Why does my cat need the same vaccine twice?

[timothe53]

Ok so I checked my receipt and asked my clinic. It appears that for each vaccine that my cat gets (basic, rage and leukemia), she need to get each twice, 1 month apart. Is this common practice? Also if your next appointment is 1 month apart you must get a mandatory exam, which is expensive. Does my cat really need the same vaccine twice and does she really need 3 exams in 3 months? The lady told me that not examining your cat if he did not 1 month prior is illegal . Thanks alot for your advices!

[hazelrunpack]

Welcome, timothe53!

Typically, the very first vaccinations a kitten gets are given twice a few weeks apart. The first vaccination 'primes' the immune system and the second one confers full immunity. After that, vaccinations are given on a schedule, but typically a year or more apart. Is your cat a kitten?

Where are you located? Not sure what might be mandatory in your area. I know laws/regulations/practice differs between the US and Canada, so knowing where you are would make it easier to answer your questions about the clinic procedures...