I have a strictly indoor cat. Does she need her yearly shots?

Answer 1

It may depend. Ask your vet. For strictly indoor cats, our vet reduces the frequency of shots for older indoor cats. When they are young, he sticks to the regular routine. There is a lot of debate on the appropriate frequency of shots right now in the veterinary community.

Answer 2

You need to do some research on this to come to your own conclusion. From what I have learned recently, I won't be giving my cat anymore shots probably, unless strictly recommended by the vet. Once the kitten gets all its shots, the antibodies should last the cat for the rest of its life, just like it does in humans. The antibodies don't go away just because a year is up. I've read about vaccines causing the pet to get the disease it was vacinated against, which they suspect was caused from the vaccine itself... Also there is very little chance for most indoor cats to catch those vaccine diseases and most vaccines have a low chance of actually protecting the pet against the disease... The best way to prevent diesease is to make sure your cat is healthy, feed it a quality diet so it can resist and fight diseases on its own.

Answer 3

Most states in the US require a rabies shot. As for the other shots, talk with your vet and find out what vaccines your indoor cat needs. There are some diseases that you can bring in to your strictly indoor cat just from casual contact with outdoor cats. That means that you could come into contact with someone who has or has petted an outdoor cat and could then carries those germs back to your cat. I personally would never skip the distemper (because it is almost always fatal) or rabies shot (required by law in my area) and rely on my vet to tell me what other shots my cat really need. If you do not have a vet you are sure you trust, then just call around to a few different vets and compare their answers.

Answer 4

The vet is right, she could get sick from what you track inside. Other posters are right as well, if she ever bites anyone, you could be up a creek.

I worked for a vet for a number of years. Once, lady brought in her sick cat, he hadn't been vaccinated for rabies in years. Cat bit one of our staff. Which surprised the owner, he usually was a really friendly cat!

Legally, the owner was required to do one of these two things. Euthanize the cat and send the body for testing, or quarantine the cat (either at the county animal shelter - IF they had room, or at a vet's office) for 10 days AT HER EXPENSE. Her cat needed daily medical care, so she couldn't try the county shelter, and had to pay for 10 days of boarding, and medical care... if I remember correctly the final bill was about $900. It was either that, or say goodbye to her pet forever. Legally, our vet had to report the bite, or he could lose his license.

So while I don't work for a vet now, and I do keep my indoor cats up on their shots, there were a couple of hard years that I just didn't have the money. But, I found a low cost clinic and made sure they at least had their rabies shots. I didn't want to have to make that same choice, not knowing if I'd be able to come up with the money.

You never know what your pet will do when sick or injured. The last thing you need to worry about is shots, or legal issues, if something terrible happens.

Answer 5

I had strictly indoor cats for 16 and 17 years. I only got their yearly shots if they had gotten into a scrap with another cat (happened once). They were perfectly healthy. It's an expense you can forgo, but if they get sick, you must bring them to the vet.

Answer 6

It's for her own health. You can never tell what will happen; even if she is a strictly indoor cat, that doesn't mean that no dirt, germs, or bugs are ever going to get into your house. If your parents planned on keeping you indoors your whole life, does that mean you wouldn't need the basic vaccinations?

Keep in mind that some diseases are airborne...as long as your cat is breathing air, she is probably still susceptible to germs.

Answer 7

yes, cats still need all the shots, cats are really good at getting outside when you least want them too, and you wouldn't want her unprotected. even if she doesn't ever go outside you/other pets do, and when you come back in you can bring things with you. Now likely your cat won't get FIV or anything that serious with direct contact from other cats but i would rather be safe than sorry. If you are in doubt call a vet or animal clinic for the official answer. I have called Petsmart clinic (called Banfield where i live) and the nurses are always helpful, and they don't tell you things just to get you in to spend your money there.

Answer 8

Yes, Because if u wear your shoes in the house u track stuff in that she could catch. Plus it's better safe than sorry! My cats are strictly indoors but I still give them shots.

Answer 9

As a cat owner who recently lost a cat to fibrosarcoma, I did some research on this aggressive type of cancer. The tumor my cat developed was on his back right hip - which, through my research, I learned is the common site of rabies and other vaccines.

My cats have been indoor cats their entire lives, and while I did get them vaccinated for all the normal stuff as kittens, I chose to not vaccinate them after their first 3 years or so. When the older of my cats developed the tumor, the vet asked if he'd been vaccinated recently and or frequently. I mentioned that he was indoor only, and that I had opted not to vaccinate often. He said that was perfectly fine.

Keep in mind that my cats have NEVER attempted to escape, and because of that, I've never been worried about them being exposed to any illnesses. You will need to make that decision about the relative risk of your cat(s) getting out of the house and the liklihood of infection from another animal.

The benefits of vaccinating your pets far outway the risks, but you should make yourself aware of the possibility of vaccine site tumors - as there is a potential for reactions at the injection site. (There are plenty of risks to people for the vaccines we get too!) Take your cats for their vaccines, and check them frequently for any reaction.

Answer 10

Yes. We have two entirely indoor cats and make sure that we keep their shots up to date. You can bring in diseases on the bottom of your shoes and other people can bring diseases into your house that could make your cat sick. In addition if you ever travel or move and take your cat with you she will have to have up to date shots.