CAT VAccinations
Healthy Cats Start with Vaccinations
Our team at Belmont Vet Hospital provides tailored vaccination plans to safeguard your cat at every stage of life.
Why Cat Vaccinations Are So Important
Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect your cat from serious infectious diseases. Ensuring your kitten receives their initial course of vaccines is a vital part of responsible pet ownership—but ongoing protection doesn’t stop there. Adult cats need regular booster vaccinations to maintain strong immunity throughout their lives.
To discuss the best vaccination schedule for your kitten or cat, call our friendly team at Belmont Vet today.
YOU CAT'S VACCINATION SCHEDULE
What to Expect at Every Life Stage
Kitten Vaccinations
Kittens receive temporary immunity from their mother’s milk, but this fades within a few months. To keep them protected, a series of vaccinations is essential.
From 8 weeks of age, we recommend two core vaccinations (3–4 weeks apart) to protect against common viruses. For kittens with outdoor access, three FIV vaccinations are also advised.
Adult Cat Vaccinations
Immunity from kitten vaccinations fades over time, leaving your cat vulnerable to disease.
Regular annual health checks and booster vaccinations are the best way to maintain strong protection throughout your pet’s life.
Vaccination Aftercare
After their vaccination, some cats may feel a little off-colour for a day or two, or develop mild swelling or tenderness at the injection site. Providing access to food, water, and a quiet place to rest is usually all they need for a smooth recovery. If symptoms seem more severe or don’t improve, please contact us for advice.
Diseases we Vaccinate Against
Feline Panleukopenia Virus (also known as Feline Enteritis or Feline Parvovirus)
Feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious and often fatal disease, especially in kittens under 12 months. It can also affect pregnant cats, causing miscarriage or severe birth defects such as brain damage. Symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, severe vomiting, bloody diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.
The virus spreads easily and can survive in the environment, requiring special disinfectants to clean contaminated areas. Even cats that recover may continue to carry and spread the virus to others.
Feline Respiratory Disease (Cat Flu)
Around 90% of cat flu cases are caused by feline herpesvirus (feline rhinotracheitis) and/or feline calicivirus. This highly contagious respiratory disease affects cats of all ages—particularly kittens, Siamese, and Burmese breeds.
Symptoms include sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, runny eyes, mouth ulcers, and loss of appetite. While the death rate is low (except in young kittens), the illness is uncomfortable and may last for several weeks. Recovered cats can remain carriers and may relapse during times of stress.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) weakens a cat’s immune system, much like HIV does in humans. While it is not transmissible to people, FIV compromises a cat’s ability to fight off infections and disease.
The virus is primarily spread through bite wounds, making outdoor cats—especially males—most at risk. Some infected cats may show no signs initially, while others develop symptoms such as fever, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, diarrhoea, and poor appetite.
As the disease progresses, signs may include weight loss, mouth sores, eye problems, chronic infections, and a poor coat. Eventually, the weakened immune system can no longer protect the cat, and secondary infections may become life-threatening.
Unfortunately, FIV is relatively common among cats with outdoor access in Australia.
Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)
Feline Leukaemia (FeLV) is a serious viral disease that weakens a cat’s immune system. It can cause symptoms such as weight loss, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, pale or yellow gums, and increased susceptibility to infections, as well as reproductive issues, leukaemia, and tumours. Some cats may carry the virus without showing any signs.
Around one-third of infected cats remain chronically infected and can spread the virus through saliva, tears, nasal secretions, urine, mutual grooming, fighting, sneezing, or flea bites.
Chlamydia Felis
Chlamydia felis is a bacterial infection that causes up to 30% of conjunctivitis cases in cats, leading to severe and persistent symptoms. Kittens are more affected, especially if also infected with “Cat Flu.” The bacteria can be shed for months.
Vaccination against both cat flu and Chlamydia felis helps protect your cat from these infections.