Cat vaccine schedule: even if they never go outside
Which vaccines your cat needs, when kittens get them and how often they're repeated, based on WSAVA guidelines. Indoor cats included.
It’s common to think an indoor cat doesn’t need vaccines. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines recommend core vaccines for indoor cats too: some viruses come in on clothes or shoes, and any cat can slip out, go to a cattery or visit the clinic.
Your cat’s exact plan is your vet’s call. This is what it usually includes.
Core vaccines
They protect against three common and serious diseases:
- Feline panleukopenia, a virus that survives a long time in the environment.
- Feline calicivirus, which causes mouth ulcers and respiratory problems.
- Feline herpesvirus, behind many cat colds.
The kitten schedule
| Age | What’s due |
|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | First dose of core vaccines |
| Every 2–4 weeks | Further doses until 16 weeks or older |
| 26 weeks | Core booster |
| After that | Based on risk; panleukopenia no more often than every 3 years |
As with puppies, doses are repeated until 16 weeks because the mother’s antibodies can block the early ones.
Other vaccines
- Feline leukaemia: recommended above all for kittens and for cats that go outdoors or live with other cats.
- Rabies: often not mandatory for cats, but required to travel abroad with them, together with a microchip and a pet passport.
Keeping it up to date
Log each vaccine with its date and the next one due. With a cat it’s easy to forget, precisely because they rarely cause trouble. Having the history to hand also saves time if you change vets or leave them at a cattery.
This guide is for information only. Your vet decides which vaccines your cat needs and when.