Last Updated: 20/07/2025
What to Do During a Cat Vaccine Shortage
Read about the worldwide shortage of cat vaccines in 2023. We answer the FAQs and provide guidance on how to best keep your cat protected from disease.
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 7 minutes - short read
In late 2023, there existed a worldwide shortage of cat vaccines, with supplies not expected to be replenished until January 2024 at the earliest. Obviously this caused concern for cat owners Australia-wide, with understandable questions about how they could best protect their cat and ensure their ongoing health.
In this guide, we answer the common questions that will naturally arise from a shortage of cat vaccines, should it occur again in the future, to allay your concerns, and provide suggestions and guidance on how to best keep your cat protected from the diseases that we commonly vaccinate against. Please note that the information below relates specifically to the shortage of vaccines that occurred in late 2023.
For information regarding the usual cat vaccination schedule and the diseases against which vets commonly vaccinate cats, take a read through our Cat Vaccination Guide.
In this article
- Why was there a shortage?
- Which vaccines were in short supply?
- Which cats were affected?
- What happens if a cat misses a vaccine?
- What about kittens?
- When did the shortage end?
- What can I do to protect my cat if there is a shortage of vaccines?
- What do I do if I am going on holidays and need someone to care for my cat?
- Adoptions from rescue organisations
Why was there a shortage of cat vaccines?
The shortage developed from a number of factors, including production facilities shifting their focus to the manufacture of COVID vaccines, global supply issues post-COVID, and the increased adoption of cats over the previous years.
Which vaccines were in short supply?
The core F3 vaccine, which protects against Feline Panleukopaenia (Parvovirus), Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpesvirus, were affected. Vaccines against FIV were also in short supply with the same expected replenishment date. Supply of cat-flu only vaccines, which protect against Feline Calicivirus and Feline Herpesvirus, may also have become affected as demand may be higher for these while the F3 vaccines are out of stock.
Which cats were affected?
Kittens, or previously unvaccinated adult cats requiring their primary vaccination course, or adult cats whose booster vaccinations due in the next few months were most affected.
What happens if a cat misses a vaccine?
For an adult cat who has at a minimum had their initial series of 3 kitten vaccinations AND their first adult booster, a delay of less than 3 months is unlikely to be of concern, as they will retain a level of immunity.
All vaccine manufacturers perform clinical studies on their products, from which they determine the minimum period for which an animal will be protected by that vaccine. It is important to know that for some diseases (especially feline panleukopaenia) studies support a duration of immunity much greater than that reflected on product labels7 (antibody titres again Feline Herpesvirus, Feline Calicivirus and Feline Panleukopaenia persisted for at least 3 years in one study10). However, as mentioned above, this will vary on a case-by-case basis, so we do recommend that you discuss with your vet if your cat has underlying health or lifestyle issues which may increase their risk of disease.
What about kittens?
For kittens, as well as adult cats who have either not received their primary vaccinations, or have not received their first adult booster (defined as a vaccine given at 6 months of age or older), the risk of disease is high. Vaccination of these animals is a priority, and vets will generally retain whatever supply of vaccines they have for these cats. Furthermore, your vet may alter their usual primary vaccination protocol from a 3 vaccination protocol to 2 (or even a single dose). At this stage, splitting the doses of vaccines is not recommended as the efficacy of partial doses is unknown7. Kittens should be kept in a safe environment, away from unvaccinated adult cats (or those with unknown vaccination status), as much as possible. It is also very important to maintain regular health checks with your veterinarian for kittens, and ensure they are kept up to date with regular parasite preventatives.
When did the cat vaccine shortage end?
The supply of cat vaccines was expected to be replenised in January 2024. However, this was not guaranteed, and there was likely to be very high demand for vaccines when they did become available, meaning that there may not have been sufficient supply for all cats at that time.
Your vet will prioritise cats for vaccination based on risk, once vaccines do become available. If there is more than a few months delay in vaccination for your adult cat, your vet may recommend giving 2 booster doses, one month apart. This decision will be made based on level of disease risk to your cat, as well as their previous vaccination status.
What can I do to protect my cat if there is a shortage of vaccines?
There are certain things that you can do to reduce the risk of contracting disease, especially if they remain overdue for their primary or booster vaccinations.
- Keep cats indoors, and away from other cats (outside of their existing feline family members).
- Ensure good hygiene procedures if you come in contact with cats outside your home - wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and change and wash your clothes.
- Consider utilising pet sitters rather than boarding facilities or catteries if you need to travel.
- Don't forget to keep up with regular veterinary checks, and regular parasite control for your cat. In some cases, your vet may recommend antibody-titre testing, to check your kitten or cat's existing immunity to the diseases that we commonly vaccinate against.
What do I do if I am going on holidays and need someone to care for my cat?
The vaccine shortage came at a difficult time of year, when many owners place their cats in boarding facilities or catteries during the holiday season.
There are mandatory boarding codes of practice in several states which do not permit admission of cats to boarding facilities unless they are up to date with their vaccinations.4 However, in response to the nation-wide shortage of cat vaccines, the NSW government waived the requirement for adult cats to be up to date with their vaccinations prior to boarding stays until 31 January 2024 8.
In Victoria however, the requirement still remained in place. Under the state's Code of Practice for the Operation of Boarding Establishments, all cats must be vaccinated within the preceding 12 months before being admitted to a boarding facility9. However, there was acknowledgement of the challenges that this requirement posed in the environment at the time and these catteries had recourse to approach their relevant local council to discuss the best course of action5.
What does this mean for you?
If your boarding facility or cattery does agree to accept your cat for boarding despite not being up to date with their core vaccinations, it is important to understand that the closer proximity to other cats (who also may not be up to date with their own vaccinations), and potential heightened stress levels can increase the risk of disease to your cat. Your boarding facility may ask you to sign paperwork acknowledging this.
Understandably, you may not wish to take the risk of boarding your cat in this situation (nor may you be able to depending on your facility). In this case, we would highly recommend seeking out a family member, friend or pet-sitter who may be able to visit your home daily or even come and stay, in order to care for your cat.
Adoptions from rescue organisations
Rescue organisations such as Pet Rescue and the RSPCA continued to adopt or foster out cats and kittens to minimise the risk to individual pets, and minimise the impact on shelters. This was managed carefully, with full disclosure for unvaccinated cats, and under the agreement that these kittens and cats were to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Requirements around the adoption of unvaccinated cats and kitten varied from state to state.
Navigating the cat vaccine shortage required a focus on risk reduction and proactive care, and provides good lessons for similar situations in the future. It is crucial to follow your vet's guidance, as they will prioritise limited supplies for the most vulnerable cats, such as kittens.
Meanwhile, you can significantly reduce your cat's risk by keeping them indoors, maintaining strict hygiene, and choosing in-home pet care over boarding facilities. These practical steps are the most effective way to safeguard your cat's health if a shortage occurs again.
References
Spanner, A., The Cat Vaccine Shortage, https://www.walkervillevet.com.au/blog/the-cat-vaccine-shortage/, Walkerville Vet, accessed 29/11/23
Sanders, P., Murphy, B., Cats not accepted at RSPCA NSW Shelters for another month amid vaccine shortage, ABC New England, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/cat-hold-extended-at-nsw-rspca-shelters-amid-vaccine-shortage/103113616, accessed 29/11/23
Lort Smith Animal Hospital, Worldwide Cat Vaccination Shortage, https://lortsmith.com/about-us/news-media/worldwide-cat-vaccination-shortage/, accessed 29/11/23
Australian Veterinary Association, Feline Vaccine Shortage, https://www.ava.com.au/news/feline-vaccine-shortage/, accessed 29/11/23
Animal Welfare Victoria (Agriculture Victoria), Cat Vaccination Shortage, https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/cats/cat-vaccination-shortage, accessed 29/11/23
Ortolan, M., Why a national shortage of cat vaccines may cause holiday havoc with pet owners, ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-24/cat-vaccine-shortage-pet-boarding-holidays/103140850, accessed 29/11/23
Briscoe, K. et al. Feline vaccine shortage: suggested reaction by the profession to optimise feline health and welfare, https://cve.edu.au/Common/Uploaded%20files/EDM/Vaccine-Shortage.pdf?_cldee=c1ci8neIVkWSYWU4GnIwdjf1NpZrPIjc5_3Gvk1dwoFqajPh0aOrWc3N1CM52mFC&recipientid=contact-18f463478768e911a820000d3ad0a55e-af47c0893d094ecfbeb54c022b543528&esid=3a128831-a173-ee11-a878-000d3ad1b063, accessed 29/11/23
NSW Department of Primary Industries Statement, https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1493169/Vaccine-Shortage-statement-from-CAWO-7-November-2023.pdf, accessed 29/11/23
Animal Welfare Victoria (Agriculture Victoria), Code of Practice for the Operation of Boarding Establishments, https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/domestic-animals-act/codes-of-practice/code-of-practice-for-the-operation-of-boarding-establishments, accessed 29/11/23
Scott FW, Geissinger CM. Long-term immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10328440/, accessed 29/11/23
Pet Rescue, https://www.petrescue.com.au/library/articles/navigating-the-cat-vaccine-shortage-tips-for-continued-care, accessed 3/1/24
Further Reading
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Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed 29 Nov 2023
Written by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
