What are the MINIMUM shots a cat needs?

College student, don't have a lot of money. Everytime I go to vet they charge me out the wall and I don't have the money to be spendingMy question is, what are the minimum amount of shots and things I need. My cat is 10 weeks old and he is an indoor cat. We live on th upper floor of an apartment so he NEVER goes outside. He has been tested for feline aids and leukemia, had a parasite test, had a deworming gel, and just got some sort of booster that I'm supposibly supposed to get 2 more times. I looked at the humane society and I thought it said I only needed FVRCP and FELV and rabies. PLEASE CLEAR THIS UP FOR ME SO I DON'T GET FOOLED INTO UNNECESSARILY SPENDING MONEY

An unvaccinated cat or kitten needs a minimum of two FVRCP vaccines. After that it's 1 booster in a year, then every three years. Rabies vaccine is given at 12 weeks, boostered in a year, and then every three years. FVRPC and rabies are considered the "core" vaccines, FeLV and the others available out there are not needed for an indoor kitty. The only other expense you may want to consider now that he's been tested and dewormed would be a monthly flea treatment (which might only be needed during the warm weather months) as you can bring fleas in on your clothing and shoes.

Keeping him indoors will save you ever so much money in the long run though - you don't have to worry (for the most part) about parasites, bite wounds, injuries - and so on.

I'm assuming you are in the US. Our local humane society holds monthly shot clinics for dogs and cats for $5 a piece. They give the FVRCP (which your kitten SHOULD have) and rabies (which your cat doesn't need although the "law" requires it and you would need that for vet visits - maybe- and if you have to board the cat.)

So check if this is done locally.

There is a traveling professional service that goes on Saturdays and Sundays to various pet stores in our locale. They charge $15 per shot.

You definitely need teh FVRCP shot. For a kitten, you have to do it twice or three times in a row (spaced a few weeks apart). Then, when he's a little bit older you will need to do rabies... I think it's supposed to be at 12 weeks.

That's it. Then in a year, he'll need those things again. FeLV vaccine is not necessary for an indoor cat.

I'm not sure what the minimums are but you will need boosters.. That just part of the whole process.

If you think your vet is trying to rip you off you should get a second opinion.. However, cats are expensive. If you can not afford to get it properly vaccinated then you probably shouldn't own one.

http://www.catvaccines.com/chart_of_vacc...

This link gives you a list of vaccines from kittens to adults. If you have 5-6 free hours a month, find out if you can volunteer at your local vet. clinic or ASPCA, in exchange for pet care.

Yeah, well a good vet won't try and take your money by advising every shot under the sun to your cat.

My vet says 2 are necessary--distemper and rabies, and advises feline leukemia vaccination as well. She also says there are a million other shots available to cats but they are unnecessary and the diseases are very unlikely, especially if the cat is indoors and not in contact with other cats. (An especially expensive shot is the kitty HIV shot--don't do it, it's silly).

Think about it this way--there are cats surviving all over the world without any medication or special treatment (think of the poorer countries), and stray cats living in every city that have never had any shots and they are healthy as ever.

Anyway, the two biggies are rabies and distemper. Deworming and flea/tick baths are necessary too.

The booster is a vaccine against distemper. Normally, they get one at eight weeks, another at 10-12 weeks, and the last one around spay/neuter time, normally 16-18 weeks (depending on your vet). Then at age one, a regular distemper which can be good for three years. Distemper is often called FVRCP, as it is multiple protection. If required by Law, then rabies, normally around six months.

I am guessing that since they don't know about previous vaccinations, you are being asked to have three booster distemper shots given. That is normal. He already has gotten his first.

Unless your cat is at special risk, and indoor cats aren't, those two are the only ones you need. Distemper and rabies. Any others are normally a waste of money, and can be adverse.