Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: February 6, 2023 by Crystal Uys
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) recently released the AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines to the veterinary community. The release provides updated recommendations and the most current information for feline vaccinations.
There is no single protocol for all cats
The updated guidelines stress the need for an expanded understanding by veterinary professionals of individualized feline risk factors to determine a proper preventive healthcare plan. Vaccination plans should be tailored to each individual patient and be guided by an individual risk–benefit assessment.
Risk is determined by the patient’s life stage, lifestyle, clinical history, and health status as well as environmental and epidemiologic risk factors.
Discuss your cat’s vaccination needs with your vet
In order to ensure that your cat is not getting unnecessary vaccines, it is important that each cat parent has a thorough discussion with their veterinarian.
I’m happy to see that with each iteration of these guidelines, more emphasis is placed on tailoring vaccination protocols to each individual cat rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
You can read the complete guidelines on the AAFP website. The guidelines are also published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
