Best Answer. 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.. I do not think they need the shots. Indoor cats need to at least get vaccinated for Rabies and Distemper. These shots are the FVRCP (AKA “feline distemper”) and rabies. If my owners didn't agree to this, then a strict, six-month quarantine would be required, usually at a veterinary hospital-which can get very expensive. In California, skunks and bats can carry the disease. In Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, foxes are the most commonly found carrier. In each state, there are different vaccine-related laws. Do indoor cats need shots. 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. There's also always the chance, however small, that an indoor-only cat might sneak outdoors through an open window or door. My cat is never outdoors. A: The simplest answer is that rabies vaccines are required by law for all cats and dogs over the age of six months in New York state - … If the risk of feline leukemia virus exposure is significant (out-of-doors cats), the leukemia virus vaccine sequence should be administered. If your cat is strictly an indoor cat, does he need to be vaccinated each year for distemper, and rabies? Here are half-dozen good reasons your veterinarian wants you to keep your cat up-to-date on her vaccinations. A child with a cat bite may need a tetanus shot. However, if I were up-to-date on my rabies vaccination and then exposed to a rabid animal, I would simply get a rabies booster and a 10- to 45-day quarantine at home. For … In fact, rabies vaccinations are required by law in all felines. Unfortunately most of the sources of the disease were unknown. To relax from work, or to take work on the road, Liz and her crew travel the West and PNW in their RV. Other vaccines are given on a case-by-case basis. Why does my indoor cat need rabies vaccination? The kids said they learned what to do during a school lesson. There's nothing that I like better than chasing a bird or bat around the house, and I'll bet that most of my feline brethren would agree. A surprising (to me) number of cat owners argued that since their cats lived inside and were never allowed outside, a rabies vaccination wasn’t needed. Liz Palika is a Certified Dog Trainer and Certified Animal Behavior Consultant as well as the founder and co-owner of Kindred Spirits Dog Training in northern San Diego county. Be sure to check with your local authorities for such requirements. While the number of people dying from rabies in the United States is small (on average, one or two people per year die of rabies in this country), the number of fatalities is much higher in countries without strong vaccination and post-exposure programs. 2. Increased vaccinations for domestic animals, including and most significantly for dogs and cats, has reduced rabies incidences in the US significantly. Many of her works have been nominated or won awards from a variety of organizations, including Dog Writers Association of America, San Diego Book Awards, the ASPCA, and others. If you see an RV on the road named "Travelin' Dogs", honk and say hi! Q: My vet tells me that my indoor-only cat, Izzy, needs to be vaccinated for rabies. Rabies shots were not required because they are indoor cats. Causes, Treatment and Prevention. The state of Massachusetts requires that all cats are vaccinated against the rabies virus by a licensed veterinarian.Rabies is a virus of the central nervous system and is almost always fatal. Rabies is a human health concern, not just an animal health issue. Then they must be boostered a year latyer. Your indoor cat is at a very low risk of contracting rabies but your local jurisdiction may require a current rabies vaccine certification. + 6. vote up Answer by sashangeljaz (992) Yes. Because rabies can be transmitted to humans and is nearly universally fatal, many communities have laws mandating rabies vaccination of pets. Liz shares her home with three English Shepherds: Bones, Hero, and Seven, as well as one confident and bossy orange tabby cat, Kirk. Check with your own vet because YPMV*. Unfortunately, indoor only cats are not completely protected from exposure to other rabid animals as indoor cats are almost never completely kept inside. In this blog post, I hope to remind all of my readers (and clients) on the importance of vaccination. For all of the above reasons, I'm happy to put up with the inconvenience and bother of getting my rabies vaccine. Besides aggression, symptoms of rabies includes uncoordinated movements, confusion, and a fear of water. Do Indoor Cats Need Rabies Vaccinations? Pet Tips - Indoor Cat Vaccinations. Since rabies also causes behavior changes (primarily aggression), this makes bites more likely to happen and for the bites to be more severe than they might otherwise be. The argument went back and forth with considerable passion on both sides. Our cats do go to the vet regularly for needles, checkups, teeth cleaning, ailments, tests etc., whenever needed. Are indoor-only cats at risk for Rabies? Other commonly found wildlife carriers include coyotes, wolves, bears, weasels, and groundhogs. 4. For some cats, when they are nervous, their first response can be to bite or scratch. Indoor Cat Vaccinated for Rabies What is rabies? Your paws may vary It is fine to get them vaccinated every 3-5 years , or even 5-7 years , if there is no risk of them escaping outside. If I were unvaccinated or even overdue for my rabies booster (depending on how overdue I was) and came in contact with a rabid bat or other animal, the consequences could be quite severe. Some of us become frightened and escape when we're carried outdoors for, say, trips to the vet hospital, and I've heard about cats whose cars have been involved in accidents that left them suddenly free (cat carriers will prevent most of these accidental escapes). Let’s talk about it. Vaccination doesn’tannihilatethe virus — feline herpesvirus is the gift that keeps on giving; but vaccination can help keep it under control. Rabies is most commonly transmitted by a bite from an infected animal. Thirty-two of the cats had no history of rabies vaccinations while one cat had an up to date rabies vaccination. In 2014, 61% of rabid domestic animals tested were cats. The anti-vaccination folks then brought up the dangers of allergic reactions to the vaccinations. Supporting Cat Health with Information and Health Studies. For information as to what the laws in your state require, do a search online, talk to your veterinarian or to your local animal control. Educational programs, especially those aimed at young school children, have helped keep people safe from rabies. I'll share what I've learned from my friends at the Feline Health Center. Rabies vaccinations for cats: The official veterinary recommendations The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) issued the following recommendations about rabies vaccinations. 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. As long as you really mean totally indoor (sometimes people think it means they never let the cat leave their yard or something!) Minimize any risk your cat might have … We've heard stories about rabid raccoons breaking through screens and coming indoors, and it's quite common for bats, which have a high incidence of rabies, to find their way indoors. If the cat is not at risk, many veterinarians do not recommend the feline leukemia virus vaccination. Once the symptoms appear, rabies is almost 100% fatal. Some animals are generally not found to have rabies, including rabbits, mice, rats, squirrels, and other small rodents. July 13, 2016 On social media recently I followed a heated discussion as to whether indoor-only cats need to be vaccinated against rabies. Sometimes we bite children who frighten or hurt us, and sometimes we bite while playing. The Cornell Feline Health Center is closely monitoring the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Most states have laws regarding the vaccination of pet animals (dogs, cats, and ferrets) as well as other domestic animals. While there is an expensive preventative series of shots that humans can receive to prevent disease after exposure to a rabid animal, no similar preventative protection exists for unvaccinated animals. Not only is this not good for the pet’s mental and physical health, but it can also be extremely expensive. All cats, even indoor cats, should receive the rabies vaccination and booster to avoid the various unwanted risks and consequences associated with skipping the vaccine. 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. Then they must be boostered a year latyer.. Any stray or feral cats in the barn do get "trapped" & vaccinated regularly. But, how often do cats need rabies shots? In many parts of the world, including parts of Asia and Africa, dogs are the most common source of rabies while in the US, because of legal requirements for vaccinations for dogs, the disease has been reduced significantly in dogs. Although these are the most common carriers, that doesn’t mean these are the only animals found with rabies, however; most mammals can contract the disease. While you may keep your cat indoors, that doesn’t mean that they can’t ever escape or that wildlife can’t ever find its way into your home. Bats can enter homes or apartments through small cracks. The details of the vaccinations varies from state to state and often refers to the label of the specific vaccine used. It is very important that ALL cats be vaccinated against rabies, including cats that never go outdoors. Unfortunately, even indoor cats can be exposed through contact with wildlife during an unexpected escape. Suggested Articles Feline Vaccines: Benefits and Risks Q: My vet tells me that my indoor … Bite wounds treated by a physician are typically reported to the health department, which may then request proof of rabies vaccination. A surprising (to me) number of cat owners argued that since their cats lived inside and were never allowed outside, a rabies vaccination wasn’t needed. Far fewer cat owners said that the vaccination was still needed; that cats could still be exposed to rabies. The vaccination status of the other cats was unknown. However, even indoor cats … One is dying from cancer, I will not take him for the shot. Then, too, rabid animals act irrationally and it’s not unusual for a wild animal who lives near people (in rural areas, suburbs, or even in the city) and who normally ignores or avoids people, to enter peoples’ home. It's just whole foods with a dash of love. In fact, rabies vaccinations are required by law in all felines. Even though we may be calm and loving at home, many cats (not me!) Do indoor cats need rabies shots? Cats may then be bitten by their prey (perhaps a rapid bat is flopping on the ground and the cat pounces on it) or the cat may be bitten by an infected, aggressive animal that otherwise might not be a problem. Rabies isn’t just dangerous to your cat; you can catch rabies from your pet if they bite you or even lick an open wound on your body. Boarding is definitely not possible without shots (worst case scenario for me would be boarding). It is not uncommon for an indoor cat to dash out an open door, to climb out a window, or even to fall through a screened window (on purpose or inadvertently). Indoor cats are not at risk of contracting FeLV. Similar consequences might occur if I were to bite someone. Any bites are required to be reported to the health unit. It contains viral antigens for one virus: the rabies virus. 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