Cat Vaccines and Health Checks to Complete Before You Travel

Cats are masters at hiding illness. A quick pre-trip checkup is a good way to catch problems before you are away from home and your sitter is the first to notice something is wrong.

Core vaccines

Feline vaccination guidelines treat these as core for all cats:

• Rabies. Required by law in North Carolina and South Carolina, and important even for indoor cats, since bats occasionally enter homes.
• FVRCP. A combination vaccine protecting against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia.

Non-core vaccines

• Feline leukemia (FeLV). Recommended for kittens and for cats who go outdoors or live with cats who might be infected. Your vet will advise on adult indoor cats.
• Other vaccines may be considered based on risk.

What to do before you leave

1. Schedule a wellness exam. Ask your vet to check weight, teeth, kidneys and heart, especially for senior cats.
2. Confirm parasite prevention. Fleas, ticks and heartworm preventives matter even for indoor cats. See our parasite prevention guide.
3. Update the microchip registration and make sure the collar has an ID tag with a breakaway clasp.
4. Trim nails and brush the coat if your cat tolerates it, particularly for long-haired cats.
5. Ask about stress. If your cat becomes anxious when you leave, your vet can suggest strategies.

What your sitter should know

• What food your cat eats and how much, plus whether wet food is refrigerated
• Where the litter box is, and how often it is changed
• What normal looks like: appetite, hiding spots, favorite play times
• Medications, dosage and how your cat accepts them

Signs your sitter should call the vet

• Not eating for more than a day
• Straining in the litter box, crying while urinating, or no urine output (especially in male cats, which can be an emergency)
• Repeated vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy
• Labored breathing or open-mouth breathing
• Sudden hiding, aggression, or a change in behavior

A thoughtful pre-trip health check helps your sitter focus on keeping your cat comfortable instead of puzzling over unfamiliar symptoms.