What vaccines does a cat need?

Cats have core vaccines recommended for nearly all of them — FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia) and rabies — plus non-core vaccines like FeLV (feline leukemia) that your veterinarian may recommend based on age, lifestyle, and outdoor exposure.

How often do cats need vaccines?

Kittens usually receive a series of FVRCP boosters a few weeks apart, followed by boosters as adults. Rabies timing depends on the vaccine used and local law. Adult booster intervals vary by vaccine and by your cat's risk, so confirm the schedule with your veterinarian.

Cat vaccine schedule: what cats need and when

Q: Do indoor cats need vaccines?

Indoor cats are still commonly vaccinated for core diseases like FVRCP and rabies, since exposure can happen through escapes, other pets, or boarding, and rabies may be legally required. Your veterinarian can advise what's appropriate for an indoor cat.

Cat vaccines come in two groups: the core ones nearly every cat should have, and the ones your vet recommends based on your cat's life. This guide covers what's usually on the schedule, why the timing matters, and how to keep proof and due dates somewhere you can actually find them — without turning it into paperwork.

Core vs. non-core cat vaccines

Feline vaccines are generally sorted into core vaccines — recommended for essentially all cats — and non-core vaccines, which depend on your cat's age, lifestyle, and exposure risk. Knowing which group a vaccine falls into helps you understand why your vet recommends what they do.

This is an overview, not medical advice. Your veterinarian is the right person to decide exactly which vaccines your cat needs and when — schedules vary by region, by vaccine brand, and by the individual cat.

FVRCP — the core combination vaccine

FVRCP protects against three diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitis (a herpesvirus), calicivirus, and panleukopenia. It's usually given as a single combination shot and is considered core for nearly all cats, indoor or outdoor. Kittens typically receive a series of FVRCP doses a few weeks apart, with boosters continuing into adulthood.

Rabies

Rabies vaccination is core for cats and, in many places, legally required — including for indoor cats. The certificate your vet issues is the document boarding facilities, catteries, and groomers ask to see. Timing and booster intervals depend on the vaccine used and on local law, so confirm the specifics with your vet.

FeLV (feline leukemia) and other non-core vaccines

FeLV is commonly recommended for kittens and for cats who go outdoors or live with cats of unknown status. For a strictly indoor adult cat with no exposure, your vet may consider it optional. Other non-core vaccines exist for specific risks. The through-line: non-core decisions are about your cat's actual life, which is exactly the kind of judgment a veterinarian is there to make.

Kittens vs. adult cats

Kittens need a series of vaccines because the protection they inherit from their mother fades over their first months, and a single dose isn't enough to bridge that gap. Adult cats move to a booster rhythm instead. If you've adopted an adult cat with unknown history, your vet may restart part of the series to be safe.

Do indoor cats need vaccines?

Yes — commonly for the core diseases. Indoor cats still escape, still meet other animals at the vet or during boarding, and rabies may be required by law regardless of lifestyle. The lifestyle question mostly affects the non-core vaccines, not the core ones.

Keep the record and the due date together

A vaccine is only as useful as your ability to prove it and remember the next one. Keep the date given, the vaccine, and the certificate in one place — and keep the due date attached to that same record, not stranded in a separate calendar note you can't verify later. When your cat's FVRCP or rabies booster comes up before a boarding stay, you want to see it coming, not discover it at drop-off.

Willow keeps each cat's vaccinations, certificates, and due dates together, and uses the dates you save to remind you before a booster is due — on your schedule, not a clinic's.

Save proof you can share in seconds

Catteries, boarding facilities, and groomers generally want to see the actual certificate, not just your word that a vaccine was given. Attach the certificate to the vaccination record when you receive it — a scan or a photo works — so proof is one tap away when someone asks.

If you're preparing for a stay away from home, here's what catteries and cat boarding facilities usually ask for. For the general system behind keeping any pet's due dates findable, see how to keep track of pet vaccine due dates.

How Willow helps

Willow is a pet health organizer for owners — cats very much included. It keeps each cat's vaccination records, certificates, due dates, and reminders in one place, organized by pet, so you know what's coming and have the proof ready when a cattery, groomer, or vet asks for it.