how often do cats need rabies shots. Immunization is a relatively new medical procedure, having emerged little more than 150 years ago. Since then, immunizations have had a tremendous effect on both people and their pets. It’s easy to forget that, only a few hundred years ago, people saw cats as disease-carrying vermin rather than cuddly pets. However, there is a distinction between the question of whether or not cats require shots and the necessity of yearly cat booster shots for optimal health. A rising rabies epidemic makes it all the more important to keep feline friends up-to-date on their shots.
Sadly, rabies, a fatal virus that has been on the decline for decades, has seen a resurgence in cats across the United States over the past decade. That begs the question: why? Some pet parents could determine that their indoor-only cats don’t need vaccinations. If a cat spends even one Caturday in the yard, it will be infected. In 2008-2009, the CDC reported three times as many cases of rabies in cats as in dogs. In this article, we will examine rabies vaccinations for cats in greater detail.
What vaccines do kittens need to be healthy?
When adopting a kitten, a typical concern is whether or not she has received the necessary vaccinations. The same core vaccines used for dogs are also effective for cats, providing protection against multiple avoidable diseases. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends giving your cat immunizations against distemper, rabies, and a couple viruses that can cause respiratory illness: feline herpesvirus and calicivirus.
The resident veterinarian at Catsters recommends giving kittens the FVRCP combo vaccine three times during the first 16 weeks of life, followed by a booster shot at one year of age. Protecting against three of the ASPCA’s most pressing health concerns for cats, the FVRCP injection is available.
A common herpes virus in cats is called feline rhinotracheitis (FVR).
Calicivirus, in the case of cats
Panleukopenia, or distemper, is a disease affecting cats.
