Did You Know...

...that indoor cats still need vaccination?

We are always surprised to hear people say that their cat stays indoors always and therefore they would like to skip vaccination. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has published vaccination guidelines as has the American Animal Hospital Association. Immunizations are classified as "core" meaning every cat should stay current and "non-core" meaning that there are important for cats in specific lifestyle circumstances.

The core vaccines for every cat regardless of their exposure to other cats include:

• FVRCP (also called the "distemper vaccine," or "3 in 1")
  This is the basic feline immunization which includes protection against feline distemper, calicivirus, and rhinotracheitis (feline herpes). After an initial kitten series and booster in one year, this vaccine is recommended for all cats every 3 years.
   
  The reason for this is the nature of the feline distemper virus. It is a member of the parvovirus family and as such is considered ubiquitous (yes, that means it is in your house). It is highly contagious and has a high mortality rate. The vaccine is extremely effective in protecting cats but it is unknown how long protection actually lasts and it is not worth taking the risk of letting your cat die from a readily preventable infection.
• Rabies
  Many people think their indoor cat does not need protection against this virus but there is a lot more to rabies protection than avoiding a bite out in the outside world. For one thing, bats, the chief reservoir of rabies in California commonly live indoors in attics, garages, and other dark secluded areas. They come out at night and you may never even know they are in your home but you can imagine what tempting prey they are to a cat. Aside from exposure from invading wildlife, bite wounds on people from pets are reportable to the health department. What happens to the biting pet is determined by its vaccination status. This is not an area where you want the government stepping in. Keep your pet protected.

Cats that go outside or that live with other cats that go outside should be vaccinated for feline leukemia virus and, obviously, rigorous flea control becomes even more crucial. Outdoor cats indeed have a higher risk lifestyle and require more immunizations, broader parasite control, regular leukemia/FIV testing, and microchip identification.