Do Kittens Need Rabies Shots
However any mammal can become infected if they are exposed.
Do kittens need rabies shots. Your kitten can receive a rabies vaccination as early as 12 weeks of age but this depends on state laws and the veterinarian. That cats could still be exposed to rabies. Also many local and state governments have laws about vaccines like rabies. All kittens and adult cats should be vaccinated against rabies.
That is why it is essential that we keep our pets protected with consistent rabies vaccines. To achieve the best protection possible your kitten will need boosters over the first several months of their life at least until they are between 16 20 weeks old. This is a core vaccine considered essential for all kittens. You can t get rabies from a cat that has no teeth.
The anti vaccination folks then brought up the dangers of allergic reactions to the vaccinations. Many of your kitten s initial shots will be given as a series of boosters every 3 4 weeks. Rabies is a viral disease typically found in wild animals most commonly raccoons bats skunks and foxes. On average a kitten can receive his first rabies shot as early as 8 12 weeks of age although the standard is between 4 and 6 months and will need a booster to insure immunity a year later.
Fvrcp stands for feline viral rhinotracheitis calicivirus and panleukopenia. Calicivirus and rhinotracheitis are common feline viruses know to cause upper respiratory infections in cats. The argument went back and forth with considerable passion on both sides. So removing most of the passion let s talk.
When to give vaccines. Far fewer cat owners said that the vaccination was still needed. You state the kitten was about two weeks old. Vaccines kittens do not need if a kitten will be an indoor only pet a fel fiv feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine is usually not necessary.
And even adult cats will need an initial series of shots and boosters for certain vaccinations to achieve the best level of protection. If you have an outdoor only or an indoor outdoor cat then they will need shots as well. As for a scratch it is extremely rare to get rabies from a scratch. A surprising to me number of cat owners argued that since their cats lived inside and were never allowed outside a rabies vaccination wasn t needed.
Non core kitten vaccinations include feline leukemia felv feline immunodeficiency virus fiv feline infectious peritonitis fip chlamydophila felis and feline giardia vaccines. Kittens should start getting vaccinations when they are 6 to 8 weeks old until they are about 16. When a kitten is at least 3 months old he will need to get a rabies shot. Both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk for contracting rabies.