Cat Vaccination Protocol Welfare and Health

Vaccination protects cats from serious infectious diseases. Modern vaccination protocols balance protection with minimizing unnecessary interventions, supporting both welfare and health.

Key Facts

Core cat vaccines protect against feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleukopenia and rabies (where required)
Non-core vaccines including feline leukemia virus are recommended based on lifestyle risk assessment
Duration of immunity studies show many vaccines provide protection beyond 1-year intervals
Injection-site sarcomas associated with adjuvanted vaccines prompted development of safer alternatives
Indoor-only cats may need less frequent non-core vaccination than outdoor or multi-cat household cats

Welfare Considerations

Vaccination prevents severe and often fatal diseases that cause profound suffering. Under-vaccination leaves cats vulnerable to preventable diseases while over-vaccination with unnecessary boosters causes unnecessary stress and carries injection-associated risks. Evidence-based protocols using duration of immunity data optimize protection while minimizing unnecessary interventions, representing best welfare practice.

What You Can Do

Follow current WSAVA vaccination guidelines rather than defaulting to annual all-vaccine boosters
Discuss your cat's lifestyle with a vet to determine appropriate core and non-core vaccine schedule
Request titer testing to assess immunity before giving boosters if concerned about over-vaccination
Ensure vaccination certificates are current for any boarding or travel requirements
Never skip core vaccinations as the diseases they prevent cause significant suffering