What Shots Do Kittens Need In The First Year
Some vaccines might be given together in one injection that is called a combination vaccine.
What shots do kittens need in the first year. Vaccination can begin at 8 to 12 weeks of age and requires a booster vaccine repeated three to four weeks later. At six months of age your kitten may look like a little adult but that doesn t mean it has reached its adult size the basic rule of thumb is that the average sized cat will gain about 1 pound a month so at six months of age your kitten should weigh about 6 pounds with a lanky torso and legs. The specific shots your kitten should have will depend on where you live whether your cat will roam the neighborhood or stay inside and whether you have other cats co ruling your home. Fiv vaccination is reserved for cats at high risk for disease.
Kittens should be tested for felv prior to vaccination. After this kittens and cats usually need booster vaccinations every twelve months. This is given under the skin at the back of the neck and is well tolerated by the vast majority of cats. How kitten vaccinations work kitten vaccines are usually first given at about six to eight weeks of age and repeated approximately every three weeks until about 16 to 18 weeks of age.
The felv vaccine is recommended as core for kittens. To help protect kittens they ll need two sets of vaccinations to get them started. Then they must be boostered a year latyer. The shots come in a.
Time to spay or neuter a kitten. The initial vaccination series consists of two doses three to four weeks apart followed by revaccination one year later for all pet cats. Vaccines are combined into a single injection so your cat only has to have one needle. After that they ll only need annual boosters.
Until your kitten is fully vaccinated and neutered you should keep him or her inside. Kitties need several immunizations during their first year to protect them against serious diseases. Adding a kitten or 2 kittens to your family is one of the most rewarding experiences. 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.
Two kittens can keep one another company play together and can share a long life together as best friends. Many of your kitten s initial shots will be given as a series of boosters every 3 4 weeks. When to give vaccines. To achieve the best protection possible your kitten will need boosters over the first several months of their life at least until they are between 16 20 weeks old.
Always follow the advice of your vet. The first year is full of milestones for your kitty from learning how to play and interact with your family to growing strong and healthy.