Cat vaccinations are one of those jobs that slip off the radar until you need them. Often that moment comes when you book a holiday, ring the cattery and get asked for a vaccination certificate.
Here is what the standard cat vaccine in New Zealand covers, how often your cat needs it, and why the timing matters before a stay away from home.
1. What the F3 vaccine covers
In New Zealand the core cat vaccine is usually called F3. It protects against three viruses:
- Feline panleukopenia, also called feline enteritis or feline parvovirus. It causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea and is often fatal, especially in kittens.
- Feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus, the two main causes of cat flu: sneezing, runny eyes and nose, fever, a poor appetite and, with calicivirus, painful mouth ulcers.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association lists all three as core vaccines, meaning every cat should have them, wherever it lives. Your vet may suggest other vaccines depending on your cat's lifestyle, but F3 is the foundation.
2. Indoor cats need it too
It is tempting to skip vaccinations for a cat that never goes outside. Panleukopenia virus is very hardy, though. It can survive in the environment for months and be carried into the house on shoes and clothing.
Indoor cats also end up in unplanned places: a new house, a vet stay, a cattery while you are away. International Cat Care recommends core vaccines for all cats, including indoor-only cats.
3. Kittens need a course, not a single jab
Spring is the start of kitten season, so this one is timely. Kittens get some early protection from antibodies in their mother's milk. Those antibodies fade over the first few months, and while they are still around they can stop a vaccine from working properly.
That is why kittens get a series of vaccinations rather than one. In New Zealand the course usually starts at around 8 weeks and is repeated every few weeks until the kitten is at least 16 weeks old. Current international guidelines also recommend a further dose at around six months, rather than waiting until the first birthday.
Until the course is finished, keep a new kitten away from cats with an unknown vaccination history.
4. Adult boosters: every one to three years
Protection fades, so adult cats need boosters. How often depends on the vaccine and your cat's lifestyle.
Protection against panleukopenia lasts a long time, and many vets give that part every three years. For the cat flu parts it depends on risk. A cat living alone indoors may only need them every three years. A cat that goes outside, lives with other cats or stays in a cattery is at higher risk, and yearly cat flu boosters may suit it better.
Your vet will set the schedule, and the certificate shows when the next booster is due. Check that date whenever you plan a trip.
5. Why catteries ask for vaccination
Wherever cats from different homes stay under one roof, infections have more chances to spread, even with separate condos and careful hygiene. Cat flu viruses travel on hands, bowls and bedding, and a cat can carry herpesvirus without showing any signs.
In New Zealand this is not left to each cattery's discretion. The Code of Welfare for temporary housing of companion animals, issued under the Animal Welfare Act, requires cats entering a boarding facility to be fully vaccinated, and their vaccination record must come with them. That is why we can't accept a cat without a current vaccination, however healthy they look.
It isn't just paperwork, either. The vaccine protects your cat, and the cat in the next condo.
6. Why we ask for two weeks
Protection doesn't switch on the moment the needle goes in. The immune system needs time to respond, so a vaccination given the day before check-in won't do much for that stay.
We ask for the vaccination to be done at least two weeks before your cat arrives. If a booster is due around your trip, book the vet visit early. The details are in our terms and conditions.
A vaccinated cat can still catch a mild dose of cat flu, but serious illness is much less likely. Our guide to signs your cat is unwell explains what to watch for at home.
7. Keep the certificate handy
Your vet can print or email the vaccination record. It should show when the vaccination was given and when the next one is due. Keep a photo of it on your phone for booking and check-in.
Side effects are usually mild: some cats are quiet, sleepy or a bit tender at the injection site for a day or so. If your cat seems unwell for longer, or has reacted to a vaccine before, talk to your vet.
A small job with a big payoff
A quick look at the date on the certificate saves a lot of last-minute stress. If you are not sure what your cat needs, your own vet is the best person to ask.
If you are planning a stay with us, our booking form asks about vaccinations for each cat. You can still send a request if a vaccination is yet to happen. Just make sure it is done at least two weeks before check-in.
