Cat owners told 'call vets' now and 'vulnerable' pets will be 'prioritised'

Pet owners have been issued a major warning after a nationwide vaccine shortage hit Britain. Cats, who are either elderly or suffer from a disease, are being prioritised for vaccination with UK vets stepping in to rectify the situation.

Cinque Ports Vets, a veterinary practice with six branches in the southeast, wrote to cat owners to warn them of the shortages. They said: “There has been an industry-wide shortage of Cat Vaccines affecting all UK veterinary Practices.

“This means that we will be prioritising the vaccination of vulnerable cats, to include factors such as age, disease risk exposure and how soon the vaccination is due. If your cat is due a vaccination, please call our practice where a member of our Reception Team will be happy to help and can advise you on when we can book your vaccination in.”

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“As a reminder, vaccinations can be safely administered within three months of the due date, so these appointments can be booked in the future,” they said. The RSPCA explains on its website: "Your kitten will need two sets of vaccinations to get them started - their first set at nine weeks old and a second booster set at three months old.

"After this, kittens and cats usually need 'booster' vaccinations once a year." Cats are commonly vaccinated against cat flu (feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus), feline infectious enteritis and feline leukaemia virus.

The charity added: "Prices can vary from practice to practice and costs will depend on which vaccinations your cat or kitten receives. Speak to your vet to see if they offer a health care plan for your pet." Some vaccines are given as booster injections every year.

Your vet will give you a vaccination record, which you'll need to keep safe, the RSPCA goes on to add online.