Kitten vaccine schedule: which shots your kitten needs, week by week

A kitten vaccine schedule starts with the core FVRCP shot at 6–8 weeks, repeats every 2–4 weeks, and finishes with a final kitten dose at 16 weeks or older. Rabies, feline leukemia (FeLV) where recommended, and regular adult boosters follow. On this page you'll find which shot your kitten gets in which week in a single table, how indoor cats differ from cats that go outside, and what to watch for after vaccination. The weeks follow the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines and common clinic practice; your vet sets the exact schedule for your cat.

Kitten vaccine schedule by week

Your vet may shift these weeks by a few days depending on when your kitten started and which vaccine they use. Two rules stay fixed: 2–4 weeks between doses, and a final FVRCP dose at 16 weeks or older.

Why one shot isn't enough

Kittens get antibodies from their mother's milk. Those antibodies protect them early on, but while levels are high they also stop a vaccine from working. When maternal antibodies fade differs from kitten to kitten, so the schedule gives a dose every 2–4 weeks to catch that moment. The final dose at 16 weeks lands at an age when maternal antibodies no longer interfere for most kittens, and the booster around 26 weeks catches the rest.

What each vaccine protects against

There is also a vaccine for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), but international guidelines don't generally recommend it. If your vet suggests it, it's fine to ask why.

Do indoor cats need vaccines?

Yes. Panleukopenia virus can come into your home on shoes, clothes and objects, and it survives in the environment for months, so a cat that never goes outside can still catch it. Where rabies vaccination is required by law, it applies regardless of lifestyle.

Where indoor and outdoor cats differ is not in the core vaccines but in booster intervals and extra vaccines. For a cat that never goes outside and never meets new cats, your vet may space out some boosters or stop FeLV boosters. If your cat uses a balcony, garden or the street, or you often bring new cats home, make sure your vet knows.

Adult cat booster schedule

• Rabies: every 1 or 3 years, depending on the vaccine and your local law. A current rabies certificate is often required for travel.
• FVRCP: WSAVA guidelines say panleukopenia doesn't need boosting more often than every three years after the first-year booster. For herpesvirus and calicivirus, they suggest every three years for low-risk indoor cats and yearly for higher-risk cats.
• FeLV: after the 1-year booster, usually every 2–3 years while the risk continues.

The yearly checkup is the natural time for boosters. Cats hide illness well, so the same visit is a chance to check weight, teeth and kidneys, problems that tend to progress quietly. The guide to signs of gum disease in cats covers what to look for at home.

What if a dose is missed?

• A few weeks late during the kitten series: your vet will usually pick up where you left off or add a dose. If the gap is long, they may restart the series.
• An adult booster a few weeks overdue: a single dose is usually enough. A late rabies shot matters separately for legal records and travel.
• Unknown history: for a stray or shelter adult, vets usually treat the cat as unvaccinated, test for FeLV and FIV first, and start a short series.

Call your vet the day you notice the gap.

Before and after vaccination

Before the appointment

• Your cat should be healthy on the day. With sneezing, eye discharge, diarrhea or loss of appetite, your vet may postpone the shot.
• Deworming is usually done a few days to a week before the vaccine.
• Bring your cat in a carrier. A cat that's already used to the carrier makes the whole trip easier; the carrier training program helps with that.

After the shot

• Tiredness, a mild fever and a smaller appetite for a day or two are normal.
• Facial swelling, vomiting, trouble breathing or collapse are signs of an allergic reaction. Go to your vet right away.
• A small lump can form at the injection site. Show it to your vet if it lasts longer than three months, is larger than 2 centimeters, or is still growing a month after the shot. This is rare, but it's something to check early.

Vaccine records and reminders

Every dose goes on the vaccine card with its date and the vaccine's label, and rabies and microchip details are often also recorded with local authorities. When you take a photo of the vaccine card in SarPet, the vaccine names and dates are read for you, the next date for each vaccine is calculated from the interval since the previous dose, and you get a reminder before it's due.

Frequently asked questions

Can my kitten meet other cats before the series is done?

Meeting healthy cats with a known vaccination history at home is usually fine. Contact with cats of unknown status should wait until the series is complete.

At what age do kittens get the rabies shot?

Usually from 12 weeks (3 months). The exact age and booster interval depend on your local law.

Can vaccines and spaying or neutering happen on the same day?

Some clinics do both, others prefer separate days. When you talk to your vet about when to spay or neuter your cat, plan the vaccine schedule together.

Do dogs get the same vaccines?

No. Dogs get different vaccines; see the puppy vaccine schedule for details.