Does my indoor cat really need a yearly rabies shot? Is it harmful?

Yes, it is recommended and in most places it is actually required by law. You will have to check your local laws to know if it is required in your area. Some clinics have a 3 year rabies vaccine that only needs to be updated every 3 years. You an ask your vet about that. I am not sure if it is available in your country. Even though the dog is indoors most of the time, bats and other animals can get into your yard and/or in your house. In the United States most animals get infected when bats get into the house. The rabies vaccination is also important if your dog was to bite someone that comes into your house. It is for everyone's protection. Easy thing to do and inexpensive.

I do recommend it. There are cases where a bat infected with rabies has gotten into the house, and the cat inside has ended up with rabies. In addition, what if Oliver accidentally got out? He could get rabies then if he encountered an anima with it. To be safe, yes. You can get certain brands of rabies vaccines once every three years. Discuss this with his vet.

Hi there. I generally still recommend vaccinating indoor-only cats for rabies, since there's always the possibility that a bat or other animal could get into the house. Since rabies is a fatal disease that can also be spread to humans, it's best not to take any chances. Giving the rabies vaccine is safe, and will not reduce your kitten's lifespan.

Rabies can only be contracted by being bit by animal that is shedding the virus. The biggest concern for indoor only cats is if a bat has gotten into the house because we do not always know if that bat has bitten a cat. If Bonnie is not vaccinated for Rabies, then she may need to be quarantined for a period of time (usually 10 days) to make sure that she does not develop any signs of Rabies. That quarantine may be able to be in your house if you don't have any other animals or may need to be at a vet clinic or shelter. I would recommend contacting your veterinarian to discuss the specific legal requirements in your area. Depending on your state, she may not be able to be vaccinated for Rabies until after her quarantine period. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answers your questions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is great that you decided to get your cat fixed! To be considered fully vaccinated, she will need at least a rabies vaccine, FRCP vaccine, and I recommend an FeLV vaccine for outdoor cats. These are all potentially deadly or extremely common viruses that cats can get from each other or wildlife such as raccoons. Although your cat is indoor only, there is a risk that she may run away and be exposed. I recommend having her microchipped and wear a collar in case this happens so that the two of you can be reunited. She should also be on monthly flea control, even f she is only indoors to prevent flea infestations.

I have attached the most recent recommendations from the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) below. https://www.catvets.com/guidelines/practice-guidelines/feline-vaccination Their general recommendation is to repeat the FVRCP vaccination every 3-4 weeks until a kitten reaches 16 weeks of age, then booster it 1 year later, then every 3 years after that. Unfortunately, we do not have enough data to give better recommendations than that. Injection site sarcomas have dramatically decreased over the last 15 years since we have made some changes to our vaccinations and vaccination schedules. The kidney issues are more likely due to chronic mild dehydration. There is some concern that the FVRCP vaccinations are grown on renal cell cultures, but I am unaware of any good research in that area. As far as FeLV vaccination, the AAFP generally does not recommend continuing to vaccinate indoor only cats who do not have a risk of exposure with FeLV vaccination. And Rabies vaccination is dictated by local or state laws, so if you live in an area that legally requires Rabies every year, you should comply with that. The bottom line is that we try to protect all cats from as many infectious diseases as possible, but try to use the most recent research and the lifestyle of the cat to help determine which vaccines to give and how frequently to give them. I hope that was helpful and answers your questions. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Hello. There is no reason that a cat that previously blocked should not receive vaccinations. At the very least, the rabies vaccine should be kept up to date. For feline distemper/leukemia, as long as Ray has received the kitten series, & 1 booster one year later, then I am OK with boosting this vaccine every 2-3 years. Cats can slip outdoors so it is best to try & keep immunity up. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.