Cat Vaccination Schedule: Kitten & Adult Vaccine Chart
Kittens usually have their first FVRCP vaccine, the combined herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia jab, at 6–8 weeks, then repeat doses every few weeks until at least 16 weeks old. WSAVA also recommends a further dose at 26 weeks or older, and AAHA/AAFP advise considering one at 6 months. FeLV has its own two-dose series from as early as 8 weeks, and rabies timing follows local law and the product used. Adult boosters depend on the vaccine, its type and your cat’s risk.
Kitten vaccination schedule by age
| Kitten age | Vaccination milestone | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | First FVRCP dose | WSAVA and AAHA/AAFP both start injected FVRCP no earlier than 6 weeks. |
| Every 3–4 weeks after that | Repeat FVRCP doses | The interval for injected vaccines in AAHA/AAFP and in WSAVA’s table. WSAVA’s general text gives every 2–4 weeks. |
| From 8 weeks | First FeLV dose, where advised | A separate vaccine, given after an FeLV test. AAHA/AAFP treat it as core under 1 year, and WSAVA does where FeLV is prevalent. |
| 3–4 weeks after the first FeLV dose | Second FeLV dose | Used by both guidelines. WSAVA says to assume one dose alone gives no immunity. |
| 16 weeks or older | Final FVRCP dose of the kitten series | WSAVA says 16 weeks or older. AAHA/AAFP continue injected doses until 16–20 weeks. |
| Up to 20 weeks, if risk is high | A later final FVRCP dose | WSAVA says to continue until 20 weeks in especially high-risk situations, and to consider doses every 2–3 weeks. |
| Around 6 months | One more FVRCP dose, where advised | WSAVA’s text includes a dose at 26 weeks or older, and its table says to consider one at about 6 months. AAHA/AAFP say to consider it at 6 months rather than 1 year. |
| Rabies: age varies | Rabies vaccine | WSAVA puts local regulations first, then the product leaflet. AAHA/AAFP say to follow the label and local law. |
FVRCP stands for feline viral rhinotracheitis (caused by herpesvirus), calicivirus and panleukopenia. The chart describes injected FVRCP. Intranasal vaccines, given as drops in the nose, follow their own schedule, so it is worth asking which type your kitten is having.
A 6-month dose can add a visit. AAHA/AAFP’s schedule says a kitten who has one needs only FeLV and rabies boosters at the first annual visit.
Adult cat vaccination schedule
An adult cat’s vaccines rarely fall due together. The interval depends on the vaccine, on whether it is injected or given in the nose, and on how much contact your cat has with other cats.
| Vaccine | Usual interval | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Injected FVRCP, lower-risk cat | About every 3 years | WSAVA: at 3 years of age, then no more often than every 3 years. AAHA/AAFP: every 3 years after the 6-month dose. |
| Injected FVRCP, higher-risk cat | Up to yearly | WSAVA, for cats that board or meet potentially infected cats. Before boarding, WSAVA says 1–2 weeks and AAHA/AAFP 7–10 days. |
| Intranasal herpesvirus and calicivirus | Yearly | Both guidelines. This two-part vaccine gives no panleukopenia protection, and WSAVA advises an injected panleukopenia vaccine alongside any intranasal product. |
| FeLV, first booster | 1 year after the last initial dose | Both guidelines. |
| FeLV, cat at continuing risk | Yearly | WSAVA: continuing high risk, indoors or outdoors. AAHA/AAFP: regular exposure to FeLV-positive cats or cats of unknown status. |
| FeLV, cat at lower risk | Every 2–3 years, only if continued | Not every lower-risk adult needs it: AAHA/AAFP treat FeLV as non-core for low-risk adults. Where vaccination continues, they give this interval for inactivated vaccines if licensing allows. WSAVA says to follow the product leaflet. |
| Rabies | Set by law and the product | Vaccines licensed for 1 and for 3 years exist. AAHA/AAFP recommend 3 years with a 3-year vaccine, where the law permits. |
| Chlamydia and Bordetella | Not routine | Non-core in both guidelines. WSAVA gives annual boosters for cats at sustained risk, and AAHA/AAFP say to follow the label. |
Why one vaccine can have two intervals
The three parts of FVRCP do not protect equally. WSAVA says immunity to panleukopenia lasts for many years, while immunity to herpesvirus and calicivirus is only partial and may be weakened by the stress of boarding. So a solitary indoor cat and a cat that boards every summer can reasonably be on different schedules. In some countries, a separate herpesvirus and calicivirus vaccine allows those two to be given yearly and panleukopenia less often.
AAHA/AAFP say each cat’s needs should be assessed annually. That is a yearly review of the plan, and it does not mean every vaccine is given every year.
Which vaccines do cats need?
Core vaccines protect against diseases that are serious and widespread. Non-core vaccines depend on where a cat lives and how much exposure it has.
What each vaccine protects against
- FVRCP: three infections in one vaccine. Panleukopenia virus (FPV) is highly virulent. Herpesvirus (FHV) and calicivirus (FCV) cause respiratory disease.
- FeLV: feline leukaemia virus, which passes between cats. WSAVA notes that bites are an increasingly recognised route in adult cats.
- Rabies: a disease that matters for people as well as pets.
Global guidance: WSAVA
- Core worldwide: FPV, FCV and FHV.
- Rabies: core where the disease is endemic, and WSAVA recommends it there even if the law does not require it.
- FeLV: core where FeLV-related disease is known to occur, for cats under 1 year and for older cats with outdoor access or living with cats that have it. FeLV is rare in some regions.
- Non-core: Chlamydia felis, Bordetella and, in a few countries, FIV.
North American guidance: AAHA/AAFP
- Core: FHV-1, FCV, FPV, rabies, and FeLV for cats under 1 year.
- Non-core: FeLV for cats over 1 year, Chlamydia felis and Bordetella.
- Not generally recommended: the feline infectious peritonitis vaccine.
Neither list is wrong. WSAVA covers the whole world, so it ties rabies and FeLV to local conditions, while AAHA/AAFP write for North America and set an age rule for FeLV. Both treat young cats as the priority for FeLV.
Do indoor cats need vaccinations?
Yes, indoor cats still need core vaccines, though not necessarily every vaccine available. Indoor living lowers some risks, and it can change the risk-based part of the plan. It does not make exposure zero.
- Core vaccines still apply. WSAVA treats FPV, FCV and FHV as core worldwide, and AAHA/AAFP say even indoor cats in single-cat homes will inevitably be exposed to feline infections.
- Infection can come to the cat. AAHA/AAFP name a vet visit, other cats entering the home, and contaminated items carried in by people. They advise focusing on exposure to other cats, not on where a cat eats or sleeps.
- Adult FeLV depends on circumstances. WSAVA counts living with a cat that goes outdoors as a reason for it. AAHA/AAFP treat it as non-core for adults with no potential exposure to FeLV-positive cats or cats of unknown status.
- Boosters can be less frequent. WSAVA’s low-risk group, with boosters every 3 years or longer, is solitary indoor cats that do not visit boarding catteries.
- Rabies may still apply. Requirements depend on local law, so indoor status alone cannot tell you the legal position.
Why do kittens need multiple shots?
Because antibodies from the mother’s first milk can stop a vaccine working, and they fade at a different time in each kitten. AAHA/AAFP explain that kittens get almost no antibodies before birth, and absorb them from colostrum, mostly in the first 24 hours. Those antibodies protect a young kitten, but they also neutralise vaccines.
Some kittens keep high levels for months, and nobody can predict which ones. As levels fall, there can be a gap when antibodies no longer protect a kitten but still block a vaccine. Repeat doses shorten that gap, so WSAVA is clear that these early doses are not boosters.
That is why the age at the final dose matters more than the number of doses. It also explains the 6-month dose: AAHA/AAFP cite studies suggesting that up to one-third of kittens may not respond to a final dose at 16 weeks.
Until the series is complete, Merck’s owner guidance says it is important to keep kittens away from unvaccinated cats.
FeLV vaccination explained
FeLV has its own schedule, and it is the feline vaccine that depends most on a cat’s age and circumstances.
Why young cats get special consideration
AAHA/AAFP treat FeLV as core under 1 year because of age-related susceptibility. WSAVA says any cat under 1 year in a region where FeLV remains prevalent should have the benefit of vaccination.
Why adult vaccination is based on risk
Adult cats are more resistant to FeLV, but exposure still matters. Fighting and an outdoor lifestyle are reasons AAHA/AAFP give for continuing yearly vaccination, and WSAVA says the decision should be considered at every annual health check, except where FeLV is exceedingly rare.
Testing before vaccination
Both guidelines say to establish FeLV status first, because vaccinating an infected cat brings no proven benefit. AAHA/AAFP say the AAFP recommends testing all cats for FeLV antigen before their first vaccination.
Timing
The first course is two doses 3–4 weeks apart, from as early as 8 weeks, and older cats have the same two doses. A booster follows a year after the last one. After that, the adult chart shows how exposure sets the interval, though WSAVA says more research is needed on how often at-risk adults need it.
The vaccine does not remove all risk. WSAVA says avoiding exposure is the best way to prevent FeLV infection.
Missed vaccinations and unknown history
What happens if a kitten misses a vaccination?
Contact your veterinary practice and rebook, with the date of the last dose to hand. For FVRCP, the aim stays the same: a final dose at 16 weeks or older. How the remaining doses are arranged depends on the vaccine and the product.
Does the series have to start again?
Sometimes. It depends on the vaccine:
- FeLV: WSAVA says to assume one dose gives no immunity, and to restart if the second is not given within 6 weeks.
- Inactivated FVRCP: two initial doses are essential. AAHA/AAFP note that other guidelines repeat the series if more than 6 weeks pass between them.
- Live FVRCP in an adult: for a cat last vaccinated more than 3 years ago, WSAVA says restarting should not be necessary and a single dose should be enough, while noting that many product leaflets advise two.
- Rabies: local regulations come first.
What if an adopted cat has no vaccination records?
Bring whatever exists, even if it is partial: shelter paperwork, a pet passport, previous practice details, a microchip number or a photo of an old card. AAHA/AAFP say core vaccines are for all cats with an unknown history, so a missing record does not leave your veterinarian without a starting point. An FeLV test usually comes before any FeLV vaccine.
What if an adult cat has never been vaccinated?
WSAVA describes two doses of core live vaccine, 2–4 weeks apart, plus one dose of rabies vaccine in endemic areas. It adds FeLV, with two initial doses, for cats under 1 year and those with outdoor exposure. AAHA/AAFP allow one or two doses of live injected vaccine for a cat over 16 weeks, and two of an inactivated one. Two doses may benefit a cat in a high-risk environment.
Cat vaccination FAQs
When should kittens get their first shots?
Usually at 6–8 weeks of age. This first injected FVRCP dose is the start of the series in both WSAVA and AAHA/AAFP guidance.
How many rounds of kitten vaccinations are needed?
There is no set number, because it depends on the starting age and the gap between doses. As an example, FVRCP at 8, 12 and 16 weeks is three doses, and a dose at 6 months makes four. Starting at 6 weeks with 4-week gaps gives 6, 10, 14 and 18 weeks, so five with the 6-month dose. FeLV doses are counted separately.
What is the FVRCP vaccine?
It is a combination vaccine, sometimes called a 3-in-1, covering feline herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia. It may appear on records as FVRCP, or under the three-part names FHV, FCV and FPV.
Do cats need vaccines every year?
Some vaccines are yearly, but that is not a rule for all cats. Injected FVRCP is about every 3 years for lower-risk adults. Yearly vaccination fits intranasal vaccines, and FeLV in cats at continuing risk. Higher-risk cats may have FVRCP yearly. AAHA/AAFP advise a yearly assessment either way.
When should kittens receive FeLV vaccines?
From as early as 8 weeks, as two doses 3–4 weeks apart, after an FeLV test. Whether the vaccine is advised depends on the guideline and your region: AAHA/AAFP treat it as core under 1 year, and WSAVA does where FeLV is prevalent.
Can a fully vaccinated cat still get ill?
Yes. AAHA/AAFP say vaccination is not a guarantee of protection. WSAVA adds that no herpesvirus vaccine can prevent infection, and that calicivirus infection and disease can still occur in fully vaccinated adults. Panleukopenia protection is stronger.
What to keep in your cat’s vaccination record
Keep your own copy of each entry, because a new practice, cattery or travel authority will ask for it:
- The vaccine, including whether it was injected or intranasal, if stated
- The date given, and the next due date if one was supplied
- The practice and veterinarian who gave it
- Manufacturer, product name and batch or lot number, where shown
- The injection site, if your practice records it
- Any reaction, however mild, so you can mention it before the next dose
Our guides to preparing information for a vet visit and what to track when your pet seems different cover the wider record, including how to note a reaction. At the appointment, describe your cat’s real living situation, including other cats in the household, boarding and any time outdoors.
Track your cat’s vaccinations with Patter
With several vaccines on different cycles, the hard part is keeping the dates straight. Patter keeps your cat’s vaccination schedule and history with their vet visit information and wider health context, against one profile. It shows what is next, gives approaching and overdue notices, and explains why a vaccine is relevant for your cat. See health in Patter and Patter for cats.
The dates reflect your veterinarian’s plan. Patter does not decide which vaccines your cat needs, set or override a due date, or issue rabies requirements. Patter and your veterinarian explains where that line sits.
Related
- Dog vaccination schedule — puppy and adult charts for dogs, where the core list differs.
- How to prepare information for a vet visit — the wider set of information worth bringing.
- What to track when your pet seems different — recording an observation well, including after a vaccination.
Sources
The veterinary facts on this page come from the references below. Citing a reference does not mean its publisher endorses or is affiliated with Patter.
- 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats – compiled by the Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG)WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association)2024Cited for: global core classification, kitten and adult intervals by vaccine type, FeLV, rabies, unknown or lapsed vaccination, and vaccination records
- 2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination GuidelinesAAHA / AAFP (American Animal Hospital Association and American Association of Feline Practitioners)2020Cited for: North American core classification, the injected and intranasal schedules, FeLV and testing, maternal antibody, indoor cats, and vaccine reactions
- Feline Vaccination Schedule for General PracticeAAHA / AAFP (American Animal Hospital Association and American Association of Feline Practitioners)2020Cited for: the North American schedule by age, and the first annual visit after a 6-month dose
- Kitten CareMerck Veterinary ManualCited for: protecting a kitten while the series is incomplete