Do indoor cats need rabies shots? Rabies is 100% fatal in affected animals and animals who have it can act in unpredictable ways. Do Indoor-only Cats Need Rabies Shots? At a bare minimum, your cat may need a rabies shot … He never goes outside except for the garage where insects can get in. A common misconception is that indoor cats are not required to maintain updated vaccines as they do not have exposure to the outdoors or other animals. Adult cats need shots less often, usually every year or every 3 years, depending on how long a vaccine is designed to last. A mother cat dumped a baby in my cellar, where it yowled and made my dogs go nuts, so in the end I adopted it. It also protects other pets in your neighborhood. One real-world example. My cat, since he interacts with the dogs, is being protected by Revolution. Most important shots all indoor cats really need Rabies: I don’t know about you, but rabies scares me. Most states require that cats be vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccination certificate developed by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. is adopted as the only valid rabies vaccination certificate. My cats are indoor cats, do they really need the rabies shot. The simplest answer is that Rabies vaccination is required by law for all cats (and dogs) over the age of four months in Vermont. Vaccinations are important to prevent serious illness in cats. Do indoor only cats need rabies shots? Cats can slip out an open door before you know it. Why does an indoor cat need a rabies shot and vaccinations? Indoor cats need to at least get vaccinated for Rabies and Distemper. Contraction occurs through the transmission of blood or saliva and is likely to be fatal for pets. Do my indoor cats need the cat rabies vaccine? Any cat that ventures outside should be vaccinated in full. In fact, rabies vaccinations are required by law in all felines. Yes. Do indoor only cats need rabies shots? Many people ask this question, feeling that their cat, as an indoor cat, does not need to be vaccinated against Rabies. Rabies is a zoonotic disease (it can be transmitted from animals to humans), so it is a public safety issue to keep your cat up to date on their rabies vaccine. Health. A Brief Guide to Indoor Cats & Rabies About Rabies. Why do I need to vaccinate my indoor cat against Rabies? Best Answer. Here are half-dozen good reasons your veterinarian wants you to keep your cat up-to-date on her vaccinations. Check with the airline you’ll be flying with to see which vaccinations they require for your feline. Any bites are required to be reported to the health unit. Indoor Cats. Share on Google+. Some vaccines are recommended for all cats. If the cat ever escapes and doesn't have a rabies shot, then its at higher risk. One is dying from cancer, I will not take him for the shot. For some cats, when they are nervous, their first response can be to bite or scratch. MY Xena found a hole in the fence around my yard a while back. Let’s talk about it. This means the cat should have all core and non-core vaccines. + 6. vote up Answer by sashangeljaz (992) Yes. We have had him since he was 10 months. Most house cats get out at least once. Do indoor cats need shots? 6 Reasons to Vaccinate. FVRCP Vaccine for Cats The other three core vaccines are combined into a single three-in-one vaccine called the FVRCP vaccine. Which shots they need. If your cat often goes outside, he/she should be vaccinated against rabies. First, vaccinating cats over a certain age for rabies is a law in many areas. Some other important things to remember are: Rabies is local. Share on Facebook. This is the only way to keep your cat safe. If your cat is strictly an indoor cat, does he need to be vaccinated each year for distemper, and rabies? Do Indoor-only Cats Need Rabies Shots? Rabies is the deadliest infectious disease known to man: Once symptoms set in, the victim – human or feline – will suffer an excruciating death. A common misconception is that indoor cats are not required to maintain updated vaccines as they do not have exposure to the outdoors or other animals. What Vaccinations Do Cats Need to Fly? Bat rabies is the most common strain to infect humans. Outdoor cats are more likely to be exposed to the virus, but indoor cats also are vaccinated due to the disease’s severity and the risk infected-cats pose to people. If cats don’t run the risk of encountering disease, why do they need core vaccines (or titers) every three years? Exposure can happen during the one time they escape out of your window. If a cat has rabies, they may experience extreme behavioral changes, loss of coordination, excessive salivation, paralysis, and more. Unless you live in an impregnable compound sealed off hermetically from all contact with the outside world, yes. The final common vaccine in cats protects against rabies . Aside from the fact that it may be required by local laws, rabies is the one vaccine every cat MUST have. I intended that it should remain an inside cat. Rabies vaccination is an important and required vaccine for all cats. Does My Indoor Cat Need the Rabies Shot. By: Karen Nelson El Segundo, CA Replied on 04/19/2011. And if a bat or something gets in the house and bites an unvaccinated cat - then yes the cat can get rabies from the bat (which has a high rate of rabies carriers). How often do cats need shots to protect against rabies? Or they could get out of their cage while you are taking them to the vet. Your cat could accidentally get outdoors. Even cats that spend 100% of their time indoors should be vaccinated. Do Cats Need Vaccinations to Go Outside? In fact, rabies vaccinations are required by law in all felines. I strongly recommend the kitten series and young adult (of both vaccines) for all cats, to establish immunity when we’re still deciding if they will be “door dashers” or not. These shots are the FVRCP (AKA “feline distemper”) and rabies. This is where experts tend to disagree, and the answer becomes a less-simple one. All About Kitten Vaccines. Do I need to have him vaccinated? No, say many experts. Unfortunately, even indoor cats can be exposed through contact with wildlife during an unexpected escape. Just because your cat doesn’t go out into the world doesn’t mean the world can’t come in contact with him! But, how often do cats need rabies shots? Not all laws require indoor cats to vaccinate for rabies. Share on Twitter. Cat Health 43 Comments. If the kitten is less than 3 months of age, he is not eligible for vaccination. Even if your cat never goes outdoors, it is possible they can be exposed. Then one day it managed to get out without my knowing about it. I have three but I'm on a fixed income. Yes. Is a “booster” shot required? Not specified, but "rabies vaccination of dogs, cats, and ferrets is required in accordance with schedules in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2011 . However, cats can be vaccinated as early as 3 months of age and are required to be vaccinated once he turns 4 months old under the new law. Rabies vaccinations for indoor cats do indoor cats need rabies vaccinations schuyler county public health rabies vaccine does my indoor cat. . A common misconception is that indoor cats are not required to maintain updated vaccines as they do not have exposure to the outdoors or other animals. Minimize any risk your cat might have by keeping him up to … When your cat gets his rabies shot, you should get a certificate from your vet stating so. A lot. While it's unlikely that you're cat will get any of these diseases being indoor only there's always the possibility that something unexpected could happen. If the cat is not up to date on their rabies vaccine, they must be quarantined for 10 days to observe for symptoms of rabies. Rabies is the deadliest infectious disease known to man: Once symptoms set in, the victim - human or feline - … This is also a good time to get a microchip implanted in your cat, which can cost around $45. Original Question: We adopted Ziggy from a local rescue.He is fixed and has had all his shots in January. . All states have rabies vaccine-related laws, although not all laws require cats to be vaccinated against rabies. Last update: Sep 5, 2020 1 answer. However, they can get all the same vaccines as a cat that goes outdoors. Later she came back. November 7, 2018 by 0 Comments. In each state, there are different vaccine-related laws. Let’s take a look at the vaccinations commonly recommended for cats and why. A child with a cat bite may need a tetanus shot. Bats can live in attics, fly down chimneys, come in through windows, and ‘indoor-only’ cats have been exposed to rabid bats on balconies, as well as within their own home. Share on LinkedIn. While we do not see a lot of cases of Rabies there are a number in our province every year and in the past few years a bat was found with Rabies in downtown Calgary and a cat died of the disease in Red Deer. The shots come in a series every 3 to 4 weeks. Rabies is the deadliest infectious disease known to man: Once symptoms set in, the victim – human or feline – will suffer an excruciating death. Most airlines require your cat to have an updated rabies vaccination, which may range from $20 – $40 dollars. Rabies is a common disease among wild animals. Then they must be boostered a year latyer.. Do Indoor-only Cats Need Rabies Shots? The Importance of the Cat Rabies Vaccine. Some viruses can be carried into your home on inanimate objects such as shoes and clothing, therefore infecting your cat without her coming into contact with another animal. Any cat that is exposed to the outdoors, or any indoor cat that could possibly come in contact with a bat, should be vaccinated for rabies. Share on Pinterest. And if it bites someone, the cat will be quarintined for rabies signs or killed and tested. Although very few people develop rabies in the US, there are at least 40,000 to 50,000 rabies postexposure treatments (human rabies immune globulin plus a set of four rabies shots) given each year. I read that vaccines are not necessary for indoor cats, should I just give him his rabies shot yearly and not bother with the others? My cat is never outdoors. There is some disagreement among veterinarians about the need to vaccinate cats and kittens against rabies, especially if the cats are going to be indoor pets and have a low risk of being exposed to infected animals.