HOW MUCH ARE KITTEN VACCINATIONS? All You Need To Know

Kittens are most vulnerable to infectious diseases when they are younger than 6 months old. That is why it is important to provide your kitten with the necessary vaccinations to safeguard them from harm. During nursing, mother cats pass maternal antibodies through their milk. These antibodies provide some disease protection, but they can interfere with, or even deactivate the body’s reaction to vaccination. As a result, core (recommended) kitten vaccinations start at age 6–8 weeks and are increased (repeated) every 3–4 weeks until the kitten reaches age 16–20 weeks. Core vaccinations should be increased one year after the initial series. This article will show you how much kitten vaccinations cost at PetCo.

The Vaccinations Your Kitten Needs

Most kittens receive their first vaccinations between the ages of 6 and 8 weeks. Your cat’s vaccination schedule will last until they are 16 weeks old, depending on how many booster shots or extra vaccines they need. A booster shot is a shot given after the first one to keep or improve the protective immune response. This schedule is essential because kittens eventually lose their mother’s antibodies. Your veterinarian will change the vaccination schedule after they reach the age of one year.

According to Bonnie Bragdon, DVM, MS, co-founder and president of the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association, your cat’s vaccinations depend on whether it spends time indoors, outdoors, or both. Cats who have been neutered and vaccinated and spend the majority of their time indoors are unlikely to become infected with an illness. Meanwhile, she believes vaccines may not be enough to protect largely outdoor cats, who may fight other cats and be more vulnerable to infection.

Bragdon suggests these vaccinations for both indoor and outdoor cats:

Feline leukemia (FeLV) is a leading cause of cancer in cats and one of the most frequent infectious diseases. Infected cats commonly develop leukemia and lymphoma, and it’s extremely contagious, passing between cats by grooming and bites, as well as from a mother to her offspring in gestation and during nursing.
The FVRCP vaccination series, also known as the “3-in-1 vaccine,” protects against three potentially fatal viruses: calicivirus, feline panleukopenia (distemper), and viral rhinotracheitis.

How Much Are Kitten Vaccinations

It is impossible to calculate the overall cost of vaccinations for kittens. It all depends on the cat: what vaccinations they need (have they already had some? do they require non-core vaccines? ); and where they live (the same vet services have different costs across the country). However, for your kitten’s first year of vaccinations, you should anticipate paying a low average of $115, a medium average of $160, and a high average of $210.

Here’s how much you should budget for each cat vaccine in the first year:

Feline leukemia: $25–$45
FVRCP: $20–$40
Rabies (one year): $20–$30

When your kitten gets his first set of vaccinations, keep in mind that a general exam will cost you $30–$50. (but this may be higher in some areas).
FVRCP boosters are included in your kitten’s vaccine program until they are 16 weeks old. You’ll have to pay for each one separately, and you may or may not have to pay for an exam, depending on how healthy your cat is and what your vet says.

Cats start receiving annual adult examinations, which include core vaccine updates, shortly after they turn one year old. Bragdon recommends two- or three-year updates on most vaccines for indoor pets. If your cat spends a lot of time outside, your vet will most likely recommend annual boosters. Certain vaccine needs are also mandated by state law. Some states, for example, only require rabies shots once a year, while others let you get them every three years. Those boosters cost between $35 and $50 per shot.

Which Cat Vaccinations Should You Get?

When considering the cost of vaccinating a cat, it’s critical to understand the entire panel of recommended feline vaccines and what they protect against. On the other hand, a vaccination schedule will change depending on several things, such as:

The age of the cat
The current state of health
Lifestyle factors such as whether the cat is an indoor or outdoor cat

They can’t afford all of their shots? That’s OK. It still keeps your cat from getting shots. So, let’s have a look at the most important cat vaccines.

Rabies Vaccination

The cost of the cat rabies vaccine is usually rather inexpensive because this vaccine is frequently prescribed by the state. Rabies is a lethal disease that can be transmitted between humans and animals. This means that a rabies vaccine is essential not only for your cat’s protection but also for the safety of everyone with whom your cat comes into contact.

Core Vaccine (FVRCP)

The basic vaccines for cats, except for rabies, are all part of a single shot called FVRCP. It protects against the following extremely contagious diseases:

FVP (Feline Panleukopenia)
FHV-1 (Feline Herpesvirus)
FCV (Feline Calicivirus)

Feline Leukemia Vaccine (FeLV)

The feline leukemia vaccination (FeLV) is not a core vaccine. It is, nonetheless, one of the most crucial vaccines for your cat. It protects against the feline leukemia virus, which is spread through bodily fluids.

FeLV can lead to serious illness and even death in cats. During their initial vaccine series, veterinarians suggest that all kittens take the FeLV vaccine. Adult cats that are at risk of catching the virus should also be vaccinated.

How Often Should You Vaccinate Your Cat?

Every 1-3 years, most cats require FVCRP, Rabies, FeLV vaccines, intestinal parasite tests, and deworming. The schedule below is a guideline, although your cat’s specific schedule may differ.

When Should Kittens Get Their Vaccinations?

9 Weeks: FVCRP and FeLV Vaccines, FeLV/FIV Test, Leukemia/Immunodeficiency Virus Test.
12 Weeks: FVCRP and FeLV Vaccines, Intestinal Parasite Test, Deworming
16 Weeks: FVCRP and Rabies Vaccines, Intestinal Parasite Test, Deworming
Every 1-3 years: FVCRP, Rabies, FeLV Vaccines, Intestinal Parasite Test, Deworming

Kittens under the age of six months are the most vulnerable to disease. As a result, you must start their vaccination process on time.
A rabies booster is required at one year if this is your cat’s first rabies vaccination or if you are unable to prove a previous vaccination. Also, your cat must have a negative FeLV/FIV test at the time of the dose if it is due for a FeLV (leukemia) vaccine booster or if you don’t have proof that it has been vaccinated in the past.

How Much Are Kitten Vaccinations at PetCo

The “Unleashed” brand of Petco stores is essentially a Petco without any animals. or, more precisely, living ones. (They may sell stuffed animals for your pet.)

Why did Petco introduce this concept? to concentrate on customer service rather than just the kittens. Unleashed is a smaller Petco that looks and feels like a store run by a single person.

Unleashed does, however, provide low-cost pet vaccinations as a pet-specific service. Also, unleashed schedules visit from licensed veterinarians. The veterinarians provide low-cost preventive care.

Is there no Unleashed store in your area? Petco’s registered “Vetco” veterinarians at the Petco program still provide vaccinations in their stores.
And here is how many kittens vaccinations cost at PetCo….

In this location, the Healthy Dog/Puppy Program is available for $79 per dog. This contains protection against distemper and parvovirus, Bordetella, Lepto, and, if necessary, a round or hook dewormer.

A heartworm test is available for an additional $20. Your pet can also be tested for tick-borne diseases for an additional $10 on top of the extra $20.
So, for roughly $100, you can have peace of mind knowing that your dog is safe.
There are many more accessories available for your dog or cat. Let us begin with offerings for kittens. You may have your pet vaccinated against rattlesnake bites for an additional $42.

Optional Kitten Vaccinations Costs

If you plan to let your cat out regularly, board them, or have a litter of cats, your vet may recommend the following non-core kitten vaccinations. It is important to note that the following vaccines are normally used only as part of a control program in a multi-cat household where the infection has been confirmed:

Another zoonotic illness is Bordetella, which is a highly contagious respiratory infection known as kennel cough that cats transfer to one another and can even catch from infected dogs. If left untreated, it might lead to pneumonia. The vaccination is typically given in phases or as a single dose with annual boosters. The cost of each treatment ranges between $10 and $30.
Feline chlamydia is a bacterial infection that causes a variety of eye problems in cats, including conjunctivitis. The cost of each treatment is between $20 and $40.

Are Kitten Vaccinations Available at a Reduced Cost Near Me?

When you adopt a cat from a rescue or shelter, they have usually received at least the first round of basic vaccinations (make sure you have all of the paperwork for your vet!) However, plan to take them to your family vet soon after you bring them home for a full exam and to finish the vaccine schedule. Some organizations may issue a coupon that allows you to accomplish this for free or may link you to a specific clinic where you may get it done at a reduced charge.

Bragdon also suggests looking into local municipal animal control services and private nonprofit organizations to see if there is any short-term aid available. Local rescues may sometimes give basic care for free as part of community outreach projects. They may work with veterinarians for a few special events a year.

You could also ask a local veterinary school if they offer free or cheap vaccination clinics as part of their training program. Also, the Humane Society of the United States has a long list of programs that could help with the cost of vaccinating a cat, such as subsidized veterinary care and sliding-scale programs for people with different incomes.

Does Pet Insurance Help?

Pet insurance is a great way to cut down on the high costs of emergencies or surgery, and the monthly costs are usually not too high. However, few insurers cover the cost of vaccination. Another option is to set up a separate savings account for pet healthcare bills or to look into different wellness plans that help cover preventative treatment.

How much does a shot cost for a kitten?

Unfortunately, the cost of vaccinating a cat can range from $25 to $80 per shot, depending on where it is given. Furthermore, a kitten’s vaccination schedule should begin at 9 weeks, last several months, and be repeated every 1-3 years following the initial series.

How many shots does a kitten need?

Kittens are vaccinated every 3–4 weeks until they reach the age of 16 weeks. To avoid over-vaccination, most veterinarians recommend starting the vaccine at 8 weeks of age, with boosters at 12 and 16 weeks.

How much are shots and deworming for kittens?

Getting a new cat is thrilling, but before you select the perfect one, you may want to know what the lifetime expenses of a kitty’s care are.

Spay/Neuter: $150 (average cost)
Other initial medical: $150 (can be far more)
Vaccinations: $60
Deworming: $20

At what age should kittens be vaccinated?

Nine weeks of age

Your kitten will require two sets of vaccinations to get started, with the first at nine weeks and the second at three months. Following this, ‘booster’ vaccinations are usually required for kittens and cats once a year.

Can I vaccinate my kitten myself?

Yes. Feline Focus® is a combined vaccine designed specifically for self-inoculation. From kittens to senior cats, Focus provides defense against main feline health risks.

How long do kitten vaccinations last?

Most adult cats who got the full series of booster vaccines as kittens should get them again every one to three years, depending on how risky their lifestyle is.

HOW MUCH ARE KITTEN VACCINATIONS? All You Need To Know

The Vaccinations Your Kitten Needs

How Much Are Kitten Vaccinations