While vaccination is important, it is only a part of the health care that your kitten needs. During each of the four scheduled visits in our Kitten Care Program, your kitten will get a thorough physical exam, appropriate vaccinations, parasite control, and nutritional, weight and behavioral counseling.
Kittens need to have a series of vaccinations in the first four and a half months of life.
Kitten vaccination begins with a series of innoculations which cover a group of extremely serious viruses, to which your kitten can easily be exposed. These vaccines are referred to as FVRCP, which stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus and Feline Panleukopenia. The FVRCP and Rabies vaccines are considered the Core Vaccines by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and we follow their guidelines.
The FVRCP vaccines are given at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. We administer multiple boosters for two reasons:
The final kitten vaccine, given at 18 weeks of age, is for Rabies. Rabies is a disease fatal to both pets and people. It is commonly carried by foxes and bats, both of which are prevalent in Toronto. City by-laws require all cats and kittens be vaccinated against Rabies. In our practice we do not give the Rabies vaccine with the final FVRCP booster as we don’t want to stress the immune system.
If a kitten is going to grow up to be an outdoor cat we recommend they be vaccinated for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) at 12 and 16 weeks of age. Feline leukemia is mostly spread in saliva so cats that get in fights or share bowls with strays are most at risk.
A nose-to-tail check-up of your kitten, as detailed above, to confirm that your kitten is developing properly and healthy for vaccination.
FVRCP Initial Vaccine: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus and Feline Panleukopenia
Please bring a fresh stool sample in a clean baggie to your first visit, for parasite testing.
A nose-to-tail check-up of your kitten, to confirm that your kitten is developing properly and healthy for vaccination.
FVRCP Booster Vaccine: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus and Feline Panleukopenia
Feline Leukemia Initial Vaccine: Recommended if your kitten is to go outdoors when grown.
A nose-to-tail check-up of your kitten, to confirm that your kitten is developing properly and healthy for vaccination.
FVRCP Booster Vaccine: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus and Feline Panleukopenia
Feline Leukemia Booster Vaccine: Recommended if your kitten is to go outdoors when grown.
A nose-to-tail check-up of your kitten, to confirm that your kitten is developing properly and healthy for vaccination.
Rabies Vaccine: The Rabies vaccination includes a Certificate of Vaccination and a collar tag for your puppy.