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Annual vaccination of cats

Written by Mara |

Vaccination is an important step to keep your cat healthy. It protects against serious infections that affect many cats and can sometimes be life threatening. In this blog, you will read why vaccination matters, which diseases cats can be vaccinated against, which vaccines are essential or optional, the importance of kitten vaccinations, and how antibody titre testing can help.

Cat walking along a fence

Why do we vaccinate cats?

Vaccination helps protect your cat against:

  • highly contagious infections
  • diseases that cause severe symptoms or lasting damage
  • conditions that are difficult to treat
  • diseases that can be fatal

Regular vaccination not only protects your own cat, it also helps prevent spread to other cats in your household or neighbourhood.

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Which diseases can cats be vaccinated against?

Cats can be vaccinated against several diseases, namely:

  • Feline panleucopenia (feline infectious enteritis): Highly contagious and often fatal. Causes severe enteritis, fever and dehydration. Vaccination against panleucopenia is a core vaccination.
  • Cat flu (herpesvirus and calicivirus): Causes sneezing, conjunctivitis, fever and sometimes chronic problems. Protection is not complete, but vaccination reduces disease severity.
  • Chlamydophila felis: Especially relevant in cats kept in larger groups.
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica: Particularly relevant for cats going to boarding catteries.
  • FeLV (feline leukaemia virus): A serious, life-shortening virus. It may be advisable for kittens, outdoor cats or cats with changing social contacts.

Which vaccinations are essential and which are optional?

Essential vaccinations for cats are the vaccines against:

  • Feline panleucopenia
  • Cat flu (herpesvirus + calicivirus)

The vaccine against panleucopenia usually provides protection for up to 3 years. The vaccine against cat flu protects for a maximum of 1 year and therefore needs an annual booster.

In addition to core vaccines, several optional vaccines may be given depending on lifestyle and risk:

  • FeLV: Not standard everywhere. This vaccine can be an option for kittens, outdoor cats and cats living with unknown or new cats.
  • Chlamydophila: Especially for groups of cats or in case of recurrent eye problems.
  • Bordetella: Recommended for cats that go into boarding.
  • Rabies: Required when travelling abroad.

The importance of kitten vaccination

Kittens are especially vulnerable to infections. A good vaccination schedule helps prevent serious disease during the first phase of life.

When and what to vaccinate in a kitten?

At 6 weeks of age: Only when the queen was not vaccinated during the year of pregnancy: vaccine against panleucopenia.

At 8 to 9 weeks of age: Panleucopenia and cat flu (herpesvirus + calicivirus), optional: Chlamydophila, Bordetella, FeLV for at risk kittens.

At 12 weeks of age: Booster for panleucopenia and cat flu, optional: rabies (if needed) and Bordetella (if not given at 9 weeks).

The role of maternal antibodies

Kittens receive antibodies from their mother’s milk. These protect the kitten, but they can also prevent vaccines from taking effect. They wane between 6 and 16 weeks of age. This is why multiple vaccinations are given, to maximise the chance the vaccine takes at the right moment.

In some kittens, they persist longer, making titre testing useful.

Titre testing in cats

As with dogs, titre testing can also be performed in cats. In most cases this is done with Vaccicheck.

What can you titre for?

In cats, titre testing is considered reliable only for panleucopenia.

You can use it to determine the following:

In kittens:

  • whether maternal antibodies are already low enough for a first effective vaccination
  • whether the standard vaccination schedule has worked well (check around 20 weeks)

In adult cats:

  • whether there is still sufficient protection against panleucopenia
  • whether a booster is needed or not

Limitations of titre testing in cats

Titre testing is a very good method to avoid unnecessary vaccination. However, it is not available for all diseases that vaccines protect against. Titre testing does not work for:

  • cat flu
  • Chlamydophila
  • Bordetella
  • FeLV

A titre test is possible for rabies vaccination, but this cannot be done as an in-house test by the vet. The sample must be sent to an external laboratory and is sometimes mandatory for travel to countries outside the EU.

In addition:

  • The cat flu vaccine protects for a maximum of one year, so an annual booster is still needed.
  • A titre reflects antibody levels, but it does not measure local airway immunity, which plays a major role in protection against respiratory disease.

Do you have questions about the annual vaccination of cats? Please contact us at veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk.

Frequently asked questions about cat vaccination

How much does a vaccination or titre test cost?

On average, you can expect (converted at 1 EUR ≈ 0.8815 GBP):

  • Panleucopenia + cat flu: £40–£57
  • FeLV: £26–£44 extra
  • Chlamydophila / Bordetella: £22–£35 extra
  • Rabies: £35–£53
  • Titre test (panleucopenia): £35–£71

Prices vary by practice. These fees usually include a consultation. The vet first performs a health check on the cat before administering the vaccine.

Notes: Rounded to the nearest pound using the ECB reference rate (1 EUR = 0.8815 GBP).

What are the side effects of vaccination?

Most cats have no side effects or only mild signs:

  • Lethargy
  • Reduced appetite
  • A small lump at the injection site
  • One-off vomiting or diarrhoea

Severe allergic reactions are rare, but if in doubt always contact a vet.

Which vaccinations should be given annually?

As mentioned, the vaccine against cat flu needs to be given annually. This applies to the core vaccine against herpesvirus and calicivirus, and also to the optional additional vaccines against Chlamydophila and Bordetella in at risk cats.

The most commonly used rabies vaccine provides protection for 3 years. There is also a rabies vaccine that is valid for only 1 year, which would then require annual boosters.

In at risk cats, the FeLV vaccine is also given annually.

My cat does not go outside. Do I still need to vaccinate?

Yes, indoor cats should be vaccinated too.

Viruses such as panleucopenia are extremely contagious and can enter your home via shoes, clothing, hands and visitors. Your cat does not have to go outside to be at risk.

Cat flu (herpesvirus and calicivirus) spreads via droplets and contaminated items (beds, clothing). If a visitor has had contact with another cat, your indoor cat can be exposed.

Unexpected situations can also arise in which core protection through vaccination is important, for example:

  • vet visit, hospitalisation or surgery
  • your cat escapes outdoors
  • boarding cattery stay

An indoor cat should at minimum be vaccinated against panleucopenia and cat flu. A titre test can be used to check whether a booster against panleucopenia is needed. The cat flu vaccine requires annual boosters.

Do senior cats also need vaccination?

Yes. Senior cats should also be vaccinated, but the schedule can be tailored to age, health and lifestyle.

Older cats often have lower immunity. The immune system becomes slower with age, so seniors are more susceptible to infections, especially cat flu, which spreads easily.

Panleucopenia is life threatening and can be carried indoors on clothing or shoes. In older cats, a titre test can be used to check whether protection against panleucopenia is still sufficient.

If your senior cat needs to visit the vet, or goes to a grooming salon or boarding cattery, core vaccination is also required.

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About the author

Mara van Brussel-Broere, Veterinarian at Vetsend

Graduated as a companion animal veterinarian from Utrecht University, she uses her practical experience to advise customers and share knowledge at Vetsend. She finds it important to provide pet owners with clear information about health and wellbeing.

Read more about Mara