Does an indoor only cat need a rabies shot?

Rabies vaccination is an important and required vaccine for all cats. 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. In fact, rabies vaccinations are required by law in all felines.

Are indoor cats at risk for rabies?

“Rabies is a human health concern, not just an animal health issue.” Regardless of legal requirements, maintaining regular rabies vaccination makes good medical sense. Even a strictly indoor cat may find a way to sneak out of the house and be exposed to rabies by a wild animal in the neighborhood.

How often do outdoor cats need rabies shots?

In cats over sixteen to eighteen weeks, the vaccine is administered for the first time, boostered the following year and every three years thereafter.

Can outdoor cats get rabies?

While it’s possible for feral cats to become infected with rabies, feral cat colonies themselves do not generally serve as a source of the disease. “We see rabies more often in raccoons and bats than in the cat population,” says Roberta Lillich, DVM, president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

Does cat Scratch need rabies vaccine?

Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (PEP) is compulsory if you are bitten by a dog, cat or other animal that is rabid or is suspected to be infected with rabies. PEP is required under following conditions: If the bite has broken the skin and the wound is bleeding.

Do I need to vaccinate my outdoor cat?

The current recommendations are to vaccinate ALL cats against feline leukemia until 1 year of age. After this age, only outdoor cats (or those exposed to the outdoors unsupervised) should continue to receive annual boosters.

Should you vaccinate a stray cat?

Since the lifespan of feral cats is typically much shorter than pet cats, a vaccine with 3- year immunity may be reasonable and is certainly better than no vaccine at all. Efforts can certainly be made by caretakers to re-trap and vaccinate any community cats as they are able.