Vaccines for Kittens & Cats

Congratulations on your new addition to your family! Kittens are adorable and fun pets for any home. To give them a great foundation for the rest of their life they should be vaccinated. Once your new pet has been weaned off their mother's milk, they will have no protection against viruses or parasites which is why they need to be vaccinated. Give us a call at 905-683-6430 to schedule an appointment.

When should cats be vaccinated?

We recommend vaccinating kittens when they are 8 weeks-old. We then administer booster doses at 12 and 16 weeks old. When your cat gets older they will need to have boosters, which is necessary to keep them protected. Adult cats need boosters every 1 to 3 years.

Are indoor cats exempt from vaccines?

No. This is a common misbelief that indoor pets don't need vaccines. Although most viruses or harmful insects are outdoors, they can still get inside your home where they can infect your pet. Your indoor cat can catch diseases from other pets they come in contact with and from cheeky parasites that hide inside homes. Not to mention indoor cats will take any opportunity to venture outside when you aren't looking so it's best to ensure they have protection.

What diseases can my pet develop without vaccines?

There are many diseases that your pet can develop and many of them can be fatal. When your pet isn't vaccinated, they are susceptible to the following diseases:

1. Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis - it is a type of herpes virus that causes respiratory or pulmonary infections. The disease can be dormant in cats but become reactivated by illness or stress. It can cause death due to pneumonia especially in kittens and immunocompromised cats.
2. Feline Calicivirus - this is another respiratory illness that can also cause oral disease (ulcers and inflammation of the tongue and gum). It can cause painful lameness in cats and they can be re-infected at any time.
3. Rabies - a disease that attacks your pet's central nervous system. They get the disease when they are bitten or come in contact with the saliva of an infected animal. This disease can spread to humans and in both cases can cause death.
4. Feline Leukemia virus - this disease weakens your pet's immune system which makes them vulnerable to other diseases. Cats with this disease can develop infections and even cancer.