Vaccines for Kittens & Cats

Over the last century, vaccinations have protected pets against preventable disease that would otherwise be harmful to them. Vaccines are formulated to either lessen the severity of some diseases or completely prevent them. Depending on your pet’s specific needs, our veterinary team will tailor a vaccination plan for them. If you haven’t created a vaccination plan yet, please call our team at 604-544-7387.

Is my pet protected if they’re vaccinated?

Yes, vaccination is usually effective protection against specific diseases. However, there is a chance your pet might not develop immunity against them. Though it is rare, it is possible for them to contract the disease or become ill. However, most pets we’ve successfully vaccinated never end up contracting the disease or showing symptoms. We believe vaccinations are an important preventive health measure for your pet.

What vaccines do you recommend for kittens and cats?

Our veterinary team will discuss factors like your pet’s age, location and risk factors for some diseases to decide which ones they’ll most likely need. Core vaccines are the ones most feline friends in a particular area receive. Non-core vaccines are unique to the specific needs of each individual pet.

Core vaccines:

• Rabies – even for indoor cats who could come in contact with an infected animal
• FVRCP – protection against feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia (distemper), and feline viral rhinotracheitis herpesvirus-1
• Feline Leukemia (FeLV) – necessary for cats 1 year-old or younger who are most susceptible to the disease

Non-core vaccines:

• Bordetella (Kennel cough) – necessary if you have multiple cats living together
• Chlamydia – necessary for multi-cat households or cats who go outside

What are the risks of vaccinations?

From our experience, most pets react well to vaccinations but we recommend you examine them closely for any adverse reactions. Most vaccinations, including the ones humans take, come with some risk. Depending on the pet, the most common reactions are usually mild and go away after a short time, like fever, sluggishness and loss of appetite. Your pet might also have slight pain or swelling near the vaccination area. If you notice any of these symptoms aren’t disappearing after a day or two, please contact our hospital.