The cost of owning a kitten can be astronomical especially when you visit a vet and start hearing about all the regular visits and kitten vaccinations you probably never knew kittens needed. As crazy and money-grubbing as it may seem, vet visits and kitten vaccinations should not be considered optional.
Let’s say you end up with a cute little kitten named Kitty. Deciding to make Kitty a permanent fixture of your family, you go out and buy all the pet care essentials you can think of – food, litter box, toys, etc. Realizing the dent pet ownership puts in your monthly savings, you’re understandably cautious about any more costs as you pull into the vet for Kitty’s first check-up.
Then you start hearing about a list of vaccinations, told you’re going to have to keep coming back and paying vet costs regularly and your head starts spinning. It’s not a lot of money, but $10 here and $20 there starts to add up.
Are Kitten Vaccinations Really Necessary?
The short answer is yes.
There are three major vaccinations your kitten absolutely needs if you want Kitty to be around for years to come. The three big ones include:
- Rabies is required by law in most areas and could cost you dearly in more ways than one if ignored.
- Feline Distemper protects against distemper, which is a highly contagious, sometimes fatal, airborne disease that your kitten can be completely immunized for.
- Feline Calicivirus protects against a virus that causes many Upper Respiratory Diseases in cats. A wide variety of common diseases are considered upper respiratory, some of which can prove fatal. You should also know that if contracted by your cat, he may be a carrier of this virus for years to come.
Please note, if your cat is going to spend time outdoors, you should also immunize him/her for the feline leukemia virus. It’s the leading cause of viral death amongst cats that causes cancer and various other chronic diseases. However it’s only passed on from cat to cat through direct contact. If your cat isn’t going to be in contact with other cats then Kitty is probably safe. Although it’s highly suggestible to have your cat immunized for it anyway. (Better safe than sorry.)
When Should My Kitten Be Immunized
Sooner is always better than later, of course there are age restrictions. Most vaccinations require multiple booster shots and doses in order to fully immunize your kitten. Below you’ll find an easy to understand bulleted list to help ensure your kitten gets the right shots as soon as he/she is old enough.
- Rabies – 3 to 4 months
- Feline Distemper – 6 weeks
- Upper Respiratory Disease – 6 weeks
- Feline Leukemia – First shot at 8 weeks, second shot at 12 weeks, followed my regular boosters.
Make sure your kitten gets the proper medical treatment and vaccinations to ensure he/she is around for many years to come. Keep in mind that senior cats or cats with compromised immune systems should not be vaccinated as it may put their health at risk. Consult your veterinarian for specific guidelines pertaining to your kitty!
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