Kitten Vaccines
If you have recently added a new kitten to your family, you might be wondering when he/she should be vaccinated. Kittens obtain passive immunity from their mothers, through the placenta and colostrum. However, it is important to follow the kitten vaccination protocol, as the antibodies will only be sufficient for a few weeks and then the kitten will be susceptible to disease.
When should kittens get their vaccinations?
The vaccination protocol for kittens is a series of three sets, each four weeks apart. Kittens should be vaccinated at eight weeks, twelve weeks and sixteen weeks of age. These booster vaccines will ensure that your kitten can produce the proper antibodies to reach disease immunity. The final set of vaccines will include the rabies vaccine, as it only needs to be given once and it is best to do it at an older age.
Which vaccines will my kitten receive?
Your kitten will be receiving the standard vaccinations which will protect against Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, panleukopenia, coronavirus (FIP), feline leukemia and rabies. Kittens will not receive the feline leukemia vaccine, until their twelve and sixteen-week boosters and rabies will only be given once at their final vaccination (sixteen weeks).
