Does my cat need a rabie shot?

Question

I have a 3 year old tabby cat. I adopted it from PetSmart last year and was wondering if it needs a rabies shot. My house is clean and everything nice looking and safe for my cat. She doesn't go outside and only stays in the house? Does she need a shot? And how do cats get rabies?

Answer 1

Check the adoption papers, she probably already had a shot, and your vet will tell you when you need a new one.

The cat can get rabies from an infected cut or an infected bite. It might escape outside and it's always better to be prepared.

Answer 2

Re: Rabies shot

It does not matter how clean your house is and the fact that she doesn't go outside ever really makes her chance of contracting rabies extremely low. However, if where you live is like most places, it does not matter if your pet in inside or outside; the requirement for a rabies vaccination is still there. We have people come in all the time asking the same question about the other yearly shots that cats should get like feline leukemia and the FVR shot. The only one required here by the animal control is the rabies shot; the others are optional. If your cat, for any reason is brought to the attention of the animal control as not having up to date shots and the place where you live requires it, your cat can be taken away and you can be fined a large amount of money. Here a rabies shot is less than ten dollars and if found to be out of date, the owner can be fined up to a hundred dollars and that is not counting the amount to get your cat out of the possession of the animal control. So, as a precaution, it is a good idea to keep your shots up to date every year and when you bring the cat in for his or her yearly's, an annual checkup is a good idea as well to check the general health of your cat. It protects from anything creeping up on you and you may catch an infection early.

Answer 3

The rabies shots are for one year or three years, depending on what's required for your area. Though the vaccine will be in the cat's system for longer--giving coverage for a few more years than what they say.

Indoor cats can still be exposed to a bat that can get in, or the cat can get out by accident, putting itself in a possible bite situation outdoors. Be safe and get the shot. UNLESS your cat has a compromised immune system (for instance, FIV), they should have the rabies shot. This also provides peace of mind should your cat bite someone who comes over, the fact the cat was vaccinated eliminates any 'testing' for rabies in the pet. The only sure way they have to test for rabies is to look at the brain, and the cat needs to be dead for that.

Answer 4

My 5-year-old Maine Coon (spayed) females are strictly indoor cats. The vet recommended that they have rabies shots "just in case."

Ditto, when I had them declawed, the vet recommended that we leave the back claws intact, since that's what they use to fight. Again, "just in case."

We live on a busy street, and all the claws in the world won't defend them against a car. I will not permit them to leave the house unless they're in a carrier or on a leash.

Answer 5

Well number one reason... it's the law.

Number two reason, it protects your cat incase she were to escape and get outside and put at risk of getting bitten by a rabid animal

Our animals are indoor only also, but we still have them vaccinated.

Rabies is transferred by a rabid animal through a bite or scratch.

Answer 6

What does your city say? Most states require animals to have rabies.Yes, your cat can get it. Look and see if your paperworks says wheather your cat has had one if not assume it hasn't.

Answer 7

check is shes gotten one or not.
if she hasn't, better safe then sorry.
I had a cat that stayed inside and never went out.
then one day a squirrel climbed through our chimney and went rabid in the house.
it bit my kitty and she died at the hospital shortly after :(
i miss her soo much.
be careful and take care of your kitty cat!
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