Pawfarer

Health

Vaccination

In short

Vaccination protects a cat or dog against specific infectious diseases. Veterinary guidelines group vaccines into "core" vaccines and "non-core" vaccines that depend on a pet's lifestyle and risk.

Key points

  • For cats, the US guideline and the UK charity both use the same two groups, core and non-core, but each sets out its own list. They are shown side by side below, not combined.
  • Which vaccines an individual cat or dog needs, and when, is decided with a vet. Consult your vet.

Dogs

AAHA (US) canine guidelines (written for vets) state

All dogs should have the following core vaccines:

The guideline lists the core vaccines on its own page, linked below.

2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

AAHA (US) canine guidelines note

NOTE: These guidelines were updated in 2024 to include leptospirosis as a recommended core vaccine for all dogs.
2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

AAHA (US) canine guidelines state

For every patient, ask: What should be added to the core vaccines for this dog? Core for an individual patient means they get the vaccines required for ALL dogs PLUS vaccines required based on the dog’s lifestyle and risk factors.
2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines

Cats, US and UK side by side

The US guideline and the UK charity each give their own guidance. Read each on its own terms.

AAHA/AAFP (US) feline guidelines (written for vets) state

FHV-1, FCV, FPV, rabies, and FeLV (for cats younger than 1 year old) are core vaccines for pet and shelter cats.
2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines

AAHA/AAFP (US) feline guidelines state

Non-core vaccines include FeLV (for cats older than 1 year), Chlamydia felis, and Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccines.
2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines

AAHA/AAFP (US) feline guidelines state

Core vaccines are for all cats with an unknown vaccination history.
2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines

AAHA/AAFP (US) feline guidelines state

A risk assessment for exposure to disease should be done at least once a year.
2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines

iCatCare (UK) says

Core vaccines are considered essential for all cats (including indoor-only cats) because of the widespread and/or severe nature of the diseases being protected against.
Vaccinating your cat

iCatCare (UK) says

Other vaccines are considered as ‘non-core’ and are used when vaccination will provide valuable protection for an individual cat.
Vaccinating your cat

iCatCare (UK) says that, for kittens, it is often the case that

The initial vaccine course is often started at 8-9 weeks of age, with a second injection 3-4 weeks later.
It’s now common to recommend a third vaccination (especially for FPV) at 16-20 weeks of age…

This describes common practice reported by iCatCare (UK). It is not a schedule for your kitten. Consult your vet.

Vaccinating your cat

International guidelines

WSAVA (international) describes its guidelines (written for vets) as

Our easy-to-follow vaccination tables provide essential guidance for core and non-core vaccines in dogs and cats, helping you make informed decisions for your patients.
WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines

These are general statements from the organisations named above, not advice for your pet. For anything about your own cat or dog, consult your vet.

Sources