Cat Vaccinations in the UAE: A Vet's Complete Guide for Every Life Stage (2026)

Core vs. non-core vaccines — what the terms mean

Core vaccines

These are recommended for every cat, regardless of lifestyle, location, or indoor/outdoor status. The diseases they prevent are either so severe that infection is often fatal, so contagious that exposure is nearly impossible to avoid, or a legal requirement (rabies). Core vaccines are not optional — they are the baseline of responsible cat ownership.

Non-core vaccines

These are recommended for specific cats based on lifestyle and risk exposure. An indoor-only cat in a single-cat apartment has different risk factors than an outdoor cat in a multi-cat compound. Your vet assesses which non-core vaccines are appropriate during the consultation. Non-core doesn't mean unimportant — it means the decision is individualised rather than universal.

The vaccines your cat needs in the UAE

Core vaccines (every cat)

1. FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)

This is the "combination vaccine" — a single injection that protects against three diseases:

• Feline Panleukopenia (FPV) — often called feline parvovirus or feline distemper. Highly contagious, especially among kittens, and frequently fatal. The virus survives in the environment for months. Panleukopenia is present in the UAE and is one of the most common causes of kitten death in unvaccinated populations.
• Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1 / Rhinotracheitis) — causes upper respiratory infection with sneezing, nasal discharge, eye ulcers, and fever. Once infected, cats carry the virus for life and can relapse during stress. Extremely common in UAE shelters, breeding facilities, and multi-cat households.
• Feline Calicivirus (FCV) — another upper respiratory pathogen causing oral ulcers, sneezing, and pneumonia. Highly contagious, widely circulating in the UAE.

FVRCP is the most important vaccine your cat will receive. At Pawspact, we use premium vaccine brands including Nobivac, Purevax, Virbac, and Bioveta — selected for their safety profile, efficacy data, and suitability for the UAE market. It is given as a kitten series and boosted throughout life.

2. Rabies

Rabies vaccination is legally required in the UAE under MOCCAE regulations. It is also required for any pet travel or relocation. Rabies is fatal in all species, including humans, and there is no treatment once symptoms appear.

For full details on rabies requirements, see: Rabies Vaccination for Cats in the UAE — MOCCAE Requirements.

Non-core vaccines (based on risk assessment)

3. Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV)

FeLV is a retrovirus that suppresses the immune system and can cause lymphoma and severe anaemia. It spreads through close contact — mutual grooming, shared food bowls, bite wounds, and from mother to kitten.

Recommended for: cats that go outdoors, cats in multi-cat households where FeLV status of all cats is not confirmed, and kittens (even if planned to be indoor-only).

Important: we recommend FeLV testing before vaccination. There is no benefit to vaccinating a cat that is already FeLV-positive.

4. Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

FIP is caused by a mutation of feline coronavirus. There is currently no effective vaccine against FIP widely available or recommended. However, FIP is now treatable with GS-441524 antiviral protocols. At Pawspact, Dr. Ahmad Waqas has extensive clinical experience treating FIP. For more information, see: FIP, FIV, and FeLV — What UAE Cat Owners Need to Know.

Summary table

Kitten vaccination schedule

The standard kitten schedule at Pawspact

Why two FVRCP doses?

Maternal antibodies can interfere with vaccination — if a kitten still has high levels of maternal antibodies when vaccinated, the vaccine may not "take" fully. The two-dose series — with the booster given three weeks after the first dose — ensures that the kitten's own immune system has time to respond and build reliable protection.

Skipping the second dose (the booster) is one of the most common — and most dangerous — mistakes we see. A kitten with only one FVRCP dose may not be fully protected. The booster is essential.

For a detailed week-by-week guide, see: Kitten Vaccination Schedule in Abu Dhabi — What Shots and When.

Adult cat vaccination schedule

An important note on over-vaccination

WSAVA and ISFM guidelines recommend a 3-year interval for core vaccines in adult cats after the initial booster series. At Pawspact, we follow the evidence: annual wellness exams, but core vaccination only when it's actually due. The exam is annual. The vaccine schedule follows the science.

Senior cat vaccination considerations

As cats age, their immune system changes. We continue rabies as legally required, continue FVRCP on the 3-year schedule unless there's a medical reason to pause, and typically discontinue FeLV in senior indoor cats with no exposure risk. Annual wellness exams become more important, not less — senior cats are masters at hiding illness.

MOCCAE and UAE legal requirements

• Rabies vaccination is mandatory for all cats in the UAE
• Proof of rabies vaccination is required for pet registration, travel, and relocation
• MOCCAE may require additional vaccinations for import/export

At Pawspact, we provide all travel-related vaccinations and documentation.

Indoor cats — do they still need vaccines?

Yes. Panleukopenia virus survives on surfaces for months — you can carry it home on your shoes. Upper respiratory viruses can be brought in by new animals or vet clinic visits. Rabies is legally required regardless of indoor/outdoor status. And indoor cats escape — it happens more often than anyone expects in Abu Dhabi apartments.

For the detailed case, see: Do Indoor Cats Need Vaccinations? A UAE Vet's Answer.

How vaccines actually work

A vaccine introduces a harmless version of a pathogen into your cat's body. The immune system recognises it, mounts a response, and — critically — remembers the pathogen. If your cat later encounters the real disease, the immune system destroys it before it can cause illness.

Boosters strengthen and extend the response. For kittens, the two-dose series — with the booster given three weeks after the first — ensures the immune system builds reliable, lasting protection.

Side effects — what's normal and what's not

Normal (no action needed)

• Mild lethargy for 12–24 hours
• Slight soreness at the injection site
• Reduced appetite for one meal
• Mild, transient fever

Uncommon but worth watching

• Swelling at the injection site persisting beyond 48 hours — call us
• Vomiting or diarrhea — usually self-limiting, call if it persists
• Facial swelling or hives — allergic reaction, call us same-day

Rare and serious

• Anaphylaxis — severe allergic reaction within minutes. Extremely rare. This is why we ask you to wait at the clinic for 15–20 minutes after injection.
• Injection-site sarcoma (FISS) — approximately 1 in 10,000–30,000 vaccinations. One reason WSAVA recommends vaccinating only as often as scientifically necessary.

For the full guide, see: Cat Vaccination Side Effects — What's Normal and What's Not.

How much vaccinations cost in Abu Dhabi

At Pawspact, we believe you should know what vaccinations cost before you book.

Kitten vaccination package

Adult cat vaccination

All prices exclusive of 5% VAT.

Every vaccination visit includes: full physical examination, vaccination administration, updated vaccination record, parasite prevention check, nutritional and weight assessment, and time for your questions.

For the full pricing breakdown, see: Cat Vaccination Cost in Abu Dhabi (2026 Prices).

Book your cat's vaccination

Whether it's your kitten's first visit or your senior cat's annual check, every vaccination at Pawspact starts with a thorough examination and ends with a clear plan for what comes next. No unnecessary vaccines. No missing vaccines. Just the right protection at the right time.

Book a vaccination appointment →
Call: 02 674 7484
WhatsApp: 02 622 7260