), you want to make sure they are protected. If your pet does become infected, however, there is no cure for rabies and the disease is usually fatal. While an indoor only cat seems to not need it, let me give you an example why they do. What do all those letters stand for? Hi Cindy, Thanks for your question. Your veterinarian can provide you with a vaccination schedule for the particular vaccine that was used for your animal. I HATE the thought of vaccines especially as they age but those are the only cats I see it being a benefit too. 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. Any cat that ventures outside should be vaccinated in full. Alpha Cat. Our reasoning (and the vet's)? Before 1960, rabies was a persistent problem among domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, and ferrets. All cats that are outdoors in an enclosed yard and that do not wander off their owner’s property but could be exposed to rabid animals and to diseased cats do, of course, need to be vaccinated. FVRCP: This is a combo vaccination that covers numerous diseases with one injection. Heaven forbid they ever get out (fire, natural disaster, etc. Think your indoor cat doesn't need vaccinations? I do not think they need the shots. The most common route of transmission for indoor cats is through bats. November 7, 2018 by 0 Comments. In one case, sadly, he was referring to my own cat. We have had him since he was 10 months. Canine Vaccines Required by Law . A lot. Here are half-dozen good reasons your veterinarian wants you to keep your cat up-to-date on her vaccinations. We turned to a vet for the best advice. If your cat is truly 100% indoors, and does not have contact with indoor-outdoor cats, the current recommendation is to continue to receive boosters for panleukopenia, feline herpes type 1, calicivirus every 3 years, as these diseases do not require direct cat-to-cat contact to spread. Do indoor cats need rabies shots every year? Thread Starter Thread Starter #10 GGG TCS Member Thread starter. It is spread between animals through direct contact. Nov 7, 2018. Just because your cat doesn’t go out into the world doesn’t mean the world can’t come in contact with him! 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. Unfortunately, even indoor cats can be exposed through contact with wildlife during an unexpected escape. It also protects other pets in your neighborhood. Share on Pinterest. Share on Facebook. "Indoor cats" should be vaccinated against rabies, Bellay said. Share on Twitter. 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. Indoor Cats. Even with our best efforts, wildlife can sometimes find their way inside. Bats and small mammals can make their way into homes and cats are very adept at catching them. However, rabies transmission to domestic animals, common house pets, and humans is still a reality. If you have an outdoor only or an indoor/outdoor cat, then they will need shots as well. My cat (the one that's left, now) is an indoor cat, but I do take her out on a leash sometimes, and she comes in contact with grass where wild animals have walked and grazed. No, say many experts. 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