Feline Vaccination & Preventive Care

At Bayside Hospital for Animals, preventive care begins during kittenhood and continues throughout your cat’s life. Routine physical examinations, vaccinations, parasite screening, and preventive medications are important components of maintaining your cat’s health.

Every cat has different healthcare needs. Our veterinary team will recommend an appropriate preventive care plan based on your cat’s age, lifestyle, vaccination history, health, and potential exposure risks.

Kitten Vaccination & Preventive Care Schedule

A healthy start begins with regular examinations, vaccinations, parasite screening, and preventive care.

The ages below are approximate, and your kitten’s individual schedule may vary depending on their age at the first visit, previous care, health, and vaccination history.

6–9 Weeks | First Kitten Visit

Physical Examination

A comprehensive examination to evaluate your kitten’s overall health, growth, and development.

FVRCP Vaccine #1

The first vaccine in the initial FVRCP series.

FVRCP helps protect against:

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis – A contagious respiratory disease caused by feline herpesvirus.
Calicivirus – A contagious virus that can cause respiratory disease, oral ulcers, fever, and other signs of illness.
Panleukopenia – A highly contagious and potentially serious viral disease that can cause gastrointestinal illness and suppression of the immune system.

Fecal Examination

Screens for intestinal parasites. Please bring a fresh stool sample to your kitten’s appointment when possible.

Deworming

Treatment may be recommended to address common intestinal parasites.

Starting Around 8 Weeks | Parasite Prevention

Flea & Heartworm Prevention

Appropriate flea and heartworm prevention can begin as early as 8 weeks of age, depending on the product being used and your kitten’s weight.

Our veterinary team can recommend an appropriate preventive product for your kitten.

9–12 Weeks | Follow-Up Kitten Visit

Physical Examination

Your kitten will receive another examination to monitor growth, development, and overall health.

FVRCP Vaccine #2

The second vaccine in the initial FVRCP series continues building protection against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.

FeLV Vaccine #1

The first Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) vaccine may be administered as part of the initial kitten vaccination series.

At Bayside Hospital for Animals, we recommend that all kittens, including indoor-only kittens, initially receive the FeLV vaccination series.

Fecal Examination

A repeat fecal examination may be performed. Please bring a fresh stool sample when possible.

Deworming

Additional deworming may be recommended as your kitten grows.

12 Weeks | FeLV/FIV Testing

FeLV/FIV Test

At approximately 12 weeks of age, testing for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is recommended.

FeLV can affect a cat’s immune system and increase susceptibility to other illnesses.

FIV also affects the immune system and can make infected cats more susceptible to infections and disease.

Testing helps establish your kitten’s FeLV/FIV status and assists our veterinary team in making appropriate recommendations for future care.

12–15 Weeks | Completing the Kitten Series

Physical Examination

Another comprehensive examination is performed to monitor your kitten’s continued growth and health.

FVRCP Vaccine #3 – If Needed

A third FVRCP vaccine is administered if the second FVRCP vaccine was given before 12 weeks of age.

FeLV Vaccine #2

The second FeLV vaccine completes the initial vaccination series when indicated.

Rabies Vaccination

Your kitten will receive a rabies vaccination. The initial rabies vaccine is valid for one year.

Deworming

Additional deworming may be recommended based on your kitten’s previous treatments, risk factors, and parasite screening.

Why We Recommend FeLV Vaccination for Kittens

At Bayside Hospital for Animals, we recommend that all kittens initially receive an FeLV vaccination series, even if they currently live exclusively indoors.

A kitten’s lifestyle can change. An indoor kitten could accidentally escape, be exposed to a new cat introduced into the household, or become an indoor/outdoor cat later in life.

Because kittens are particularly susceptible to FeLV, completing the initial vaccination series provides protection during this important stage of development.

As your kitten grows, our veterinary team may recommend discontinuing FeLV vaccination if your cat becomes a truly 100% indoor cat with no exposure to outdoor cats or other cats with an unknown FeLV status.

Adult Cat Vaccination & Preventive Care

Preventive care continues after your cat completes the initial kitten vaccination series.

1 Year Old | Annual Wellness Visit

Physical Examination

A comprehensive examination to evaluate your cat’s overall health.

FVRCP Vaccination

Continues protection against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.

FeLV Vaccination – If Needed

FeLV vaccination may be continued depending on your cat’s lifestyle and potential exposure to other cats.

Rabies Vaccination

After the appropriate initial rabies vaccination, a 3-year rabies vaccine may be administered when previous vaccination can be documented and your cat remains on schedule.

Flea & Heartworm Prevention

Appropriate flea and heartworm prevention helps protect your cat from parasites and parasite-related diseases.

FeLV/FIV Testing – If Needed

Repeat FeLV/FIV testing may be recommended based on your cat’s lifestyle and potential exposure.

Fecal Examination – Outdoor Cats

Fecal testing is recommended for cats who spend time outdoors. Please bring a fresh stool sample when possible.

2–9 Years Old | Adult Preventive Care

Recommended Every Year

Physical examination
FVRCP vaccination
FeLV vaccination, if needed
Flea and heartworm prevention
FeLV/FIV testing, if needed
Fecal examination for outdoor cats

Every 3 Years, If Previously Vaccinated & On Schedule

Rabies vaccination

Vaccination recommendations may be adjusted based on your cat’s vaccination history, lifestyle, and risk of exposure.

10+ Years Old | Senior Preventive Care

Senior cats should continue receiving the routine examinations, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and appropriate screening recommended throughout adulthood.

As your cat enters their senior years, additional diagnostic screening may be recommended.

Geriatric Blood Profile

Consider annual bloodwork to screen for manageable age-related diseases and changes, including:

Diabetes mellitus
Kidney disease
Hyperthyroidism

Routine screening can help identify changes that may not yet be causing noticeable symptoms at home.

FeLV Vaccination for Adult Cats

Indoor cats with no exposure to the outdoors or to other cats that spend time outdoors may not need continued FeLV vaccination.

If your cat is not vaccinated against FeLV, any new cat entering the household should be confirmed FeLV-negative before being introduced to your cat.

Our veterinary team will help determine whether continued FeLV vaccination is appropriate based on your cat’s lifestyle and individual risk factors.

Abbreviations

FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus & Panleukopenia vaccination

FeLV – Feline Leukemia Virus

FIV – Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

FeLV/FIV Testing – Testing for Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Lifelong Preventive Care at Bayside

Every cat has different healthcare needs. Our veterinary team will recommend an appropriate vaccination, testing, and preventive care schedule based on your cat’s age, lifestyle, medical history, vaccination history, and individual risk factors.

Regular preventive care allows us to monitor your cat’s health throughout every stage of life and identify potential concerns as early as possible.

Have questions about your cat’s vaccination history or preventive care needs? Contact Bayside Hospital for Animals to schedule an appointment.

This schedule is intended as a general guide. Vaccination schedules, testing, and preventive care recommendations may be adjusted by your veterinarian based on your cat’s individual health, vaccination history, lifestyle, and needs.