If you have an indoor-only cat........

do you have it get the rabies shot?

We just took both of mine to the vet and had them get this- though I just keep feeling like it wasn't really necessary They are strictly indoor and NEVER bite!!

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

we did but that is because we have a stray cat come around (one of our cat's babies that is now 2 years old) and if its really bad out we let him in. We would adopt him but he is technically the deli's cat down the road. So just in case they both get everything.

I guess if they are always inside and not always trying to escape you shouldn't need to do it.

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

It's not necesssary. I wouldn't do it again. My sister's cat just passed away....actually she had to put him down because he developed a tumor in the area where the rabie shot was done every year (he was 7 years old). The doctor told her that the rabie shot was most likely the reason for the malignancy and that it's quite common for animals to develop tumors from it.... Needless to say how guilty my sister feels....she always tried to do what was best for her cat (Romeo) and look what happened. The doctor never warned her that something like this could ever happen.....Sorry if I scared you with my story but I thought I'd share my recent experience and this way you are aware of what is possible with a few repetitions of this shot.... just trying to offer a friendly warning

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

Posted by angel333

It's not necesssary. I wouldn't do it again. My sister's cat just passed away....actually she had to put him down because he developed a tumor in the area where the rabie shot was done every year (he was 7 years old). The doctor told her that the rabie shot was most likely the reason for the malignancy and that it's quite common for animals to develop tumors from it.... Needless to say how guilty my sister feels....she always tried to do what was best for her cat (Romeo) and look what happened. The doctor never warned her that something like this could ever happen.....Sorry if I scared you with my story but I thought I'd share my recent experience and this way you are aware of what is possible with a few repetitions of this shot.... just trying to offer a friendly warning

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

I work at a veterinary hospital and they have Purevax rabies vaccines. They have no side effects...and only a couple more dollars than the reg. rabies vacc.

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

no

i sincerely believe that many vets try to inflate their bottom line with unnecessary treatments/tests the same way doctors do.

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

I always give my cats their rabies shots (but they only get them every three years) because stuff can happen. they can get out or something can get in.

I'll tell you a crazy story about a friend's relative. She was woken up at 2am by screetching. She went into her bathroom and there was her cat with a newly killed bat Somehow the bat got in and the cat killed it. She didnt even thing to keep the bat (she just wanted it the heck out of her house) and the cat had to be quarantined for months.

Here's some information with regard to VAS (vaccination assisted sarcoma)

Talk to your veterinarian about the risk of exposure and the seriousness of VAS when considering any kind of vaccination for your cat. Discuss options for prevention, which may include:

Ø Vaccinating for rabies every 3 years, rather than yearly. If your cat is strictly indoors, consider NOT vaccinating for rabies at all (be aware that some states require rabies vaccination by law).

Ø If your cat is strictly indoors, consider NOT vaccinating for feline leukemia virus.

Ø Insisting on vaccinations being given in the hind quarters (right and left rear legs), or better yet, in the tail. If VAS should develop in these cases, the affected limb (or tail) can be amputated to save the life of the cat. Never allow a vaccination in the scruff or between the shoulder blades!

Keep detailed records for all your cat’s vaccinations. These records, provided by the veterinarian administering the vaccine, should include the type of vaccination given, the location of the injection on the cat’s body, the manufacturer of the vaccine, and the lot/serial number from the vaccine vial (preferably a sticker that can be placed on your vaccination certificate).

VAS

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

rabies is every 3 years.. and he gets the feline leukemia and fiv shots as well.. my boy is an indoor only cat.. but we take him to get groomed, so i just want to be careful.. god forbid another cat has something and came into contact with my boy

and thank you for the VAS link.. notebooked it

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

we have 2 indoor cats... we got them their first two rounds of shots when they were kittens and don't plan on getting them anymore

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

my 16 yo
<-------------
she hasn't had vaccinations since she was a kitten.

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

yeah miller is a strictly indoor cat & i decided to skip on his shots this year

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

Nope, we got both the cats their shots when they were kittens, had them fixed and then no more.

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........

We got talked into it. I wouldn't do it again. The vet told us it was a liability issue in case she bites someone, but honestly if she's scared she's more likely to run away than sink her teeth into someone.

Re: If you have an indoor-only cat........