What the core vaccines protect against
Nearly all cats, regardless of breed or lifestyle, are recommended two core protections. The first is against feline panleukopenia, sometimes called cat distemper, a highly contagious virus that can be life-threatening, especially for kittens. The second covers the two main causes of cat flu, feline herpesvirus and calicivirus, which lead to sneezing, runny eyes and mouth ulcers. Depending on where you live and how your cat lives, your vet may also recommend extras such as rabies or feline leukemia vaccine.
The kitten schedule
Kittens are usually vaccinated for the first time at around eight weeks of age, with a second dose at around twelve weeks. This two-step start is needed because antibodies from the mother's milk fade gradually and can block a single early dose from working fully. A booster at about one year of age then locks in long-term protection. If you get a kitten from a breeder, the first doses are often already done, so check the vaccination record and book the next appointment yourself.
Boosters through adult life
After the first-year booster, the schedule becomes individual and is best planned together with your vet. Protection against cat flu tends to be shorter-lived, so cats with higher exposure, like those who go outside or meet other cats, often get that part yearly. Panleukopenia protection lasts longer, and many vets boost it only every three years. Recommendations vary between countries and vaccine brands, so treat these intervals as typical rather than universal.
Indoor cats, travel and cat shows
It is tempting to skip vaccines for a cat that never goes outside, but the panleukopenia virus is tough and can hitch a ride indoors on shoes, clothing and hands. That is why vets recommend core vaccinations even for strictly indoor cats. If you plan to travel across borders, show your cat or use it in breeding, valid vaccinations and often a rabies certificate are required, and the rules differ by country and organization. Check the requirements well ahead of time so there is room to complete any missing doses.