Recommended vaccinations for cats
Whether your cat is a sofa-loving indoor companion or a confident outdoor explorer, vaccinations protect them from the illnesses that are hardest to treat once they take hold. Here's what your cat needs and when.
A quick note before we start: which vaccines your cat needs depends a lot on their lifestyle — an indoor-only cat and an outdoor cat face very different risks. Your vet will tailor the plan to your cat. Use this as a guide to what to expect.
Kitten: the primary course
Your kitten's primary course is two vaccinations given three weeks apart.
Together they cover:
Cat flu — calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus / rhinotracheitis (FHV)
Enteritis (panleukopenia) — feline parvovirus (FPV)
Leukaemia (FeLV) — mainly for cats that will go outside. Indoor-only cats don't usually need it.
The schedule:
1st vaccination — from around 9 weeks (the breeder often gives this one)
2nd vaccination — 3 weeks later
Optional:
Rabies — from 12 weeks: only needed if you plan to travel abroad with your cat.
The first-year booster
12 months after the primary course (around your cat's first birthday): all components — cat flu, enteritis/panleukopenia, and leukaemia (for cats that go outside or are otherwise at risk), plus rabies if your cat has been vaccinated for it.
Ongoing boosters
After the first-year booster, the rhythm depends on your cat's lifestyle and risk:
Every 3 years: Enteritis / panleukopenia (feline parvovirus) — for all cats
Every year (depending on risk): Cat flu (calicivirus + feline herpesvirus); Leukaemia (FeLV) for cats that go outside or mix with other cats
Indoor-only cats don't need the leukaemia (FeLV) vaccine
Rabies (if applicable): usually every 3 years, depending on the vaccine brand
The takeaway
Kittens get two jabs three weeks apart, covering cat flu, enteritis and — for outdoor cats — leukaemia.
The first booster comes around your cat's first birthday and covers everything.
After that: enteritis every three years; cat flu and leukaemia yearly, based on your cat's lifestyle.
Indoor-only cats skip the leukaemia vaccine, and rabies is only for travel.
Your vet will fine-tune all of this to your cat — ask them if you're ever unsure.
Keeping vaccinations up to date is one of the easiest forms of preventive care, and a handy prompt to book your cat's yearly health check at the same time.
