Health & wellness
If you share your life with a dog or cat, vaccinations are one of the simplest and most effective ways to help protect their health.
In short, dogs and cats need a set of core vaccinations that protect them against serious and highly contagious diseases. Depending on your pet’s lifestyle, environment and risk of exposure, your vet may also recommend additional non-core vaccines.
Vaccinations don’t just protect your own pet. They also help reduce the spread of disease in the wider pet community, which helps keep other dogs and cats safe too.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the core vaccinations dogs and cats need, when they’re usually given, and why they matter for your pet’s long-term health and wellbeing.
Table of contents
Why vaccinations are important for pets
Vaccinations work by training your pet’s immune system to recognise and fight specific diseases before they have a chance to cause serious illness.
Some illnesses prevented by vaccines are highly contagious and can spread quickly between animals. Others can lead to life-threatening complications or require intensive and costly treatment. In most cases, vaccinating your pet to protect them from diseases is both safer and more effective than trying to treat the disease after it occurs.
There’s also a community benefit. When more pets are vaccinated, it reduces the overall spread of infectious diseases, helping to protect other animals (especially those who are more vulnerable to illnesses).
In other words, vaccinating your pet isn’t just about their health, it’s about protecting the wider animal community too.
What vaccinations do dogs need?
Core vaccines
Most dogs receive core vaccinations, commonly referred to in Australia as the C3 vaccine.
These vaccines protect against three serious viral diseases:
- Canine distemper virus
- Canine adenovirus (hepatitis)
- Canine parvovirus
These diseases can cause severe symptoms in dogs, including neurological problems, organ damage, and life-threatening gastrointestinal disease. Parvovirus, in particular, is highly contagious and can spread quickly in environments where dogs come into contact with other dogs or their faeces.
Because these diseases are so serious and widespread, core vaccinations are recommended for all dogs unless a vet advises otherwise. Your vet may also recommend serological testing (titre testing) to check your dog’s immunity levels and help guide future vaccination decisions.
Non-core vaccines
In addition to core vaccines, some dogs may benefit from non-core vaccinations depending on their lifestyle and environment.
These may include protection against:
- Canine parainfluenza virus
- Bordetella bronchiseptica (a common cause of kennel cough)
- Leptospirosis
Non-core vaccinations are typically recommended for dogs who:
- Socialise regularly with other dogs
- Attend parks, training classes, grooming salons, or boarding facilities
- Spend time in environments where respiratory infections can spread easily
- Stay in areas where these diseases are common
Vaccines for canine parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica are also commonly given alongside a dog’s core vaccinations. When these additional protections are included, this broader combination is often referred to as a C5 vaccination.
By covering these extra respiratory pathogens, the C5 vaccine helps reduce the risk and severity of canine cough, supporting dogs to stay healthier and more comfortable as they socialise, play, and explore the world around them.
Your vet will consider your dog’s daily routine, the environment they live in, travel habits and social exposure before recommending the most appropriate vaccination plan.
What vaccinations do cats need?
Core vaccines
Cats also receive core vaccinations that protect them against several common and potentially serious diseases. In Australia, these vaccines are often combined into a single injection known as the F3 vaccine.
Core cat vaccinations protect against:
- Feline panleukopaenia (also known as feline parvovirus or enteritis)
- Feline calicivirus
- Feline herpesvirus
These viruses are major causes of illness in cats. For example, Panleukopaenia can cause severe gastrointestinal disease and dehydration, while calicivirus and herpesvirus are commonly associated with upper respiratory infections often referred to as ‘cat flu’.
Even cats who spend most of their time indoors benefit from vaccination, as some viruses can spread through contaminated surfaces, including shoes and clothes, or brief contact with infected animals.
Non-core vaccines
Depending on their lifestyle, some cats may benefit from additional vaccines beyond the core F3 protection. For example, cats who spend time outdoors, interact with unfamiliar cats, or live in multi-cat households or high-risk areas, may have a higher chance of exposure to certain infections.
These may include vaccines for:
- Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
- Chlamydia felis
Your vet will look at factors such as whether your cat goes outdoors, socialises with other cats, or lives in a high-risk area when recommending additional vaccinations.
When should puppies and kittens be vaccinated?
Vaccinations help young animals develop their own long-term immunity, ensuring they’re protected as they grow and explore the world around them.
Puppies and kittens usually begin their vaccination schedule at around six to eight weeks of age. This is followed by a series of booster shots every two to four weeks until they’re around 16 weeks old.
Once your puppy or kitten has received their core vaccinations, a booster is recommended at six months of age.
Why multiple vaccinations are needed
When puppies and kittens are born, they receive temporary protection through antibodies in their mother’s milk. But this protection fades over time, and not always at the same rate for every pet.
That’s why vaccinations are given in stages. This approach helps ensure that at least one vaccine is given when maternal antibodies are low enough for the immune system to respond properly. Without this, some young pets could remain unprotected during a critical stage of development.
The role of booster vaccinations
Booster vaccinations are additional doses of a vaccine, given to restore, strengthen, and maintain protection against infections. The first booster after completing the core puppy or kitten vaccination course is usually administered at six months of age.
A further booster is then typically recommended every 12 to 36 months, depending on your vet’s advice, to help maintain protection over time.
These follow-up boosters play an important role in your pet’s long-term health and can:
- Strengthen immune memory in pets who responded later or less effectively to earlier vaccines
- Extend protection from short-term to longer-lasting immunity
- Help ensure reliable protection as your pet moves into adulthood
Tailoring the schedule to your pet
Every pet is a little different. In some cases, your vet may recommend serological testing (titre testing) to check your pet’s immunity levels and help guide future vaccination decisions. This is often used for adult pets with an unknown vaccination history.
What your pup or kitten’s vaccination schedule may look like
A typical vaccination schedule may look like this:
| 6–8 weeks | First puppy/kitten vaccination |
| 10–12 weeks | Second puppy/kitten vaccination |
| 14–16 weeks | Third puppy/kitten vaccination |
| 6 months | Puppy/kitten booster vaccination |
| Every 12 –36 months (depending on your vet’s recommendation) | Adult booster vaccination |
Following this schedule helps ensure your pet’s vaccines are effective, helping them to grow, explore, and thrive with confidence.
Do adult pets still need booster vaccinations?
Yes. Even after the initial vaccination course, adult pets still need booster vaccinations to maintain their protection. Over time, immunity can fade. Booster shots help ‘remind’ the immune system how to recognise and fight certain diseases.
For most adult dogs and cats, booster vaccinations are recommended every one to three years, depending on the type of vaccine, your pet’s lifestyle, and your vet’s advice.
Regular vet visits are important because they allow your vet to:
- Review your pet’s vaccination history
- Check their overall health
- Make sure your pet is up to date with their flea and deworming treatment
- Discuss any lifestyle changes
- Recommend additional protection if needed
Think of vaccination as an ongoing part of caring for your pet’s wellbeing, rather than a once-off task.
Protecting your pet’s health beyond vaccinations
Vaccinations play a vital role in preventive care, but they’re just one part of helping your pet stay healthy.
To support your dog or cat’s health and wellbeing, it’s also important to:
- Schedule regular vet check-ups
- Keep parasite prevention and vaccinations up to date
- Provide a balanced diet and daily exercise
- Watch for changes in behaviour or health
Even with the best care, accidents and illness can still happen. And when they do, the cost of treatment can sometimes come as a surprise. That’s when having pet insurance can provide peace of mind.
While pet insurance is designed to help cover a portion of your eligible vet bills, RSPCA Pet Insurance takes it one step further, allowing you to tailor cover to your and your pet’s needs, while supporting the RSPCA’s vital animal welfare initiatives. So while you’re protecting your pet, you’re also helping to make a difference for animals in need across Australia.
To learn more about how RSPCA Pet Insurance could support you and your pet, click here. Or, if you’re ready to take the next step, you can fetch a commitment-free pet insurance quote online.
Disclaimer
As with any insurance, terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement to make sure this cover suits your needs.
References
[1] RSPCA Australia. What vaccinations should my dog receive? RSPCA Knowledgebase. Available from: https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/dogs/caring-for-my-dog/what-vaccinations-should-my-dog-receive
[2] RSPCA Australia. What vaccinations should my cat receive? RSPCA Knowledgebase. Available from: https://kb.rspca.org.au/categories/companion-animals/cats/caring-for-my-cat/what-vaccinations-should-my-cat-receive
FAQs
Dogs and cats both need core vaccinations that protect them from serious and contagious diseases. Dogs commonly receive the C3 vaccine, which protects against distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus. Cats usually receive the F3 vaccine, which protects against feline panleukopaenia, calicivirus, and herpesvirus. Your vet may also recommend additional non-core vaccinations (such as the kennel cough vaccine for dogs) depending on your pet’s lifestyle and the environment they live in.
Puppies and kittens usually start their vaccination schedule between six and eight weeks of age and typically receive a series of booster shots every two to four weeks until they’re around 16 weeks old. Once they’ve received their core vaccines, a booster vaccine is recommended at six months of age to ensure that a protective immune response develops in any puppy or kitten who may not have responded to the initial vaccination course. The booster is then repeated 12–36 months later, depending on your vet’s recommendation.
Yes. Even indoor cats can benefit from vaccination. Some viruses can be carried into the home on clothing, shoes, or contaminated surfaces, and brief contact with other animals can still pose a risk. Vaccinations help protect cats from several serious illnesses that can spread easily between animals.
Adult pets usually require booster vaccinations every one to three years, depending on the vaccine type, and your vet’s recommendation. Booster shots help maintain your pet’s immunity and ensure they stay protected against certain dangerous diseases over time.
It’s important for all dogs to have an annual (or more frequent) health check with their vet, even if they’re on a vaccination schedule that doesn’t require them to be vaccinated every year. Seeing your vet regularly makes it easier to spot problems early on and keeps your pet comfortable and healthy.
Routine or preventative care, such as vaccinations, isn’t always covered under standard pet insurance policies, as these are considered expected healthcare costs. Some insurers may offer optional preventative care benefits, so it’s always important to check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand what is and isn’t covered.
If you’re considering pet insurance to help with unexpected vet bills, RSPCA Pet Insurance offers customisable cover that can be tailored to suit your pet’s needs and your budget. Choosing RSPCA Pet Insurance also helps to support the RSPCA’s important work of protecting and caring for animals in need across Australia.
As with any insurance, terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Please read the Product Disclosure Statement to make sure this cover suits your needs.
