Cats who spend all of their time inside have a fairly comfortable and safe existence. They don\u2019t have to worry about getting into a kerfuffle with a territorial cat, crossing the street safely or finding shelter when the weather\u2019s bad. But they aren\u2019t fully protected from all of the dangers of the outside world.<\/p>\n
One threat that an indoor cat can be exposed to is an infectious disease \u2014 and some are potentially fatal. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to talk to your veterinarian about which diseases vaccinated cats are protected against<\/a> and which vaccines they recommend for your cat.<\/p>\n While an indoor cat who doesn\u2019t go outside is generally safe in their cozy home, there are few situations where they can be exposed to infectious diseases like feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. Some feline diseases are highly contagious and can easily spread from cat to cat without direct contact. If your cat likes to dart through the back door when you\u2019re distracted, just a short amount of time outside could be enough time to pick up an infection.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to consider whether your indoor-only cat actually does spend all of their time indoors. Do you take them to a groomer or a boarding kennel? They could be exposed to feline diseases at these locations. Another place to consider is the veterinary clinic. Hopefully your cat is going to the veterinarian at least once a year for their annual checkup<\/a> and exam. Staff at the veterinary clinic work hard to keep the clinic clean, but a visit there could inadvertently expose your cat to a disease.<\/p>\n Vaccines help protect cats against infectious diseases that are caused by specific viruses and bacteria. They stimulate the body\u2019s immune system to destroy these disease-causing invaders and to \u201cremember\u201d them so they can fight against that specific virus or bacteria if your cat is exposed in the future.<\/p>\n Cat vaccinations are divided into two categories: core and non-core vaccinations. Core vaccines are considered crucial for all<\/em> cats because of the risk of exposure to the disease they protect against, how severe the disease is and the ability of the disease to be transmitted to people (a zoonotic disease<\/a>). Core vaccines for cats include rabies and the feline distemper combination vaccine (FVRCP), a combination vaccine that protects against feline panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus type 1 (also called feline viral rhinotracheitis) and feline calicivirus.<\/p>\n Non-core vaccinations are not necessary for all cats. Your veterinarian will assess your cat\u2019s lifestyle, age, health issues and risk of exposure to determine if a non-core vaccine is recommended for them. It\u2019s important that you tell your veterinarian if you are introducing a new cat into your family since this may change the vaccinations recommended for your original cat. These \u201clifestyle\u201d vaccines provide protection against feline leukemia virus (FeLV)<\/a>, Chlamydia felis<\/em>\u00a0and Bordetella bronchiseptica<\/em>.<\/p>\n Yes, all cats should receive the rabies vaccine. Rabies<\/a> is a fatal disease that can also be fatal for humans and is required by law in some states. It is a viral infection that attacks the neurological system (brain and spinal cord) and is secreted in the saliva of infected animals, which is why it\u2019s most often transmitted through a bite. Most rabies cases in the U.S. involve wild animals<\/a>; however, rabies is more common in cats than any other domesticated animal.<\/p>\n Yes, if you have an indoor cat they should receive the distemper combination vaccine (also called the FVRCP vaccine). It protects your cat from three potentially serious viral infections which can be brought into your home on your clothes, shoes or other objects that have come into contact with an infected cat.<\/p>\n Feline panleukopenia (FPV; also called feline parvovirus) is a highly contagious virus that destroys white blood cells, leaving cats (especially kittens) vulnerable to other infections. Because kittens don\u2019t have a fully developed immune system, it has a high mortality rate in kittens.<\/p>\n Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1; also known as feline rhinotracheitis virus)<\/a> and feline calicivirus (FCV) cause severe upper respiratory infections and can infect cats via contact with saliva or nasal discharge. In severe cases, FCV can cause hepatitis and death.<\/p>\nCats Who Live Indoors Can Be Exposed to Diseases<\/h2>\n
How Do Vaccines Work?<\/h2>\n
What Shots Do Indoor Cats Need?<\/h2>\n
Do Indoor Cats Need Rabies Vaccine Shots?<\/h2>\n
Do Indoor Cats Need the FVRCP Vaccine (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia)?<\/h2>\n
Which Cats Need Non-Core Vaccines Like the Feline Leukemia Vaccine?<\/h2>\n