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Vaccine schedule

Kitten Vaccine Schedule: Which Shots, When

Updated October 2026 · By the Hushku editorial team · 2 sources

Short answer

Kittens get the FVRCP vaccine (feline panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus) from 6 weeks, every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 to 20 weeks old, plus two doses of feline leukaemia (FeLV) vaccine 3 to 4 weeks apart from 8 weeks, and rabies as required by law. Boosters follow at about 1 year old.

Key facts

  • FVRCP from 6 weeks, every 3–4 weeks until 16–20 weeks.
  • FeLV is core for kittens: 2 doses 3–4 weeks apart from 8 weeks, after a negative test.
  • Rabies following the vaccine label and local law.
  • Boosters at about 1 year, then FVRCP every 3 years.

This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If your pet seems unwell, or you're worried, call your vet.

Kitten vaccine chart

AgeVaccines
6–8 weeksFVRCP dose 1 (not before 6 weeks)
9–12 weeksFVRCP dose 2. FeLV dose 1 from 8 weeks, after a negative FeLV test
12–16 weeksFVRCP dose 3. FeLV dose 2, 3–4 weeks after dose 1. Rabies, following the label and local law
16–20 weeksFinal FVRCP dose (FVRCP continues every 3–4 weeks until 16–20 weeks)
6 months–1 yearFVRCP booster (at 1 year, or 6 months if your vet advises). FeLV booster 12 months after the last kitten dose
AdultFVRCP every 3 years · rabies by label and law · FeLV by risk

Your vet will tailor this to your kitten's age at the first visit and the vaccines they use.

Core vaccines for kittens

FVRCP protects against feline panleukopenia (a severe, often fatal virus) and the two main causes of cat flu, herpesvirus and calicivirus. The 2020 AAHA/AAFP guidelines recommend starting no earlier than 6 weeks and repeating every 3–4 weeks until 16–20 weeks of age, because maternal antibodies can block the vaccine in young kittens.

Feline leukaemia (FeLV) is core for all kittens and cats under 1 year, because young cats are most vulnerable. Your kitten should test negative first. Two doses are given 3–4 weeks apart from as early as 8 weeks, with a booster 12 months later.

Rabies is given according to the vaccine label and local law, often at around 12–16 weeks. Where allowed, the guidelines favour 3-year rabies vaccines for adult cats.

Why vets inject low on the leg or tail

Very rarely, cats develop a tumour at an injection site. The feline guidelines recommend giving vaccines low on the legs or on the tail, so that if it ever happens it can be treated more easily. Tell your vet about any lump at an injection site that's still there after 3 months, is larger than 2 cm, or is growing a month after the injection.

Other vaccine schedules

Free tools for this

Sources

  1. AAHA/AAFP: Core vaccines for pet cats
  2. Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline leukemia virus

We check guides against veterinary sources and update them when guidance changes. How we write and review.

Questions.

Do indoor kittens need vaccines?

Yes. Panleukopenia and cat flu viruses can be carried in on shoes and clothing, and kittens may escape or move outdoors later. FeLV is recommended for all kittens because their future lifestyle isn't known.

How many shots does a kitten need?

Usually three or four FVRCP doses, two FeLV doses and one rabies dose, plus boosters at about a year old.

When can my kitten go outside?

Wait until about a week or two after the final kitten vaccines and neutering, and microchip first. Many cats are happiest indoors or with a secure outdoor area.

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