Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

Does my indoor cat need vaccinations? Don’t forgo these important inoculations

By

Vaccinations can help cats prevent getting life-threatening diseases like rabies, but if your cat lives entirely indoors, you might assume they don’t need all of those cat vaccinations. While it’s true that cats can contract many diseases through their outdoor lifestyles, indoor cats aren’t entirely protected from some of these diseases. It might be tempting to save some money and avoid a trip to the vet, but deciding not to vaccinate your indoor-only cat could put them at risk of getting a serious or even deadly disease. If you’re undecided about the need to vaccinate, make sure you’re familiar with the risks before you make that decision.

A vet listens to a Russian Blue cat with a stethoscope.
Juice Flair / Shutterstock

Why do I have to vaccinate my indoor cat?

According to Argyle Vet, it’s very important to vaccinate your indoor cat.

Recommended Videos

Cat vaccinations protect your pet

The first reason is that by vaccinating your cat, you’re protecting him from serious diseases that he could contract every year. Vaccinations only provide optimal immunity for so long, which is why vets recommend that you booster your cat’s vaccinations yearly.

Even thought  your cat might stay indoors, they can still be exposed to extremely contagious diseases. That exposure can occur if your cat ever escapes from your house. Even if your cat doesn’t get out on their own, if you take them to the groomer or ever board them at a facility, they can be exposed to these diseases.

Cat vaccinations are required by many states

In addition to helping to protect your cat from diseases, there’s a second important reason to give your indoor cat vaccinations: It’s the law. Many states require that pet owners give their pets certain vaccinations, like the rabies vaccine. These vaccines can help to prevent these preventable yet deadly diseases from spreading, especially if your cat ever escapes from the house.

Orange kitten lying down
Quang nguyen vinh / Shutterstock

What vaccinations does my indoor cat need?

Rabies

According to NASA Pet Hospital, there are two main vaccinations that your indoor cat should receive. The first is the rabies vaccine. While rabies is rare in humans, it’s reported in more than 250 cats each year. Often, those infected cats were unvaccinated. Rabies is almost always fatal, and vaccinating your cat for rabies won’t only protect them, but could also help to protect you and your family from getting it.

FVRCP

The second vaccination is the FVRCP vaccine, or the feline herpesvirus/calicivirus/panleukopenia vaccine, which protects your cat against these three disease with a single shot.

Feline herpesvirus and calicivirus cause upper respiratory symptoms like coughing and sneezing. They can also cause joint pain and sores in the mouth. Panleukopenia is a form of feline distemper. This virus causes severe diarrhea and many cats die as a result.

It’s recommended that your cat receive the FVRCP vaccine when they’re eight weeks old, with additional shots when they’re 12 and 16 weeks old. Some cats may only need a two-shot series, depending on the FVRCP risk in the area. Your cat will need to have a booster every one to three years.

Additional vaccines for outdoor cats

While those two vaccinations are the most recommended for indoor cats, if your cat spends any time outdoors, they may need additional vaccinations. These vaccinations can help to protect your cat against other harmful diseases like chlamydia, bordetella, and feline leukemia.

Argyle Veterinary Hospital explains that though your kitten might receive their first round of vaccines at eight weeks of age, they won’t be fully vaccinated until they receive subsequent vaccinations at 12 or 16 weeks old. It’s important to keep in mind that your cat isn’t fully protected from these diseases during this time, so it’s important to keep your cat indoors and minimize their exposure to any potential risks, like other unvaccinated animals.

If you’re undecided about whether to vaccinate your indoor cat, it’s best to discuss your concerns with your vet. Your vet can provide you with detailed information about the level of risk for certain diseases in your area, as well as about how your cat’s health might be affected by your decision to vaccinate or not to vaccinate. Diseases like panleukopenia are sometimes deadly, but they’re also easily preventable, and your indoor-only cat might not be as well-protected from these diseases as you might think. Vaccinating your cat is an easy way to protect them against serious health risks, and depending on your cat’s lifestyle, they might only need vaccinations once every few years.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Should cats eat yogurt? Read this first before feeding your kitty this snack
What types of yogurt are safe for cats? Here's what kitty caregivers should know
Large silver tabby looking at camera

You may have heard that cats adore milk. It's cliche to "leave a saucer of milk" out for a kitty. The truth is that cats don't need milk once they wean from their mother, a gradual process that concludes around eight weeks. After that, cats need food and water like their canine "friends." In fact, cats can become lactose intolerant because they don't need milk.

However, you might be interested in slipping your cat an occasional treat that doubles as your favorite food. Yogurt may fit that bill. But should cats eat yogurt? The answer isn't black and white, and it's individual to your cat. Indeed, yogurt is usually a dairy product, though some plant-based versions exist. However, dairy isn't toxic to most cats. Not all kitties are lactose intolerant. Some can consume certain dairy products but not others. Let's sort out the facts about cats and yogurt.
Should cats eat yogurt?

Read more
Why do cats stick out their tongues? Surprising reasons explained
Health concerns to harmless changes: Reasons cats stick out their tongues
Side view of a cat sticking out its tongue

If you've ever wondered, "Why do cats stick out their tongues?" you're not alone. Whether you've noticed your cat doing it and wondered whether your cat is sick, or you've simply seen a cute TikTok, try not to worry. Most cats occasionally "blep" or stick their tongues out, and it's rarely a cause for concern. In fact, it's downright adorable! (Search for 'cat bleps' online when you're feeling down; the precious images are the perfect pick-me-up.)
What causes cats to blep? We'll explore a few potential reasons behind this strange yet adorable behavior.
Why do cats stick out their tongues? Here are a few reasons

As odd as this behavior may look, you'll be glad to know that you rarely need to worry about a cat sticking out their tongue.
Your cat is exploring the world with their tongue
One of the most common reasons for an exposed tongue is rather simple: your cat is literally exploring their surroundings. When your cat leaves their mouth open and tongue out, they're collecting pheromones on their tongue -- this is called the Flehmen response. Those pheromones give your cat important information about other cats around, including whether they're in heat, via electrical signals from body to brain. Who knew something so cute could be so helpful, too?
Your cat may show their tongue if they're missing teeth
Sometimes, cats let their tongue hang out a little because they're missing their canine or front teeth. These teeth help keep the tongue within the mouth, so if your cat is missing one or two of these teeth, it's more likely that their tongue will slip out from time to time. No worries!
Your cat is trying to please you with a behavior they think you like
You might even be reinforcing your cat to stick their tongue out without knowing! If you laugh at your cat, give them attention, or give them a treat when they do this behavior, they may quickly learn that sticking out their tongue gets a positive response. You might start to see your cat do this repeatedly, mainly to get a positive reaction from you. Whether that's 'good' or not is up to you to decide.
Your cat may let their tongue fall out of their mouth when they're relaxed
Sometimes, when cats are relaxed, their tongues naturally slip out. This happens because your cat's jaw loosens up as they relax, so their mouth opens up just enough to let the tongue through.

Read more
Why is my cat peeing everywhere? Find out the reason and how to fix it
Helpful tips if your kitty is guilty of this
A black and white cat sprawls out beside a blue litter box with a pile of litter on the floor

Whether you've recently adopted your feline friend or they've been your constant companion for years, inappropriate urination is a problem you want to nip in the bud — sooner rather than later. Inappropriate urination, otherwise referred to as elimination issues, are frustrating for all pet parents. Don't think you're at fault. An estimated 10% of all cats will experience house soiling at some point in their lives.

Sadly, inappropriate litter box use is one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered to animal shelters each year. You've come to the right place if you've been wondering, "Why is my cat peeing everywhere?" We'll share what you need to know about the most common reasons behind these issues, and we'll teach you how you can put an end to your fur baby's toilet troubles once and for all.
Why is my cat peeing everywhere?

Read more