Dog and Cat Vaccine Schedule: Puppies, Kittens and Adults
Puppy and kitten shots come in a rush of appointments a few weeks apart, then settle into boosters every one to three years. This guide summarizes the schedules in the current veterinary guidelines for dogs (AAHA, 2022) and cats (AAHA/AAFP, 2020) so you know what to expect and what to keep track of. It's a reference, not veterinary advice. Your vet will tailor the plan to your pet's age, health, lifestyle and local laws.
Core and non-core vaccines
Veterinary guidelines split vaccines into two groups:
- Core vaccines are recommended for every dog or every cat, because the diseases are widespread, serious, or (in the case of rabies) required by law.
- Non-core (lifestyle) vaccines are recommended based on risk: where you live, whether your pet boards, goes to daycare, hikes in tick country, or goes outdoors.
Dog vaccine schedule
The American Animal Hospital Association's 2022 Canine Vaccination Guidelines treat these as core for dogs:
- DAPP (sometimes written DA2PP or DHPP): canine distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and usually parainfluenza in one shot.
- Rabies, given according to state and local law.
- Leptospirosis, which AAHA's 2022 update moved to the core list for dogs in North America.
Puppies
| Vaccine | Initial series | Then |
|---|---|---|
| DAPP | At least 3 doses between 6 and 16 weeks of age, given 2 to 4 weeks apart. The last dose should be at 16 weeks or later. | Booster within a year of the last puppy dose, then every 3 years |
| Leptospirosis | 2 doses, 2 to 4 weeks apart, starting no earlier than 12 weeks | Every year |
| Rabies | 1 dose, timing set by local law (commonly 12 to 16 weeks) | Booster at 1 year, then every 1 or 3 years depending on the product and law |
Adult dogs
After the first-year booster, a healthy adult dog typically needs DAPP every three years, leptospirosis every year, and rabies on the schedule your state requires. A dog with unknown history usually starts over with an adult series. Ask your vet.
Common non-core vaccines for dogs
- Bordetella and canine parainfluenza ("kennel cough"): often required by boarding kennels, groomers and daycares.
- Lyme disease: for dogs in or traveling to areas where ticks carry Lyme.
- Canine influenza (H3N2/H3N8): for dogs that mix with many other dogs or live where outbreaks have occurred.
Cat vaccine schedule
The 2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines treat these as core for cats:
- FVRCP: feline panleukopenia (FPV), herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1, the cause of "rhinotracheitis") and calicivirus (FCV).
- Rabies, given according to local law.
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV): core for kittens and cats under one year old. After that it's a lifestyle vaccine, recommended for cats that go outdoors or live with FeLV-positive cats.
Kittens
| Vaccine | Initial series | Then |
|---|---|---|
| FVRCP | Starting no earlier than 6 weeks, every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 to 20 weeks of age | Booster at about 6 months, then every 3 years for most cats |
| FeLV | 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart, starting as early as 8 weeks (after a negative FeLV test) | Booster at 12 months. Afterwards based on risk. |
| Rabies | 1 dose, timing set by local law and product (commonly 12 to 16 weeks) | Booster at 1 year, then every 1 or 3 years by product and law |
Adult and indoor cats
Indoor cats still need their core vaccines. Panleukopenia virus survives a long time in the environment and can come in on shoes, and rabies vaccination is usually a legal requirement regardless of lifestyle. The 2020 guidelines' move to a 6-month booster for FVRCP is meant to catch kittens whose maternal antibodies blocked the earlier doses.
Rabies is the one with legal deadlines
Most U.S. states and many cities require rabies vaccination for dogs, and many require it for cats. Licensing, boarding, travel and bite incidents all depend on proof of a current rabies vaccine, usually the certificate your vet signs. Keep that certificate and note its expiry date, because some vaccines are labeled for one year and others for three.
What to keep in your pet's records
- Vaccine name, date given, and the due date of the next dose (from the certificate or label, not from memory).
- Rabies tag number and certificate.
- Recurring medications such as heartworm, flea and tick preventives, with the date of each dose.
- Weight over time. Many medicine doses are weight-based, and gradual weight change is easy to miss.
- Microchip number and the registry it's listed with.
- Vet visit dates and what was done.
Boarding kennels and groomers often ask for vaccine proof at the counter, so it pays to keep these details where you can show them quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Is a puppy protected after its first shot?
No. Antibodies passed on by the mother can block early doses, which is why puppies get a series ending at 16 weeks or later. Until the series is finished, ask your vet about safe socialization and avoid places like dog parks.
Do indoor cats need vaccines?
Yes, the core ones. Panleukopenia virus can be carried indoors on shoes and clothing, and rabies vaccination is often legally required. Whether an indoor adult cat needs FeLV depends on its risk, so ask your vet.
How often do adult dogs need shots?
Under AAHA's 2022 guidelines, healthy adult dogs commonly get DAPP every three years and leptospirosis every year. Rabies is every one or three years, depending on the vaccine and local law. Non-core vaccines vary.
What if a booster is overdue?
Call your vet. Depending on the vaccine and how late it is, they may give a single booster or restart the series.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Always follow your veterinarian's recommendations.