Core Feline Vaccines vs. Non-Core Feline Vaccines
Currently, feline vaccines are divided into two categories:
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core feline vaccinations, which are considered important for any cat
non-core feline vaccinations, which may not be appropriate for all cats
Core Feline Vaccines
Core feline vaccines include:
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feline rabies vaccination
feline panleukopenia vaccination
feline rhinotracheitis (feline herpesvirus) vaccination
feline calicivirus vaccination
Most communities have legal mandates requiring vaccination against rabies for cats because of the contagious
nature of the disease and the fact that rabies poses a danger to people. Rabies vaccination should be
administered to kittens at 12 weeks of age and should be boostered one year later. The frequency of rabies
vaccine administration for adult cats varies depending on the product used for inoculation and the laws in your
community but is usually either every year, every other year or every third year.
Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis and Feline Calicivirus Vaccines
Feline panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus are all ubiquitous diseases commonly found in
the environment. For this reason, almost all cats are at risk for these diseases and that is why these vaccines are
considered core vaccines.
Feline panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus are commonly incorporated into one threeway vaccination. This vaccination may be known as a feline distemper complex vaccine, a FVRCP vaccine or a
FPV/FHV-1/FVR vaccine. Kittens should be started on this vaccine as early as 6 weeks of age and the vaccine
should be repeated at 3-4 week intervals until kittens are 16 weeks of age or older. Many veterinarians still
recommend yearly vaccination against these viruses because of the common nature of these diseases and the
fact that many vaccine manufacturers label the vaccines for only one year.
Non-Core Feline Vaccines
Non-core feline vaccines include:
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feline leukemia vaccine
feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine (FIV vaccine)
feline infectious peritonitis vaccine (FIP vaccine)
Chlamydophila vaccine (formerly known as Chlamydia vaccine)
Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine (feline kennel cough vaccine)
feline Giardia vaccine
Non-core feline vaccinations are given based on the risk factors of individual cats. In other words, they are only
given to those cats at high risk of becoming infected with the disease.
Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Vaccination
Risk factors for developing feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus involve cats which socialize
with or fight with other cats frequently. Thus, cats which live outdoors are frequently vaccinated for these
diseases whereas cats which live only indoors are not. Cats should be blood tested for both diseases before
vaccination and only cats testing negative should be vaccinated.
Feline leukemia vaccines are started at 8 to 12 weeks of age, with a booster 3-4 weeks later. The AAFP has
recommended that all kittens be vaccinated against feline leukemia. For adult cats at risk of exposure, feline
leukemia vaccine is recommended on a yearly basis.
Vaccination against feline immunodeficiency virus remains controversial within the veterinary community
because of the fact that vaccination results in a positive blood test which cannot be distinquished from a positive
blood test obtained from a cat infected with FIV. Therefore, a vaccinated cat could potentially be misidentified
as a cat infected with FIV and may end up being euthanized. For this reason, many veterinarians are concerned
that the vaccine may do more harm than good.
For cats at risk, the FIV vaccine is administered in a series of three boosters given at 2-3 week intervals and
started at 8 weeks of age. For adult cats at risk, FIV vaccine is administered yearly.
Feline Chlamydophila Vaccination and Feline Bordetella bronchiseptica Vaccination
Vaccinations against feline Chlamydophila and feline kennel cough are only recommended for cats which are to
be introduced into an area where the diseases are known to be in existence. Cattery situations are the most likely
to benefit from these vaccines, but these vaccines are not usually needed for the average cat.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis and Feline Giardia Vaccinations
Vaccines against feline infectious peritonitis and feline Giardia are not generally recommended due to
questions regarding the efficacy and/or the safety of these vaccines.
The feline Giardia vaccination has been suggested as a therapeutic agent in cats which are already infected with
Giardia but its use for the prevention of this disease is questionable.