# Cat vaccinations: types, schedule and benefits

> Core cat vaccines protect against panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus. Kittens start at 6–8 weeks; in endemic areas, rabies vaccine is also core.

Source: https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/cat-vaccinations/ · Updated 25 September 2026 · English · Bahasa Indonesia: https://panduanhewan.org/id/kesehatan-hewan/vaksin-kucing/
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**Review status:** Compiled from the listed veterinary and health organisations’ guidance; not yet reviewed by a veterinarian.

**Caution:** General information for owners, not a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian. If your animal seems very unwell, in pain, struggling to breathe or may have been poisoned, contact a vet immediately.

## Key points

- Every cat needs the core vaccines that protect against panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus.
- Kittens start vaccination at 6–8 weeks, with repeats every 2–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks, then one more dose at about 6 months.
- Cats that stay indoors still need core vaccines, because panleukopenia virus is very hardy and can be carried into the home.
- In rabies-endemic areas, including 26 of Indonesia's 38 provinces according to Kemenkes (2025), rabies vaccine is a core vaccine for cats.
- Ask for and keep a vaccination card, and keep up regular health checks, usually once a year.

## When should you see a vet?

- Go to a vet immediately if a kitten or a cat with incomplete vaccinations is vomiting, has diarrhoea or a fever, is very lethargic, will not eat, or looks dehydrated (sunken eyes, dry gums).
- Go to a vet immediately if, soon after a vaccination, your cat develops hives, a swollen face, difficulty breathing or severe weakness.
- Sneezing, discharge from the eyes or nose, or sores in the mouth; get your cat seen urgently if its breathing looks fast or laboured.
- Lethargy or loss of appetite after a vaccination that does not quickly improve.
- A lump at the injection site that is still there 3 months after vaccination, is larger than 2 cm, or is still growing a month after vaccination.
- Your cat has been bitten by a dog, another cat or a wild animal in a rabies-endemic area.

## Which vaccines does every cat need?

Every cat needs the core vaccines that protect against feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV), according to the 2024 WSAVA guidelines. WSAVA defines core vaccines as those that all cats worldwide should receive. In rabies-endemic areas, rabies vaccine is also a core vaccine, even where the law does not require it. Where feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) is still common, FeLV vaccine is core for cats under one year old and for adult cats that go outdoors or live with cats that do.

Non-core vaccines are recommended only when a cat's location or lifestyle puts it at risk, for example cats with outdoor access or those living in multi-cat households. Examples are vaccines against FIV, Chlamydia felis and Bordetella bronchiseptica. WSAVA notes that FIV vaccine is currently available only in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and reports of its efficacy vary widely. Some vaccines, such as those against FIP, are classed as not recommended for pet cats. Decide with your vet whether any non-core vaccines are needed.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf) · [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet cats (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cats-Vaccination-Table.pdf)

## When should a kitten have its first vaccination?

Kittens usually start core vaccinations at 6–8 weeks of age, with repeat doses every 2–4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old or older. The repeats are needed because antibodies from the mother, passed on in her first milk, can block the vaccine. These antibody levels vary between kittens, even within one litter, so without a blood test nobody can predict when a vaccine will start to work. That is why the last dose of the kitten series should be given at 16 weeks of age or later.

WSAVA also advises an extra dose at 26 weeks (about 6 months) or older, rather than waiting until the cat is one year old. This dose protects the small number of kittens that had not yet built their own immunity at 16 weeks. The total number of injections depends on the age at which vaccination starts and the gap between doses. If cost allows only one vaccination, WSAVA suggests giving the core vaccine at 16 weeks or older. Unvaccinated adult cats are generally given two doses 2–4 weeks apart.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf) · [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf) · [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet cats (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cats-Vaccination-Table.pdf) · [Cornell Feline Health Center — Feline panleukopenia virus](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-panleukopenia-virus)

## How often does a cat need booster vaccinations?

After the kitten series and the 6-month dose, low-risk cats generally receive core boosters at 3 years old, then no more often than every 3 years. This applies to modified live (MLV) core vaccines, which WSAVA says give immunity lasting many years. Higher-risk cats, such as those that often stay in boarding catteries or in crowded, stressful places, may need boosters more often, up to once a year. Core vaccines should not be given more often than necessary.

Non-core vaccines follow a different schedule. WSAVA says immunity from most non-core vaccines lasts about a year, so they are usually repeated yearly while the risk remains. FeLV vaccine is repeated one year after the initial series and then according to the risk of exposure. Rabies boosters follow local regulations or the product leaflet. Because vets may use slightly different schedules, write the next due date on the vaccination card. WSAVA stresses that regular health checks, usually yearly, still matter even when no vaccine is due.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf) · [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet cats (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cats-Vaccination-Table.pdf)

## Do indoor cats need vaccinations?

Yes, cats that never go outside still need core vaccines. The Cornell Feline Health Center explains that panleukopenia virus is everywhere, and almost all cats are exposed to it at some point in their lives. The virus is very hardy and can survive indoors for months without proper disinfection. It can also be carried on bedding, litter trays and bowls, and on the hands or clothes of people who have handled a sick cat. Cornell therefore recommends this vaccine for all cats, including those that never go outdoors.

Herpesvirus and calicivirus, the main causes of "cat flu", are also very common. According to Cornell, up to 97% of cats are exposed to herpesvirus in their lifetime. Vaccines do not always prevent infection with these two viruses, but they reduce how severe the disease is and how much virus the cat sheds. This also protects other cats in the same home. Kittens and unvaccinated cats are most at risk of serious illness, especially in crowded places such as shelters, boarding catteries and feral colonies.

Evidence: [Cornell Feline Health Center — Feline panleukopenia virus](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-panleukopenia-virus) · [Cornell Feline Health Center — Respiratory infections](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/respiratory-infections)

## Do cats need rabies vaccination in Indonesia?

In rabies-endemic areas, yes: WSAVA recommends that all cats are vaccinated against rabies to protect both animals and people, even where the law does not require it. According to a 2025 Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) circular, 26 of Indonesia's 38 provinces are still rabies-endemic. Cats are counted as rabies-transmitting animals (HPR), along with dogs and monkeys. Kemenkes reports that about 98% of rabies cases in Indonesia are spread by dog bites and about 2% by cats and monkeys. Government rabies vaccination programmes in endemic areas, such as Bali, therefore include cats.

Rabies vaccine for animals is available through government programmes and through vet clinics and private vets, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan). Some animal health centres (puskeswan) and local offices, for example in Buleleng Regency and Bali Province, offer free rabies vaccination during working hours. Bali also has a provincial regulation (Perda No. 15 of 2009) on rabies control. According to WSAVA, the age for the first dose and the booster schedule follow local regulations first, then the vaccine leaflet. Ask your vet, puskeswan or local animal health office.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf) · [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet cats (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cats-Vaccination-Table.pdf) · [Kemenkes — Surat Edaran HK.02.02/C/508/2025 tentang Kewaspadaan terhadap Kasus Rabies (PDF)](https://www.kemkes.go.id/app_asset/file_content_download/174239565067dad9023342a5.65970066.pdf) · [Kemenkes — 8 dari 34 Provinsi di Indonesia Bebas Rabies (2020)](https://kemkes.go.id/id/8-34-provinsi-indonesia-bebas-rabies) · [Dinas Pertanian dan Ketahanan Pangan Provinsi Bali — Vaksinasi Rabies Massal 2025 pada Hewan Penular Rabies (HPR)](https://distanpangan.baliprov.go.id/vaksinasi-rabies-massal-2025-pada-hewan-penular-rabies-hpr/) · [Ditjen PKH Kementan (BVet Subang) — Gencar Vaksinasi Hewan Tertular, Indonesia Siap Bebas Rabies di Tahun 2030](https://bvetsubang.ditjenpkh.pertanian.go.id/berita/gencar-vaksinasi-hewan-tertular-indonesia-siap-bebas-rabies-di-tahun-2030) · [Dinas Pertanian, Ketahanan Pangan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Buleleng — Pelayanan Vaksinasi Rabies di Puskeswan Buleleng](https://distankan.bulelengkab.go.id/informasi/detail/berita/36_pelayanan-vaksinasi-rabies-di-puskeswan-buleleng)

## What happens when a cat is vaccinated at the vet?

Vaccination should be part of a full health check, not just an injection. WSAVA encourages vets to discuss vaccine needs based on the cat's age, lifestyle and environment, and to check parasites, teeth, nutrition and behaviour at the same visit. Before FeLV vaccination, the cat should be tested, because only FeLV-negative cats should be vaccinated. Tell your vet if your cat is unwell, pregnant or has reacted to a vaccine before, because live vaccines are not advised for pregnant cats.

The vet will record the date, the vaccine name and batch number, and the injection site in the medical record. Ask for a vaccination card and keep it safe. WSAVA recommends that vaccination cards or certificates also state how long the animal is expected to be protected. After vaccination, mild reactions such as pain or swelling at the injection site, tiredness, reduced appetite, fever or occasional vomiting are fairly common. Hives and severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are less common. Contact your vet if you are unsure, and report any reaction.

Evidence: [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf) · [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet cats (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cats-Vaccination-Table.pdf)

## Sources & references

1. [WSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats: Executive Summary](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-Guidelines-for-the-Vaccination-of-Dogs-and-Cats.pdf)
2. [WSAVA — 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (full text, Journal of Small Animal Practice)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WSAVA-Vaccination-guidelines-2024.pdf)
3. [WSAVA — Core and non-core vaccines for pet cats (2024 guidelines table)](https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cats-Vaccination-Table.pdf)
4. [Cornell Feline Health Center — Feline panleukopenia virus](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-panleukopenia-virus)
5. [Cornell Feline Health Center — Respiratory infections](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/respiratory-infections)
6. [Kemenkes — Surat Edaran HK.02.02/C/508/2025 tentang Kewaspadaan terhadap Kasus Rabies (PDF)](https://www.kemkes.go.id/app_asset/file_content_download/174239565067dad9023342a5.65970066.pdf)
7. [Kemenkes — 8 dari 34 Provinsi di Indonesia Bebas Rabies (2020)](https://kemkes.go.id/id/8-34-provinsi-indonesia-bebas-rabies)
8. [Dinas Pertanian dan Ketahanan Pangan Provinsi Bali — Vaksinasi Rabies Massal 2025 pada Hewan Penular Rabies (HPR)](https://distanpangan.baliprov.go.id/vaksinasi-rabies-massal-2025-pada-hewan-penular-rabies-hpr/)
9. [Ditjen PKH Kementan (BVet Subang) — Gencar Vaksinasi Hewan Tertular, Indonesia Siap Bebas Rabies di Tahun 2030](https://bvetsubang.ditjenpkh.pertanian.go.id/berita/gencar-vaksinasi-hewan-tertular-indonesia-siap-bebas-rabies-di-tahun-2030)
10. [Dinas Pertanian, Ketahanan Pangan dan Perikanan Kabupaten Buleleng — Pelayanan Vaksinasi Rabies di Puskeswan Buleleng](https://distankan.bulelengkab.go.id/informasi/detail/berita/36_pelayanan-vaksinasi-rabies-di-puskeswan-buleleng)
11. [MSD Veterinary Manual — Rabies in animals](https://www.msdvetmanual.com/nervous-system/rabies/rabies-in-animals)

## Keep exploring

- [Rabies in dogs and cats: signs and prevention](https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/rabies-in-dogs-and-cats/)
- [Neutering cats and dogs: benefits, timing and aftercare](https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/neutering-cats-and-dogs/)
- [Choosing a vet and vet clinic in Indonesia](https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/choosing-a-vet-in-indonesia/)
- [Feline panleukopenia: signs, spread and vaccination](https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/feline-panleukopenia/)
- [Domestic cat](https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/cat/)

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Cite: PanduanHewan. (2026). Cat vaccinations: types, schedule and benefits. PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/pet-health/cat-vaccinations/