How old to give kitten it's shots?

[Meghan_K]

Just wondering if anyone knew how old a kitten should be in order to recieve it's shots? Meeko is about4 1/2 monthes old.

[CyberKitten]

Kittens should receive their first vaccinations when they are 8-10 weeks old. Then about month later, they should recieve the second round. My kitten Yin Yin for example, who was 16 weeks on Saturday (already!!!) is up to date on her vaccinations. She recieved her first series at eight weeks, the next when she was 12. On the first visit to the vet, she was "dewormed" though I had to administer a second half tablet 10 days later. Fortunately, she is a little sweetheart (except when she is in one of those running the length of the house in one second modes, lol) and she is not difficult to adminsister pills to. Some cats are!

Here is a site that shows the recommended dates:

http://www.cathelp-online.com/glossary3.html

My vet is associated with a group of vets who provide advice through this national web site and you might want to check that out as well.

http://www.infovet.ca

Yin Yin has in fact been to the vet four times now in her life - Not long after she was born so that her mom and sibs (two blue point Siamese - she is the only Seal Point in the trio, her father being of those wonderful colours ) could get checked out, at eight weeks for her first vaccinations, and then twice since I've had her: the day after I brought her home to ensure she was healthy and all was well and then to obtain her second set of vaccines.

If all is routine, she will next see the vet for her spay (6 months - I like the idea of early spay but there are still some questions about it in my mind - which does not mean it is not safe.) and she will have her second rabies vaccine next November.

Since your kitten is close to Yin Yin's age (I still refer to her age as 16 weeks but that is really four months, lol, I would book an appointment asap. If your kitten has been outside at all, she should have her checked for FeL (feline leukemia) and other infectious diseases.

Though I have much experience with cats (even hand rearing orphan kittens), Yin Yin is my new baby and I am trying not to be an overprotective mom but I am losing that battle, lol


I just edited this because I just realized you are Meeko's mom! He is such a cute Tabby! At his age, you might see if the vet would give him the vaccines and then while neutering him, s/he could administer the second set of injections.

[Meghan_K]

Thanks for the info. Yin Yin is a little heart breaker too, by the way. Meeko has a vet appointment for the 9th, the prior owners told me that he had been dewormed, but who knows if they were being truthful or not. I'm not going to the same clinic I went to last time, though. I was worried that Meeko had a bladder infection (he peed on the bed a couple of times), and he checked him out and said everything was fine, but he didn't mention shots. Anyways, I think he's a quack. I'll go to the one my Aunt goes to, she says they're really good there.

[CyberKitten]

Awwww, thank you!! I think she is cute too but then I am her Mewmy so if course I'd think that.

If you are not comfortable with the vet you saw before, you should go somewhere else and you are wise to find out info on the various clinics before going. These are our babies and they deserve the best!!