Cat Health Guide

Enter a birth date and get the full cat vaccination schedule, including the next booster due. Plus the best window to spay or neuter, your cat’s age in human years, breed-specific conditions to watch, and a checkup guide.

Cat’s date of birth

Size

Sex

Cat’s age (in years)

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Cat vaccination schedule — core vs. non-core, and how often to booster

The kitten series isn’t the end of it — but that doesn’t mean every vaccine needs repeating each year. Intervals differ by vaccine, and by how your cat lives.

Booster schedule after the kitten series

Vaccine	Booster interval	Notes
Rabies Required by law	Once a year	Set by state law — indoor cats included in most states
CVRP Core	1 year after shot #3, then every 3 years	WSAVA guidance. A titer test can replace the booster
FeLV	Once a year for at-risk cats; otherwise ask your vet	Essential for outdoor and multi-cat homes. For strictly indoor cats, discuss it first

💡 Indoor cats still need the FVRCP series. You can carry the virus in on your clothes and shoes, and infection through a vent or an open window is possible too.

How often to schedule a checkup, by age

Cats are exceptionally good at hiding illness. By the time you can see the symptoms, the disease is often well advanced.

Age	How often	What gets checked
Kitten (under 1 year)	At every vaccine visit	Weight and growth, parasites, congenital problems, mouth check
Adult (1-7 years)	Once a year	Blood and urine panel, heart auscultation, teeth, kidney baseline
Senior (7+)	Twice a year	Complete blood count, kidney values (BUN/creatinine), thyroid, blood pressure, ultrasound

⚠️ The leading cause of death in cats is chronic kidney disease. From age 7, check kidney values every six months. Caught early, a prescription diet can slow it down dramatically.

Inherited conditions to watch, by breed

Purebred cats carry specific inherited risks. Know them before you adopt, and screen for them regularly.

Breed	Watch for	What to do
Scottish Fold	Osteochondrodysplasia — the folded-ear gene affects cartilage everywhere in the body	Joint X-rays every 6-12 months. Limit high jumps
Persian and Chinchilla	Polycystic kidney disease (PKD), breathing problems	Yearly kidney ultrasound. Keep nose and eye discharge under control
Maine Coon and Ragdoll	Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) — silent in its early stages	A yearly heart ultrasound is recommended
British Shorthair	HCM, PKD	Regular heart and kidney screening
Bengal	Pyruvate kinase deficiency, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Ask for genetic testing before you adopt

Teeth and mouth care

About 70% of cats over 3 have gum disease. One condition in particular, tooth resorption (FORL)is unique to cats: the tooth slowly dissolves away and it hurts badly. It only shows on an X-ray, so a yearly dental exam is recommended.

Source: WSAVA — Vaccination Guidelines for dogs and cats

Brush daily: Cat toothpaste only — never human paste, and never anything with xylitol
When to start: Begin in kittenhood by getting them used to having their mouth touched
Dental cleaning: A cleaning under anesthesia once a year from age 2-3. Bloodwork before anesthesia is a must

Frequently asked questions

Does my cat need FVRCP every year?

WSAVA guidance is one booster a year after the kitten series, then every three years. Rabies is set separately by state law — yearly in some states, every three years in others. The most precise approach is a titer test that measures your cat’s actual immunity before you decide. Talk it through with your vet.

How can I tell my cat is sick?

Cats instinctively hide it. Go to the vet if you see any of these: appetite down for more than a day, a sudden change in how much they drink, a change in litter box habits, vomiting more than twice a week, rapid weight change, stopping grooming, hiding more than usual, or a change in the way they walk. By the time symptoms are visible, things are often already serious.

Are Scottish Fold health problems really that bad?

Yes. The Fd gene that folds the ears affects cartilage throughout the body. Every Scottish Fold carries some degree of osteochondrodysplasia, and joint pain lasts a lifetime. Because of this, breeding the Scottish Fold has been banned or restricted in the UK and several European countries.

My cat is 7 and looks healthy — do I need more checkups?

Yes. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends the senior protocol from age 7. Kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and diabetes are completely silent early on. Twice-yearly visits from 7 establish a kidney baseline so changes get caught fast — and caught early, feline kidney disease can be slowed by years with the right diet.

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