Companion Animals

Companion Cat Vaccination and Disease Prevention

Vaccination prevents painful and often fatal infectious diseases in companion cats.

Key Facts

Core vaccines protect against feline enteritis, herpesvirus, and calicivirus
FeLV vaccine is recommended for cats with outdoor access
Vaccination schedules should be customised to individual cat risk profiles
Vaccine-associated sarcoma is rare but should be discussed with your vet

Welfare Considerations

Cats that contract preventable infectious diseases experience significant suffering — feline panleukopenia causes haemorrhagic enteritis and death; feline herpesvirus causes chronic respiratory and eye problems; FeLV causes immune suppression and cancer. Each case of these preventable diseases represents unnecessary welfare harm. Regular vaccination as part of a preventive healthcare programme is one of the highest-impact welfare investments an owner can make.

What You Can Do

Maintain your cat's vaccinations on the schedule recommended by your vet
Discuss the appropriate vaccine protocol for your cat's lifestyle and risk
Register with a vet and attend annual health checks as a minimum
Advocate for affordable vaccination through subsidised programmes for low-income pet owners