Vaccination prevents infectious disease and its associated suffering. Understanding cat vaccination protocols helps owners protect their cats' welfare throughout their lives.
Vaccination prevents diseases that cause severe suffering: feline panleukopenia has 85-90% mortality in unvaccinated kittens; calicivirus causes oral ulceration and respiratory distress; herpesvirus causes lifelong latent infection with stress-induced recurrences. The welfare argument for appropriate vaccination is overwhelming. However, vaccination frequency should be evidence-based: 3-yearly core vaccines after primary course are now standard in most guidelines. Titre testing reveals adequate immunity in many cats, allowing skipping of boosters with welfare benefit through reduced injection stress.