How Old Does a Kitten Need to Be for Vaccinations?

A kitten's vaccinations can mean a healthy beginning to her life. Kittens are particularly susceptible to illness because their immune system is not as developed as an adult cat's, so they are less able to fight off ailments and infections effectively. Whether your kitten lives indoors or out, with other pets or alone, vaccinating her against diseases is a smart idea that will give her a healthful life.

  1. Feline Distemper

    • Distemper, also known as cat plague, is a very infectious disease that attacks cells in the digestive system, bone marrow and lymph system. It is possible that any cat can be exposed to the disease within her first year of life. Symptoms include a sudden fever, depression and vomiting. Vaccinate your kitten as early as 4 weeks old if exposure is likely. Most kittens get their first distemper vaccine at 6 weeks old, followed by booster shots until they reach 16 weeks of age.

    Rabies

    • Rabies is a frightening disease that can spread easily from animals to humans with one bite from an infected animal. Wild animals such as skunks, coyotes and foxes are most likely to infect a cat, and unfortunately there is no treatment once she has contracted rabies. Symptoms range from anxiety and fever to aggression and paralysis. The age to vaccinate a kitten varies by state, but it is most commonly administered between 3 and 4 months of age, followed by a booster inoculation at 1 year.

    Feline Leukemia

    • Feline leukemia is a disease that only infects cats and incubates for months or years before symptoms begin to show. Cats that may otherwise seem healthy or show no outward symptoms may be infected with feline leukemia. Symptoms include fever, infection, weight loss, infertility and lethargy. Thirty percent of infected cats develop cancer. While no feline leukemia vaccine will fully protect a kitten, it will boost the immune response if the kitten becomes infected. Vaccinate your kitten at 8 weeks of age. Your veterinarian will administer a follow-up vaccine three to four weeks later.

    Bordetella

    • Bordetella largely affects the respiratory system. There are several causes, but the most common is feline herpes-1 and calicivirus. Symptoms vary greatly depending on the cause of the virus and the age of the infected cat. Nasal discharge, conjunctivitis, mouth lesions and muscle pain are a few symptoms depending on the diagnosis. An injectable or intranasal vaccine is available and is typically administered from 6 to 8 weeks of age.