You can purchase vaccination from an animal pharmacy (for about 2BHD) and vaccinate your cat at home.
It’s easier than you think!
- It’s Much Less Expensive: You can save a lot of money by vaccinating at home.
- It’s Easy: While you may feel a little nervous the first time, it gets easier every time you do it. Most vaccines are given under the loose skin low over the shoulder or on the rear leg.
- It’s Less Stressful On Your Pet: The comfortable surroundings of your home are the most natural and relaxed place to vaccinate your pet. And it’s convenient to you.
Be sure to understand what kind of vaccine you are ordering, before you purchase it or administer it.
WARNING! Do not vaccinate your cat at the neck (scruff). This practice is no longer recommended by vets.
Subcutaneous vaccinations are those given just under the skin, while some other vaccines for cats may be intranasal which are given as drops in the nose and eyes.
Both types are easy enough for many pet owners to administer at home.
If the needle and syringe are not included in the vaccine you order, you will need to purchase them separately. Be sure you have separate needles/syringes for each vaccine and cat in your home and do not use them more than once.
Some cat vaccines come in a single vial that requires no mixing and are ready to use. Others vaccines, however, come with two vials – a powder and a liquid portion. Combining the two activates the vaccine.
Injectable Vaccines
The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recommends that each type of feline vaccine be given to cats in a specific location on the body.
For feline 3-way or 4-way combination vaccines that do NOT contain feline leukemia, the injection should be given on the outside portion of the right front leg below the elbow joint.
For rabies vaccines (which are administered by your veterinarian) the injection should be given subcutaneously on the outside of the right rear leg below the knee.
For feline leukemia vaccines, the injection should be given on the outside of the left rear leg, below the knee.
Position yourself next to your cat’s right shoulder, opposite your helper, with your cat between the two of you. Have your helper hold your cat gently, possibly distracting her with a toy or a treat. When giving the vaccine, remove the cap from the needle, lift the skin at the injection site, and insert the needle. Pull back on the syringe to be sure you are not in a blood vessel, in which case blood would come into the syringe. Inject the entire amount of vaccine.
It’s that easy and safe. Your pet will hardly notice the injection.
When you have finished vaccinating your cat, recap the needle and set it aside. Do not dispose of the needle or syringe in your garbage. We suggest you take it to your local pharmacy or public health clinic for disposal.
After your vaccination session, be sure to reward your good cat with a small treat and lots of praise. Also, monitor your cat for several hours after the vaccination.
Intranasal vaccines
Some vaccines are not injectable, but instead are designed to be applied in your cat’s nose and eyes. These vaccines will need to be mixed.
To give this type of vaccine, remove the metal seal and rubber stopper from each vial. Using the enclosed dropper, rehydrate the dry portion of the vaccine with the accompanying liquid portion of the vaccine. Replace the rubber stopper and shake until dissolved. Remove the stopper and immediately withdraw the rehydrated vaccine into the dropper.
Place one drop of vaccine in the corner of each eye.
The remaining vaccine is administered by placing the vaccine equally in each nostril as the animal inhales.
After administering intranasal vaccines, be sure to reward your good cat with a small treat and lots of praise. Also monitor your cat for several hours after the vaccination. As always, if you have any questions about your cat’s vaccine, or observe any abnormal activity in your cat, please call your veterinarian.
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