Kitten Vaccinations: What They Need & When

Kittens are normally vaccinated against:

• Cat flu (feline calicivirus and herpes) – cat flu is a contagious and common viral disease that can be spread by eye discharge, nasal discharge, sneezing, contact with infected food bowls and bedding and contact with humans who have been with an infected cat. Cat flu can cause lasting damage to the eyes and can even be fatal, especially to kittens. There’s no specific treatment for cat flu so you should ensure your cat gets vaccinated for it.
• Feline enteritis (feline parvovirus) – this disease is extremely contagious and can be deadly. If an adult cat has contracted the disease, they might experience vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea, dehydration and a drop in white blood cells which increases their risk of infections. In kittens, this disease can cause death, blindness and abnormalities.
• Feline leukaemia (feLV) – this is a very serious disease that can severely damage your cat’s immune system, making them more prone to suffer from infections and other diseases. It can also cause neurological issues, anaemia, infertility and cancer. feLV spreads through close contact with other cats, for example, sharing food bowls, sharing bedding and grooming. If a mother cat is infected, her kittens will be infected with the disease from birth and there is no treatment for the disease. Cats that contract this disease generally only live 3 to 4 years after being diagnosed.

You can expect to see some slight side effects after your kitten has been vaccinated. The below side effects tend to last between a few hours and a few days and normally disappear without needing treatment:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Mild swelling around the vaccine area
• Low energy
• Eating less

If your kitten starts experiencing some of these less common side effects, you should monitor them and contact your vet if their condition starts worsening or they experience side effects for more than 24 – 48 hours.

• Twitching
• Itchy skin
• Limping
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting

In extremely rare circumstances, vaccines can cause severe allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis. You need to take your kitten to the vets urgently if they are experiencing any of the below after a vaccination.  Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

• Swelling anywhere on the body
• Seizures/collapsing
• Pounding heartbeat
• Cold ears, legs and feet
• Difficulty breathing

The price of kitten vaccinations varies from practice to practice. You need to bear in mind that pet insurance doesn’t cover routine treatments such as vaccinations, so you won’t be able to claim back the cost. However, some vets offer healthcare plans, allowing you to spread the cost of routine treatments such as fleaing, worming and vaccinations across a 12 month period. A fully comprehensive healthcare plan costs around £10 a month for cats and often comes with other great benefits such as discounts on neutering, dental procedures, microchipping and more

Whilst cat insurance isn’t a legal requirement, it can help alleviate some of the financial stress associated with taking your cat to the vets. Vet fees can easily run into the thousands if your cat needs surgery. But if you have an adequate pet insurance policy, you have peace of mind knowing that if the worst were to happen, you’re financially protected.

If you compare policies based on price alone, you could inadvertently pick an inadequate policy with minimal cover. We recommend that you take the time to compare policy benefits as well as reading insurer’s reviews to get an idea of how they treat their customers. The last thing you want to do is purchase a policy from a provider that is known to avoid paying out claims. Our comparison table highlights insurers that provide excellent policies and deliver exceptional customer service.