Vaccinations

At Fairview Animal Hospital, vaccines are routinely advocated for all cats. With vaccine risk assessments with our veterinarians, we can determine what vaccines are best suited for your cat depending on their lifestyle.

Does my indoor cat need to be vaccinated?

We recommend all cats be vaccinated, including indoor cats as it helps protect their immune system against diseases that they could come in contact even if they are indoors only. Continued vaccination means that if your cat is exposed to any of the upper respiratory virus, they are more likely just to have a mild cold and not end up truly sick.

What are FVRCP and core vaccines for cats?

At Fairview Animal Hospital, our core vaccine is feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia or FVRCP for short. Other vaccines that we offer and give depending on the cat’s lifestyle is Feline Leukemia (FeLv) and Rabies vaccine.

How often does my adult cat need to be vaccinated?

FVRCP needs to be boostered one year after their last kitten vaccine then is boostered every 3 years after that. FeLV is boostered at a year after previous kitten vaccine and is then boostered every 2 years. Rabies vaccine is boostered a year after last kitten vaccine then is boostered every 3 years after that.

Are there any risks associated with cat vaccines?

There are very few risks to vaccination. You may notice your cat has a temporary loss of appetite or is less lively a day or two after a vaccination, but this should resolve within 24-48 hours. Very rarely, cats may be allergic to one or more components of the vaccine and have more serious side effects such as difficulty in breathing, vomiting or diarrhea. If these signs occur, let us know immediately. A rare form of soft tissue sarcoma has been associated with a reaction to vaccine or vaccine components in a very small number of cats.