Here’s How Much Kitten Vaccinations Cost
It’s crucial to make sure your kitty is protected against potentially fatal diseases
As well as the fun bits of having a cat (snugs on the sofa, playtime, having them ‘help’ you with your work by sitting on your laptop), healthcare is also a vital part of pet parenthood, and our cats deserve the best care we can give them. Vaccinations are one of the main ways we can help protect them from a variety of diseases, some of which are often fatal. Read on to find out how vaccinations can create the best start in life for our kittens, and how much we should be expecting to spend on preventative care.
Main takeaways
Kitten vaccinations are split into core and non-core vaccines.
Primary vaccination courses are two injections starting at around eight weeks old with a interval of 3-4 weeks between injections.
Kitten vaccination costopens in a new tab varies on location and which vaccinations are advised.
Choice of non-core vaccinations depend on individual circumstances such as whether your cat is an outdoor or indoor cat and any other increased risk of disease exposure.
Vaccinations also provide a time for a clinical examination to check for any underlying health conditions.
littleKin™ is Kinship’s home just for puppy and kitten parents. Bop over to check out expert advice, new pet tools, and special deals—all curated for your newest family member.
opens in a new tabWhat vaccinations are needed for my kitten?
Cat vaccinations are split into core and non-core, the core ones are advisable for all cats. Depending on your cat's lifestyle and risk of disease exposure, some non-core vaccinations may be advised. Diseases that the core vaccinations cover:
Feline infectious enteritis (aka feline parvovirus or feline panleukopenia)
‘Cat flu’ top causes
Feline calicivirus
Feline herpes virus
The non-core vaccinations include those advisable for cats who will be going outside, even just into the garden, mixing with other cats, or going into a catteryopens in a new tab. These are:
Feline leukaemia virus
Chlamydia felis
Bordetella
Rabies – only required if travelling abroad
How much do kitten vaccinations cost in the UK?
Initial vaccination course
A primary course of vaccinations typically costs between £40-£170 for the full two injection primary course.
Exact cost depends on if any non-core vaccinations such as the feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) vaccination is advised.
Booster vaccines
Annual booster vaccinations are typically cheaper at £40-£70
Which factors influence the price?
Vaccination costs are slightly different depending on a number of reasons, such as location in the UK, whether you are registered at the practice or are part of an annual health plan with the practice. It is important to register your cat with a local practice that you feel is suitable for you and your cat’s needs. Every general practice will cover the majority of the same services, but there will be a variation in prices, opening times and if out-of-hours services are covered in-house versus using a different dedicated practice elsewhere for overnight and weekend emergencies. Low cost practices and charities are also available such as the Blue Cross and the PDSA who offer more affordable healthcareopens in a new tab options.
If your cat is going to live solely indoors and never mix with other cats, the core vaccinations alone may be suitable. But if your cat is going to be outside, even just visiting the garden, it would be advisable for them to be covered by non-core vaccinations, due to the higher risk of exposure to these diseases.
How often should a cat get vaccines?
After the initial course of two injections as a kitten, it is then only necessary for a top up, or booster, every year.
Some cats don’t particularly like going to the vet, we understand this, and we as vets strive to make each visit as stress free as possible. Minimising those visits is beneficial to both cat and human carer who have to persuade them to travel, so we use this time during their yearly booster vaccination appointments wisely. During your visit a clinical examination is performed along with a chat about how your feline friend has been, your vet will ask some questions to get a full picture and this is a great time to bring up any concerns. Please note however if your cat is feeling under the weather the vaccination itself may be put on hold until fully recovered and any treatments have finished to not overwhelm their immune system.
If your cat has an underlying condition, or it is not advisable for them to have vaccinations for any reason (eg had a previous allergic reaction) then your vet may advise a titre test. This blood test can reveal what immunity your cat already has to the diseases and so vaccination protocols can be adapted to fit your own individual cat’s needs.
Does pet insurance cover cat and kitten vaccinations in the UK?
Pet insuranceopens in a new tab does not typically cover pet vaccinations as they are seen as routine healthcare. Vaccinating your cat can sometimes bring down insurance prices however, and do read the small print as some may deny cover if treatment is needed for a disease which is preventable by vaccination. So it is important to stay up to date with all routine healthcare that your vet advises for your individual pet and their circumstances.
Kitten vaccinations: frequently asked questions
At what age are kittens fully vaccinated?
Kittens are fully covered after their second vaccination on the primary course, which usually starts around eight weeks of age. So ideally they should have had their second vaccination and be fully covered after 12 weeks of age.
How many vaccinations do kittens need?
Your kitten will need two injections in their primary course, each separated by 3-4 weeks. Then they will only need one injection yearly thereafter.
References
Day, Michael J. "Small animal vaccination: a practical guide for vets in the UK." In Practice 39.3 (2017): 110-118.
“ Cat Vaccination | NOAH (National Office of Animal Health)opens in a new tab.” NOAH (National Office of Animal Health), 23 Dec. 2022. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
"Vaccinations for Cats | Help & Adviceopens in a new tab." Cats Protection 2024. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.
“ Vaccination | BSAVAopens in a new tab.” BSAVA, 13 Jan. 2023. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
“ Cat Vaccinationsopens in a new tab.” Rvc.ac.uk, 2024. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.
