Cat owners see FVRCP on the record and may not know what it stands for. Here is the breakdown, plus what the cattery needs before a stay.
What the letters mean
The kennel's vaccination page describes FVRCP as the "distemper" shot for cats, a combination vaccine against three diseases: feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. Rhinotracheitis and calicivirus are respiratory infections. Panleukopenia is the one often called feline distemper, though it is a different disease from canine distemper.
Your veterinarian may use a product with a slightly different name, such as FVRCP or FVRCP plus another component. Any record that lists those three diseases satisfies the requirement.
What the cattery asks for
Cats need two vaccines for a stay: rabies and FVRCP. The records must show both are up to date and will not expire during the stay, and the cat must be at least 16 weeks old before the first day of the boarding stay. Upload the record to your ProPetware account, email it, or bring a copy to the first check-in.
Cats at Happy Paws stay in individual four-level towers, each with its own litter box and blanket, so the vaccines protect the cat in the next tower as well as your own.
Why it is a core cat vaccine
The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the American Animal Hospital Association publish joint feline vaccination guidelines, and both treat the FVRCP components as core vaccines, meaning vaccines suited to all cats. Cornell University's Feline Health Center also covers the vaccine as part of basic cat care. How often your cat needs a booster depends on age and risk, and your veterinarian sets that.
Kittens and older cats
Kittens typically receive a series of doses starting at a few weeks of age, and a kitten must still reach 16 weeks before boarding. The kitten vaccine schedule page explains how that fits. Senior cats follow the schedule their vet chooses; the senior cat guide covers other points. For the whole cat list in one place, see which vaccines a cat needs.