Pet health
Cats need a clear vaccination routine just as much as dogs, but the schedule and the diseases are different. This guide covers the kitten FVRCP series, the mandatory rabies vaccine, adult boosters, and typical costs in India — plus why even strictly indoor cats need the core shots. This is general guidance; your veterinarian sets the final schedule.
Like puppies, kittens lose their mother-derived immunity over the first few months, so the core vaccine is given as a series rather than a single shot.
Keep kittens indoors and away from unvaccinated cats until the series is complete.
FVRCP is the core combination vaccine for cats, covering three contagious and dangerous diseases:
Rabies vaccination is legally mandatory in India for cats as well as dogs. The first dose is given at around 12 to 16 weeks, followed by boosters as advised by your vet — typically annually. Because rabies is fatal and transmissible to humans, this vaccine should never be skipped, even for a cat that never leaves the house.
Yes. It's a common myth that indoor cats are safe without vaccination. Viruses like panleukopenia are extremely hardy and can be carried into the home on shoes, clothing, or hands. A cat that slips out briefly, or one introduced to a new pet, faces real risk. The core schedule — FVRCP and rabies — applies regardless of lifestyle; only some optional vaccines depend on outdoor exposure.
After the kitten series, cats receive an FVRCP booster one year later and then periodically as advised, with annual rabies boosters. On cost: a rabies dose is typically around ₹350, FVRCP runs a few hundred rupees per dose, and the full kitten series generally falls in the ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 range. Adult boosters cost less than the initial series.
Cats are easy to under-vaccinate simply because the records get lost and the next-due date slips by. Keeping a dated log of each vaccine — what it was, when it was given, and when the next is due — prevents lapses in immunity.
FurSphere is being built to keep each pet's vaccination history clean and to surface the next due date before it passes, whether you have one cat or a multi-pet household.
Kittens usually start FVRCP vaccinations at 6 to 8 weeks, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks. FVRCP protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. The rabies vaccine is given at around 12 to 16 weeks. Confirm the exact schedule with your veterinarian.
Yes. Even indoor cats need core vaccines, especially rabies, which is legally mandatory, and FVRCP. Viruses can enter the home on clothing or through brief outdoor exposure, and panleukopenia is highly contagious and often fatal. Indoor cats may need fewer optional vaccines, but the core schedule still applies.
A single rabies dose is typically around ₹350, and FVRCP runs a few hundred rupees per dose. The full kitten series generally falls in the ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 range, with annual adult boosters costing less. Prices vary by city and clinic, so check locally.
The core cat vaccine is FVRCP, while dogs receive DHPPiL — they protect against different diseases. Both species require the mandatory rabies vaccine. The timing of the kitten and puppy series is broadly similar, starting at 6 to 8 weeks with boosters until about 16 weeks, but the specific vaccines differ.
