What Age Do Kittens Need Shots

Kitties need several immunizations during their first year to protect them against serious diseases.

What age do kittens need shots. Kittens must be over 12 weeks old at the time of the second vaccination. This timing is important too early and the antibodies they receive from their mother will interfere with the immune response to the vaccine preventing it from working properly. The first vaccinations should be given to kittens from around eight to nine weeks of age. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16 weeks old.

Types of vaccines for kittens. When kittens are nursing antibodies in their mother s milk help protect them from infections. Kittens should have their first set of vaccinations at nine weeks old and at three months old they should receive the second set to boost their immune system. Too late and kittens will be left susceptible to infection.

Rabies is the other core kitten vaccination. The shots come in a. After this kittens and cats usually need booster vaccinations every twelve months. Fvrcp stands for feline viral rhinotracheitis calicivirus and panleukopenia.

This is a core vaccine that is generally required by law because of how serious. When a kitten is at least 3 months old he will need to get a rabies shot. Then they must be boostered a year latyer. For any cat over 16 weeks old whose vaccine history is unknown the initial series consists of two doses given three to four weeks apart.

These vaccines help protect against upper respiratory diseases herpes and fatal viruses. However to avoid over vaccination most veterinarians will recommend starting the vaccine at 8 weeks of age followed by boosters at 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. But after about six weeks old and eating solid food it s time for them to be vaccinated. Kittens can start their vaccinations from nine weeks old and will need a second set of injections usually 2 4 weeks after their initial set to complete their course.

Rabies is a fatal virus that can affect cats as well as humans. For this reason initial core kitten vaccinations occur at three to four week intervals until the cat is 16 20 weeks old and maternal antibodies are out of the system. This is a core vaccine considered. After that cats should be taken for a vaccination appointment every year although not all vaccines will be given at every appointment as some jabs provide protection for longer than others.

When to give vaccines. Kittens are vaccinated once every three to four weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age or older.