Last Hope Resource

Feline Vaccination Protocol

American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine's Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines Recommended Guidelines for Vaccination of Cats

		Recommendation for inital vaccination series
Antigen	Vaccine type	< 12 weeks old when first examined	12 weeks or older when first examined	Booster vaccination interval	Panel Comments
Feline Parvovirus ⁽¹⁾	MLV Vaccine	Vaccinate at initial visit and every 3 to 4 weeks until >=12 weeks old ⁽²⁾	Vaccinate at initial visit (only 1 dose is needed)	1 year after initial vaccination series, then at 3 year intervals	Highly recommended for all cats: vaccine is not for use in pregnant queens or kittens that are < 4 weeks old or immunocompromised
	Killed-virus vaccine	Vaccinate at initial visit and every 3 to 4 weeks until >=12 weeks old	Vaccinate at initial visit and again 3 to 4 weeks later	1 year after initial vaccination series, then at 3 year intervals	Highly recommended for all cats
Feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus (2)	MLV vaccine	Vaccinate at initial visit and every 3 to 4 weeks until >=12 weeks old	Vaccinate at initial visit (only one dose is needed)	1 year after initial vaccination series, then at 3 year intervals ⁽³⁾	Highly recommended for all cats
	Killed-virus vaccine	Vaccinate at initial visit and every 3 to 4 weeks until >=12 weeks old	Vaccinate at initial visit and again 3 to 4 weeks later	1 year after initial vaccination series then at 3 year intervals ⁽³)	Highly recommended for all cats
Rabies virus	Killed-virus vaccine	Not eligible for vaccination	Vaccinate at initial visit (only 1 dose needed)	1 year after initial vaccination series, then at 3 year intervals ⁽⁶)	Highly recommended for all cats
Chlamydia psittaci	Avirulent live vaccine	Vaccinate at initial visit (only 1 dose is needed)	Vaccinate at initial visit (only 1 dose is needed)	1 year after initial vaccination series, then annually	Recommended for cats at high risk of exposure
	Killed vaccine	Vaccinate at intial visit and again 3 to 4 weeks later	Vaccinate at intial visit and again 3 to 4 weeks later	1 year after initial vaccination series, then annually	Recommended for cats at high risk of exposure
Feline infectious peritonitis virus	MLV vaccine	Not recommended	Vaccinate at initial visit and again 3 to 4 weeks later (first dose should not be given before 16 weeks of age)	1 year after initial vaccination, then annually	Can be considered for cats at risk of exposure to cats known or suspected to have been exposed to the feline coronavirus
FeLV	Killed virus vaccine	Vaccinate at initial visit and again 3 to 4 weeks later (first doses should be given at >= 8 weeks of age, second dose at >= 12 weeks of age	Vaccinate at initial visit and again 3 to 4 weeks later	1 year after initial vaccination series, then annually	Recommended for use in cats at high risk of exposure ⁽⁵)
Microsporum canis (7)	Killed vaccine	Not recommended	Prevention: vaccinate at initial visit, second dose 2 weeks later, third dose 3 weeks after second dose Treatment: thrid dose is at veterinarians discretion	Guidelines not available	Not recommended for routine use; insufficient data to evaluate efficacy in prevention or treatment of disease

(1) Cause of feline panleukopenia

(2) Parenteral or intranasal vaccination of kittens between 4-6 wks of age in high risk environments (catteries, shelters) and orphaned kittens may be indicated.

(3) In environments with enzootic viral respiratory infection vaccination of kittens > 2 wks of age may be indicated using intranasal FHV-1/FCV or > 4 wks of age with parenteral FHV-1/FVC.

(4) Interval of booster vaccinations based on risk of exposure. Cats at high risk, such as those entering boarding facilities, may benefit from more frequent revaccination. Duration of immunity beyond one year is based on antibody titers and not challenge.

(5) High risk of exposure to FeLV: include outdoor cats, indoor/outdoor cats, stray/feral cats, open multi-cat households, FeLV positive households, and households with unknown FeLV status. Low risk of exposure to FeLV would include indoor cats and closed multi-cat households that are tested negative.

(6) While the panel recommended boosters at 3 year intervals, actual protocols must comply with all local statutes.

*FHV-1/FCV = feline herpes virus 1 and calici virus