# Vaccinations

FFARQ is a wonderful community that thrives on the kindness of our caring volunteers. Our dedicated FFARQ 'staff' volunteer their time to deliver the F3 vaccine to our precious foster kittens and cats, spreading care and compassion along the way. By having our own team of vaccinators, we can significantly reduce costs, allowing more resources to be directed towards the well-being of the animals.

We encourage all foster carers to use our home vaccinators, creating a safe and familiar environment for our furry friends. In exceptional cases, where a visit to the vet is necessary, we kindly ask for approval from the vet booking team and Crystal to ensure the best possible care.

For the well-being of our kittens, those over 8 weeks of age should receive two F3 vaccinations, one month apart. In case the kittens are younger than 8 weeks, we prioritize their health with three F3 vaccinations. Adult cats, on the other hand, only require an annual F3 booster, unless their vaccinations have lapsed. In such cases, we follow a two-dose schedule, one month apart, to ensure they are fully protected.

Our commitment to the animals extends to providing adopters with kittens and cats who have had at least one vaccination, even if it's at a later age than suggested by the literature. Our ultimate goal is their well-being and finding them loving homes. Before sending our kitties to Petbarn, we ensure they have a valid F3 vaccination, which may sometimes require two doses, particularly if they visit Petbarn twice.

Rest assured, we prioritize the health and safety of our animals. We do not vaccinate kittens before 8 weeks of age, aligning with best practices to ensure their overall well-being. By administering two F3 vaccinations, we consider our kittens fully vaccinated, ready to embark on their new journey with love and care from our wonderful community at FFARQ.

Great news! Once our adorable kittens and cats are ready for adoption, their profiles appear on Pet Rescue, giving them a chance to find their forever homes! 😺🏠 To ensure the best start for them, all our fur babies must have their first F3 vaccination before being marked for adoption.

Now, let's keep things on track! Kittens and cats in the early adoption campaign won't appear on Pet Rescue just yet, but don't worry – we'll take care of them too! 💕

We want the vaccination date to be just right! So, ideally, the first vaccination should be given no more than 2 weeks before they head to PetBarn or are promoted on Pet Rescue for home adoption. This way, they'll be well-prepared and healthy for their new families! 😇

But hang on, there's a little twist! For those lovable creatures going to PetBarn, if their prior vaccination has expired (more than 4 weeks ago), they should receive their second or third vaccination at FFARQ before their exciting PetBarn journey! 🚀

And for our precious ones up for home adoption, once they hit the 4-week mark since their first vaccination, it's time for the second shot! 🎉 Of course, this is provided we have access to vaccines and a home vaccinator to ensure their well-being.

Remember, we want to make sure these cuties have valid vaccinations when they enter PetBarn and not a day past their vaccination expiry date! Safety first, right? 🙌

**Cat Treatment Plan**

When kittens and cats come into our care, the Foster Coordinator collaborates with the foster carer to develop a Cat Treatment Plan. This plan identifies the food, flea and worm treatment, approximate date for desexing and adoption, and the adoption method.

Over time, these details may change depending on the age, health, and temperament of the kitten/cat, and will be updated upon consultation between the foster carer and the Cats team leader.

The Treatment Plan will also include a tentative date and home vaccinator for the vaccination. Though this may change based on the factors mentioned above, it helps us review potential demand for vaccines. Our goal is to ensure our home vaccinators have an appropriate supply of vaccines for their needs.

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Note - if kittens have their first F3 at 10 weeks only two initial vaccinations are required to be considered fully vaccinated.&#x20;
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Vaccinations can occasionally cause a kitten to feel a little off colour. They may seem quieter than usual and less interested in food. They may be less comfortable with handling. Most kittens will return to normal within 24 hours but occasionally some react more severely and may need veterinary attention.&#x20;

If symptoms extend beyond 24 hours or the kitten/s seems to be highly unwell you should contact your Cat Coordinator immediately.
