there’s no cure, so vaccination provides the best protection.

Your kitten might need a non-core vaccination if they’ve got a health condition that puts that at greater risk, if you want to breed from them or if they live in a multi-cat environment. Your vet will help you decide if your kitten would benefit from one.

The non-core cat vaccinations are:

• • • Feline Chlamydophila or Feline Chlamydia. A common problem in New Zealand, this disease can cause bouts of sneezing, conjunctivitis, and infertility.
    • Feline Leukaemia. Feline Leukaemia can cause a range of problems, including tumours and kidney failure, and can be fatal.

Your kitten needs at least 3 vaccinations before they’re considered fully vaccinated. Like humans, cats need top up (or boosters) regularly throughout their life to ensure they remain protected.

Here’s the vaccination schedule for a kitten and cat:

• • • 6-8 weeks old. Your kitten will get their first vaccination.
    • 10-12 weeks old. Your kitten will get their booster vaccination.
    • 14-16 weeks old. Your kitten will get their third and final vaccination for now. Your vet will advise when their next booster is due.
    • Every 1-3 years after that. Your cat will get regular vaccinations to maintain immunity throughout their life.

Your cat has to finish their vaccination schedule to be fully protected. It normally takes up to 10 days after their third and final kitten vaccination at 14-16 weeks old for them to be fully protected. During these 10 days, you’ll need to keep them inside and away from other unvaccinated cats. If the gap is too long between vaccinations or you don’t complete the schedule, your kitten won’t be protected and you’ll need to start again.

When your kitten is vaccinated, your vet will give you a vaccination record. This shows which vaccinations your kitten has had and when. Remember to bring it with you to all vaccination appointments so the vet can update it. If you want to use a cattery, they’ll normally request to see your cat’s vaccination record before they’ll accept your cat.

We hope this guide helps keep your kitten safe, healthy and protected. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz.