Evidence-based vaccination protocols protect cats from serious disease while minimising vaccine-related adverse effects. Understanding core versus non-core vaccines guides informed decisions.
Vaccination prevents diseases that cause significant suffering including panleukopenia, severe herpesvirus upper respiratory disease and fatal FeLV-associated conditions. Annual vaccination for all antigens is no longer recommended by WSAVA guidelines — triennial intervals for core vaccines in adult cats balance protection with reduced injection burden. Vaccine site sarcoma, while rare at approximately 1 in 10,000-30,000 injections, requires using recommended interscapular sites and monitoring for persistent lumps post-vaccination. Vaccination decisions should be individualised based on lifestyle, exposure risk and health status.