cat vaccinations
Protecting Your Cat from Preventable Diseases
Vaccinations are an important part of protecting your cat against serious infectious diseases. Whether you have a new kitten, an indoor cat or an adventurous outdoor cat, maintaining appropriate vaccinations helps support their long-term health.
At The Wild Vet in Glebe, Sydney, we provide cat and kitten vaccinations tailored to your pet’s age, lifestyle, vaccination history and individual risk factors. Every vaccination appointment also includes a comprehensive veterinary health check.
Why Are Cat Vaccinations Important?
Vaccinations help protect cats against infectious diseases that can cause respiratory illness, severe gastrointestinal disease and potentially life-threatening complications.
Even cats that live entirely indoors may be at risk. Some infectious agents can survive in the environment or be introduced through contaminated objects, while others spread through contact with infected cats.
Vaccination recommendations depend on your cat’s lifestyle, exposure risk and previous vaccination history.
What Vaccinations Do Cats Need?
At The Wild Vet, we recommend F3 vaccination for most cats, including those kept exclusively indoors. This protects against feline panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus.
Additional vaccinations, such as FIV and FeLV, may be recommended depending on your cat’s lifestyle, health and risk of exposure to other cats. Our veterinarians will discuss whether these are appropriate during your cat’s health check.
F3
The F3 vaccine protects against three important feline viral diseases:
Feline panleukopenia (feline enteritis): A highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease that can cause severe vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and suppression of the immune system.
Feline herpesvirus (FHV-1): A major cause of cat flu, resulting in sneezing, nasal discharge, conjunctivitis and eye problems. Infected cats may carry the virus for life, with symptoms recurring during periods of stress.
Feline calicivirus (FCV): Another important cause of cat flu, commonly associated with respiratory symptoms, fever and painful mouth ulcers. Some strains can cause more severe disease.
F3 vaccination is recommended for all cats, including those kept exclusively indoors.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
FIV is a viral infection that affects a cat’s immune system, making them more susceptible to other infections and illnesses.
The virus is primarily transmitted through bite wounds, meaning cats that fight or have unsupervised outdoor access are at greater risk.
FIV vaccination may be considered for cats with ongoing exposure risk. However, vaccination does not guarantee protection, and preventing fights remains the most effective way to reduce transmission.
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)
FeLV is a viral infection that can suppress the immune system and contribute to anaemia, lymphoma and other serious illnesses.
It spreads mainly through close contact between cats, including saliva, mutual grooming and shared living environments.
FeLV vaccination may be recommended for kittens and cats with potential exposure to infected cats, particularly those with outdoor access.
Cats should be tested for FeLV before beginning vaccination, as vaccination does not treat an existing infection.
Kitten Vaccinations
Kittens receive some temporary protection through antibodies passed from their mother. However, this protection gradually declines, leaving them vulnerable to infectious diseases.
A series of vaccinations is therefore recommended during the first few months of life.
| Age | Recommended Vaccination (Indoor Cats) |
|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | First F3 vaccination |
| 10–12 weeks | Repeat F3 vaccination 4 weeks after the first dose |
| 16+ weeks | Additional F3 vaccination recommended under AVA and WSAVA guidelines |
| 6 months | Additional F3 vaccination recommended by WSAVA |
| Adult cats (≥15 months) | Annual vaccination and comprehensive health check |
Additional vaccinations, including FeLV or FIV, may be recommended depending on your kitten’s lifestyle and exposure risk.
Why Do Kittens Need Multiple Vaccinations?
Antibodies received from their mother can interfere with a kitten’s response to vaccination. Because these antibodies decline at different rates, early vaccinations may not always produce lasting protection.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) recommends continuing core kitten vaccinations until at least 16 weeks of age.
An additional vaccination at approximately six months helps protect kittens that may not have developed an adequate immune response during their earlier vaccination course.
At The Wild Vet, we consider your kitten’s previous vaccinations, the products used and individual risk factors when recommending a schedule.
Can My Kitten Safely Spend Time Outdoors?
Cats can enjoy outdoor experiences, but unrestricted roaming poses risks to both their health and native wildlife. Free-roaming cats are more likely to encounter infectious diseases, parasites, traffic accidents, fights and other injuries. They can also hunt and injure native birds, reptiles and small mammals, even when well-fed.
At The Wild Vet, we recommend keeping cats indoors or providing access to secure outdoor spaces that prevent contact with wildlife.
Safe outdoor enrichment options include:
Cat enclosures (catios): Secure outdoor areas that allow cats to enjoy fresh air, sunshine and natural surroundings without roaming or hunting wildlife.
Enclosed gardens: Fully cat-proofed outdoor spaces that prevent escape and restrict access to wildlife.
Harness and lead training: Supervised outdoor exploration using a properly fitted cat harness, introduced gradually and with positive reinforcement.
Window perches and indoor enrichment: Climbing structures, scratching posts, interactive toys and window views provide stimulation without the risks associated with roaming.
Kittens should receive appropriate vaccinations before accessing outdoor environments, even within secure enclosures. Vaccination reduces the risk of certain infectious diseases but does not eliminate all risks.
Providing a stimulating indoor environment alongside safe, controlled outdoor experiences helps support your cat’s physical and behavioural wellbeing while protecting our native wildlife.
Every Kitten Vaccination Includes a Comprehensive Health Check
Every kitten vaccination at The Wild Vet includes a comprehensive veterinary examination. Alongside administering vaccinations, our veterinarians assess your kitten’s growth and development, checking for congenital abnormalities and other health concerns that may not be obvious at home.
What Do We Check During Your Kitten’s Examination?
Our kitten health checks include an assessment of:
Heart: Listening for heart murmurs and signs of congenital heart problems.
Eyes: Checking for problems with the eyes, eyelids and vision.
Mouth and teeth: Looking for cleft palates, misaligned jaws and abnormalities of developing teeth.
Reproductive organs: Checking for abnormalities, including whether both testicles are descending in male kittens.
Bones and joints: Assessing how your kitten walks and moves, including signs of abnormal limb development or joint problems.
Hernias: Checking for umbilical and inguinal hernias, where an opening in the abdominal wall allows fat or other tissues to protrude, causing a lump around the belly button or groin.
Skin and ears: Looking for infections, parasites and abnormalities.
Growth and development: Monitoring your kitten’s weight, body condition and overall development.
Why Are Early Kitten Health Checks Important?
Identifying health concerns early can make a significant difference to your kitten’s long-term wellbeing. Some congenital conditions require prompt investigation or treatment, while others simply need monitoring as your kitten develops.
Kitten vaccination appointments also provide an opportunity to discuss nutrition, parasite prevention, behaviour, environmental enrichment and desexing.
Adult Cat Vaccinations & Boosters
Vaccination remains important throughout your cat’s life. However, not all vaccines need to be administered annually, and the most appropriate schedule depends on your cat’s individual circumstances.
At The Wild Vet, we recommend vaccination schedules based on your cat’s age, previous vaccinations, lifestyle and risk of exposure.
How Often Do Adult Cats Need Vaccinations?
F3 (panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus): Annual vaccination against herpesvirus and calicivirus, with additional protection against panleukopenia every three years.
FIV: Annual boosters may be considered for cats with ongoing exposure risk, depending on vaccine availability and suitability.
FeLV: Boosters are recommended according to ongoing exposure risk and the vaccine used.
Cats with incomplete or unknown vaccination histories may require a new initial vaccination course.
Do Indoor Cats Need Vaccinations?
Yes. Indoor cats should still receive core F3 vaccinations.
Feline panleukopenia virus is particularly resistant in the environment and can potentially be introduced into the home through contaminated objects.
Indoor cats may also encounter other cats unexpectedly, including during escapes, boarding or changes in their living arrangements.
Although indoor-only cats generally have a lower risk of exposure to some infectious diseases, core vaccination remains important.
Are Cat Vaccinations Safe?
Cat vaccinations are generally safe, and most cats experience few or no adverse effects.
Some cats may develop mild, temporary symptoms following vaccination, including:
Mild tiredness or reduced activity.
Temporary soreness at the injection site.
A slight reduction in appetite.
A mild, short-lived fever.
Serious adverse reactions are uncommon. Rarely, cats can develop persistent injection-site lumps, including feline injection-site sarcomas.
At The Wild Vet, we consider your cat’s vaccination history, health and individual risk factors when recommending vaccinations.
Why Choose The Wild Vet for Your Cat’s Vaccinations?
At The Wild Vet, our veterinarians provide personalised vaccination advice for kittens, adult cats and senior cats.
Every vaccination appointment includes a veterinary health examination, allowing us to assess your cat’s general health and discuss any concerns you may have.
Whether your cat is due for their first kitten vaccination, an adult booster or a review of their vaccination history, our team can help you determine an appropriate schedule.