Why Are Cat Vaccinations Necessary? Types, Schedule, and Costs Explained

Vaccination is essential to protect your beloved cat from infectious diseases. Human vaccines are often a hot topic, and concerns about side effects, timing of vaccination, and costs also arise for pets.

In this article, we will explain in detail whether vaccinations are necessary for cats, what types of vaccines are available, and what diseases they can prevent.

What is a cat vaccine?

A vaccine is a preparation of disease-causing agents that have been inactivated or weakened. This solution is administered via subcutaneous injection to build immunity against infectious diseases.

Just like humans, there are diseases that cats can avoid through vaccination.

Feline infectious diseases preventable by vaccination

There are two types of cat vaccines: "core vaccines" that prevent life-threatening diseases, and "non-core vaccines" that are administered depending on the cat's risk.

【Core Vaccines】

• Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Parvovirus Infection / FPV)
• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (Feline Herpesvirus Infection / FHV)
• Feline Calicivirus Infection (FCV)

【Non-core Vaccines】

• Feline Leukemia Virus Infection (FeLV)
• Feline Chlamydiosis (FChF)
• Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (Feline AIDS / FIV)　

Reasons why cat vaccination is necessary

Cat vaccinations are not legally mandated like rabies vaccinations for dogs.

However, for the sake of your cat's health, it's important to prevent diseases that can be avoided.

Especially kittens have weak immune systems and are susceptible to infectious diseases. We believe vaccination is necessary to protect them from life-threatening diseases and those that can leave lasting effects.

Of course, adult cats also face the risk of infectious diseases. When adopting a rescue cat, it is recommended to consult with a veterinarian and vaccinate appropriately, taking into account antibody test results and age.

Is vaccination necessary even for strictly indoor cats?

Infectious diseases targeted by core vaccines are known to be airborne. Your cat may come into contact with other cats through a screen door, and there is also a risk of the owner bringing in viruses.

Furthermore, in multi-cat households, cats may transmit diseases to each other. Even for strictly indoor cats, vaccination is necessary.

During disasters, accompanying your cat to an evacuation shelter requires vaccination

In the event of a disaster such as an earthquake, it is assumed that you may need to accompany your cat to an evacuation shelter.

Since there will be many other cats in the shelter, vaccination and parasite prevention are essential. Some shelters may not accept pets if they haven't been vaccinated, so it's important to be well prepared.

For more detailed information on accompanying your cat to an evacuation shelter and preparing emergency supplies, please refer to the following article.

Types and costs of cat vaccines

There are a total of 6 types of cat vaccines.

Core vaccines cover three types: Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Parvovirus Infection / FPV), Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (Feline Herpesvirus Infection / FHV), and Feline Calicivirus Infection (FCV).

Instead of administering three separate vaccinations, a "trivalent vaccine" that combines these three core vaccines is given.

A vaccine that adds the non-core vaccine for Feline Leukemia Virus Infection (FeLV) to the three core vaccines is called a quadrivalent vaccine, and one that further adds Feline Chlamydiosis (FChF) is called a pentavalent vaccine.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Infection (Feline AIDS / FIV) is vaccinated separately.

Is a pentavalent vaccine better than a trivalent vaccine?

Whether or not to vaccinate with non-core vaccines depends on the cat's living environment.

For example, free-roaming cats, cats using pet hotels, and cats living with a cat that is positive for Feline Leukemia Virus will require quadrivalent or pentavalent vaccines.

Consult with your veterinarian to determine the appropriate vaccination plan.

Average cost of cat vaccines

The cost of cat vaccinations varies by veterinary clinic. The average cost for a trivalent vaccine is around 4,000 to 6,000 yen, for a quadrivalent vaccine it's 5,000 to 7,000 yen, and for a pentavalent vaccine it's about 6,000 to 8,000 yen.

Additionally, if an antibody test is required before vaccination, an additional fee of 3,000 to 5,000 yen will be incurred.

By the way, pet insurance cannot be used for cat vaccinations. As it is for disease prevention rather than treatment, it is not covered by pet insurance.

When to vaccinate your cat and the schedule

Newborn kittens are protected from diseases by immunity they receive from their mother. However, this immune function gradually diminishes, so vaccinations become necessary from around 2 months of age.

Adult cats also receive regular vaccinations to prevent serious illnesses.

Cat Vaccination Schedule

"Vaccination" refers to the planned administration of vaccines to acquire immunity.

According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Vaccination Guidelines, it is recommended to "start at 6-8 weeks of age and repeat vaccinations every 2-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age or later."

Generally, the first vaccination is given around 2 months of age, followed by a second vaccination one month later. Depending on the cat's constitution and living environment, a third vaccination may be given after another month.

Even when vaccinating adult cats for the first time, the second vaccination is given one month after the first.

After that, regular vaccinations will ensure strong immunity.

Frequency of cat vaccinations

After completing the kitten vaccination program, booster shots are given once a year or once every three years.

Cats in multi-cat households or those with potential contact with an unspecified number of other cats have a higher risk of infection, thus requiring annual vaccination. For strictly indoor cats that do not use pet hotels, vaccination every three years is sufficient.

Consult with your primary veterinarian about a vaccination program, along with spaying/neutering, flea and tick prevention, and heartworm prevention.

What are the side effects of vaccines?

When it comes to vaccination, "side effects" are a concern.

After vaccination, try to keep your cat calm and avoid excitable play, and monitor your cat's condition.

Your cat may seem lethargic and listless for a while due to the stress of going out. If you observe side effects such as fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Summary

Vaccination does not guarantee complete disease prevention. Some diseases cannot be prevented by vaccines.

Additionally, vaccination is required once a year or once every three years.

While there are costs involved, vaccination is essential for your cat's health.

To avoid forgetting the vaccination date, make a note of it in your cat's dedicated health record book. It's also a good idea to schedule annual health check-ups and flea/tick/heartworm prevention on an easy-to-remember date.

To ensure your cat lives a long and healthy life, please be informed about vaccines.

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