Cat Vaccination and Preventive Health: A Welfare Investment

Core vaccinations protect cats from several serious, preventable diseases and represent one of the most cost-effective welfare investments.

Key Facts

Core cat vaccines protect against feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, and panleukopaenia
Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) vaccination is recommended for cats with outdoor access
Panleukopaenia (feline distemper) causes severe gastrointestinal and neurological disease with high mortality
Over-vaccination is a welfare concern — triennial boosters for core vaccines are supported by immunological evidence
Vaccine-associated sarcoma is a rare but serious complication requiring injection site monitoring
Unvaccinated cats are at heightened risk in multi-cat households, catteries, and shelters

Welfare Considerations

Vaccination is one of the most evidence-based, cost-effective tools for preventing disease suffering in cats. Diseases like panleukopaenia cause intense suffering and death in unprotected animals — vaccination prevents this entirely. Welfare-centred vaccination protocols follow current WSAVA guidelines recommending core vaccines at appropriate intervals, avoiding over-vaccination that provides no additional protection but carries small risks. Titre testing can assess immunity levels in cats whose vaccination status is uncertain. Vaccine-associated sarcoma risk, while real, is vastly outweighed by the protection vaccines provide in most risk contexts.

What You Can Do

Ensure all cats receive core vaccinations as kittens and appropriate adult boosters
Discuss which non-core vaccines are appropriate based on your cat's lifestyle and risk exposure
Ask your vet about triennial protocols for core vaccines in low-risk adult cats
Monitor injection sites for unusual lumps or swellings in the weeks following vaccination
Keep vaccination records and share them with boarding facilities and new vets