When you get a brand-new kitten, you want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep them healthy throughout their entire life. One way to do that is to start off right and get them their vaccinations. Some of those vaccinations are going to need to be done several times during the kitten's life, and some of them will be done only as kittens. You may also have to take your kitten to the vet's office a few times to get more shots in a series. So, what kind of vaccinations are necessary for your kitten's health?
Core vs. Non-Core
Vaccines for your kitten break down into core and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines are ones that your kitten absolutely, positively has to have, no matter where you live or what kind of lifestyle your cat is going to have. Non-core vaccines are ones that your kitten should have but aren't necessary unless you live in certain areas or they will be an indoor/outdoor cat. Rabies can be both a core and non-core vaccine. In some states, you have to have your cat vaccinated against rabies every year, no matter what. That would move it into the core category. However, there are some states that don't have any requirements about the rabies vaccine. In that case, you may only want to get the vaccine if your cat is going to be an outdoor cat or be exposed to outdoor animals. That would make it a non-core vaccine. So, what are some of the core vaccines your cat should get?
Panleukopenia
This illness is also called feline parvo or cat distemper. It can be fatal to your kitten. For your kitten, you should get them this vaccine when they are about 6 weeks old and then every 3-4 weeks until they are about 20 weeks old. If you don't get your kitten until they are slightly older, you can still follow this basic timeline or talk to your vet about the right timeline to get a panleukopenia series started for your pet.
Getting your kitten vaccinated is the quickest and easiest way to make sure that they are healthy throughout their entire life. Make sure you talk to a vet about what kind of shots your kitten needs to get and when you need to get them. Make sure that you check to see what non-core vaccines you should get your kitten as well.
Contact a clinic like South Seattle Veterinary Hospital to learn more.