How Much Do Cat Shots Cost at PetSmart? 2024 Update

If you’re a new cat owner, you might not have realized just how many shots a cat requires (particularly within the first 4 months of its life). The amount needed decreases drastically after kittenhood, but there are still yearly (or tri-yearly) shots your pet will need in adulthood. If you’re a longtime cat owner, you already know the ins and outs of cat shots. But in either case, you may be wondering if there’s a cheaper place than your local vet to get your feline’s shots.

The good news is there is! Many pet stores have clinics that pop in occasionally to offer cat shots and other routine health care at reduced costs, while others are partnered with local animal hospitals to do the same. In fact, PetSmart is one such store that does both. The brand has long been partnered with Banfield Hospitals to offer lower prices for pet healthcare, and in 2019 they partnered with ShotVet, a mobile provider of vaccinations¹. But how much do cat shots cost when you go through PetSmart?

We’ve got the answer below!

The Importance of Vaccinations for Your Cat

As with people, vaccines are necessary for our cats to help prevent certain illnesses and diseases. This is particularly true for kittens, as they are the most susceptible to infection and disease due to their immature immune systems (kittens will need three rounds of shots before they hit 4 months of age). A few of the illnesses vaccines can prevent in our feline friends include feline distemper, feline herpesvirus (FHV), calicivirus, rabies, and feline leukemia virus (FELV). Vaccinations for these are the core vaccines a cat will receive. There are also a few non-core vaccinations, but you’ll need to speak with a vet about whether those are right for your pet. And after kittenhood, your adult cat should only need boosters yearly or tri-yearly.

Overall, vaccinations can save your cat’s life and save you money on vet bills in the long run.

How Much Do Vaccinations Cost at PetSmart?

The cost of vaccinations acquired through one of PetSmart’s partnerships will vary according to whether you choose ShotVet or Banfield, what shots your pet is getting, the age of your cat, and where you live. Below you’ll find the average prices for cat shots via both ShotVet and Banfield.

ShotVet

With ShotVet, you choose a clinic at a nearby PetSmart via ShotVet’s website and save the date you want to come (there is also an option to pre-purchase shot packages). Their website indicates that prices are the same across the board regardless of where you live in the US. For individual shots, this means prices are as follows (plus a $5 biohazard charge):

However, ShotVet also has packages for vaccines that you can choose from.

The Indoor Package for indoor cats also comes with the optional add-ons of the FELV test for $45 and, if the test is positive, the FELV vaccine for $39. The Outdoor package for outdoor cats also comes with the optional FELV test add-on for $45.

Banfield Hospital

Vaccinations done at a nearby Banfield Hospital via PetSmart will have varied prices according to where you live, and while they seem to be on par with or a bit cheaper than the ShotVet prices, they lack the dewormer. They also don’t list different prices for kittens versus adult cats, so it’s likely the same price regardless of age. Below you’ll find estimated prices for various regions of the United States.

Additional Costs to Anticipate

As far as cat shots go, there shouldn’t be much in the way of additional costs. There’s a possibility your pet could require bloodwork or a FELV test before getting a vaccine. There’s also a possibility your pet may need one of the non-core vaccines if it’s been around a cat infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), kennel cough, or chlamydia felis.

Other than those reasons, the only other potential additional costs that may arise is if your cat is one of the half of 1% of cats that has an adverse reaction to vaccines, in which case, another vet visit could be in order.

• See Also: How Much Do Cats Cost At PetSmart?

How Often Should I Get Vaccinations for My Cat?

How often your kitty will need vaccines will depend mostly on its age and a little bit on state laws. If you have a kitten, you’ll be getting vaccinations three times within the first 4 months of its life. The first round of vaccines should be when your pet is 6–8 weeks old, the next at 10–12 weeks old, and the final round at 14–16 weeks of age.

After that, your pet should only require occasional boosters. Rabies vaccines can be either annually or every 3 years, depending on the laws of your state. The FVRCP vaccine should be given once every 3 years.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Vaccinations?

Most regular pet insurance plans won’t cover vaccinations since they are routine care, and pet insurance covers things such as illness or accident. However, you may be able to add what’s known as a wellness plan onto your insurance that will cover vaccinations. It really just depends on where you get your pet insurance from.

If you decide to get your cat’s shots via Banfield Hospital, though, you might want to check out their Optimal Wellness Plan packages for kittens and adult cats, as some vaccinations may be covered under it. With these plans, you’d be making a monthly payment that would cover a year’s worth of certain services, which should eliminate surprise vet bills. Because it’s Banfield, prices vary by region, but most start around $26/month.

The Optimal Wellness Plan for kittens under the age of 6 months includes per year:

The adult cat plan includes per year:

Do Indoor Cats Really Need Vaccinations?

Plenty of pet owners don’t really see the point in vaccinating their indoor cats; after all, their indoor cats won’t be coming into contact with any cats outside, so they won’t catch any illnesses, right? Wrong. Many contagious diseases that cat shots protect against can make it inside your home without the help of an outside animal.

Take, for example, feline immunodeficiency virus, calicivirus, and feline herpesvirus. All of these diseases can make their way into your home via your clothes or shoes. And rabies is always a good idea to ward against, as it can be passed from animal to human.

So, your indoor cat really does need to get vaccinations to protect its health and well-being.

Conclusion

Cat shots are a vital part of feline healthcare, but they can get pricy if done at a vet’s office. Luckily, you can have your cat’s shots done through PetSmart via either ShotVet or Banfield Hospitals (whichever is in your area). Prices will vary between the two entities, but they should be cheaper than the vet either way. Plus, you can get shot packages from ShotVet, and Banfield has an Optimal Wellness Plan that includes certain vaccines. So, if you’ve been searching for a place to get your kitty’s vaccinations, check out your local PetSmart!

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Featured Image Credit by: bmf-foto.de, Shutterstock