Vaccination for indoor cats

All my cats had their vaccinations when they were kittens but none of them have been update on their shots for a couple of years now. I was told before that every cats should have their Rabies shot even if they are inside cats. I do volunteer in the shelter couple times a week. My Joey has caught URI a few times and he isn't a strong cat to begin with. What do you guys think? Do you guys recommend getting vaccination every year. They are being expose to germs every time I come home from the shelter. Please let me know. Thanks!!

 

rabies is important...if you even got a bat in your house and your cats played with it, if they are behind on their rabies vaccine off to quaranteen and YOU are getting the rabies series. This happened to a friend of mine. She took the bat away from her cats and that was enough to get her the shots and since her cats were playing with the bat they had to go into quarantine - she was a few months behind on their rabies vaccine.
All bats are considered to be rabies carriers. Most places won't even check them for rabies as they can harbor the disease and not have symptons.
Distemper is very important especially with you dealing with shelter cats. I foster, and I make sure my cats stay up to date on rabies just in case. And all my cats are inside only. If I weren't dealing with fosters I would only do distemper every 3 years.
Feline leuk...again very important. IF you cats just sit in the window and a strange cat with feline leuk comes along and exchanges spit with your cat - that'll do it.
I only do every 3 years w/the feline luek vaccine though.
You can get titers done to make sure your cats last vaccines are still effective so you don't over vaccinate.

 

i'd recomend you getting them up to date on shots... even as indoor cats.

Where you volunteer (good for you!!!) you could potentially bring anything home. Even fleas... so be careful.

 

All of our cats are strictly indoor cats and we still get them all of their shots and they're all microchipped. You never know when they might accidently slip outside and get exposed to all the diseases out there.

-Chelle

 

to be honest, I'm on disability and there is just no way, I can afford to vaccinate my cats. They are indoors..

I volunteered at a shelter too, the most important thing, I can tell you , is to come home and put your cat clothes.. outside or in a bag, somewhere where your own cats, can't touch them.

and bathe Every time,!! after you come home, from the shelter.

Sadly, I can't work at the shelters anymore, bc I'm one of those rare people who is super allergic, to this mite.. cheylitte (sp?) and got it from one of the cats.. I got a reaction from it, my cats picked it up .. NOT fun!~!

I really miss tho, working at that humane shelter!!

I thought i was being careful enough, but i guess not.. :cry:

Kudos for working at the shelter!! and um yes, if you work at the shelter, you probably should vaccinate your cats.. and hey, ask the shelter where you work at, if they'll do it at a discount rate or not..

 

Right now they don't do any vaccination for the public anymore, they use to but they change it. The Vet does if for all the kitties that are in the shelter.