Rabies outbreaks in outdoor animals aren’t unheard of, particularly during the summers and times of food shortages that push animals farther from their home territory. Unfortunately, your indoor cat is not immune to the virus. Pet vaccination is the only sure way to prevent your cat from contracting the disease, even if they don’t go outside. Here is a brief guide to understanding rabies and your feline’s risk.

A Brief Guide to Indoor Cats & Rabies

About Rabies

If a cat has rabies, they may experience extreme behavioral changes, loss of coordination, excessive salivation, paralysis, and more. Contraction occurs through the transmission of blood or saliva and is likely to be fatal for pets.

Your inside cat is just as vulnerable to the virus as an outside cat, coyote, or skunk. In fact, all warm-blooded animals can be infected. Unlike humans, however, pets don’t currently have a successful post-exposure treatment method. If you get exposed, you can take five rounds of shots as a cure; your pet relies solely upon preexposure vaccination for protection.

Chances of Getting Rabies

The common argument against indoor pet vaccinations is a lack of exposure. To a degree, this is true; indoor cats have fewer chances of contracting the disease than other animals that frequent the outdoors. Any indoor pet, however, can have a penchant for escaping outside or hopping through an open window to explore for a bit.

Even the briefest exposure can prove deadly if they happen to cross paths with a rabies carrier. Carriers can come in any form of mammal—not just cats and dogs. Depending on the region, some common carriers include skunks, raccoons, and bats.

Legal Reasons to Vaccinate

On top of protecting the health of you and your cat, there are legal reasons to vaccinate your indoor cat. Some states, like New York, have laws making pet vaccinations mandatory. That means that without proof of a rabies vaccination, you could face serious legal ramifications if your cat claws or bites a guest.

If you have an indoor cat that needs a pet vaccination, don’t put it off. Countryside Veterinary Service is a multilocation veterinary practice that provides small and large animal services for all of northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, including Garrettsville, Kinsman, Middlefield, Champion, and Jamestown. They offer only the top care to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Visit the website to explore their services and see contact information for each location.