Why Your Indoor Cat Still Needs a Rabies Vaccine

Tell Us What You ThinkMost cat parents assume rabies risk is an outdoor cat problem. Dr. Angie and JoJo disagree, and they've got two recent patient cases to explain why. In this episode, they walk through rabid bats becoming more common in the Boulder and Denver area, how a bat's behavior changes when it's infected, and what actually happens if a cat is exposed. That includes the quarantine process, why a rabies titer won't get a cat out of being vaccinated and quarantined, and the real consequences an unvaccinated, exposed animal can face. They also cover why rabies tops Dr. Angie's list of nonnegotiable vaccines, common myths about vaccine side effects, and what to look for in the vaccine itself. Listeners can grab their free course on cat vaccines at boulderholisticvet.com using code Truthtails or Truthtales. Key TakeawaysRabid bats do exist in the Boulder and Denver area, and their behavior changes when infected: daytime activity, flying into windows, being on the ground.Two of Dr. Angie's patients had confirmed or suspected bat exposure in the past year.If a cat is exposed to a potentially rabid animal and isn't current on the vaccine, the state veterinarian can require an extended quarantine, and in some cases can move to euthanize the animal.A rabies titer does not substitute for vaccination in an exposure situation. It only shows immunity status at that moment and takes too long to come back to be useful in an active exposure.Rabies is not just a bat issue. Skunks, fox, and domestic animals can carry it too.Of all core vaccines, Dr. Angie ranks rabies as the one she'd keep no matter what, because it is uniformly fatal once symptomatic. FVRCP matters, but panleukopenia is the only component in that combo with comparable severity for cats.Common vaccine hesitancy around rabies (fear it affects the nervous system) misunderstands how the vaccine works. It's a fragment of virus prompting an antibody response, not an infection.Dr. Angie uses Purevax (Boehringer Ingelheim) for cats, administered below the knee, elbow, or in the tail, per current best practice for injection site.Soundbites"We've had two in the last year of our patients be exposed to bats, one confirmed rabies, we're waiting on the second one."  — Dr. Angie "If your animal has been exposed to a rabid animal and they are not up to date on their vaccines, I mean they can try to force you to euthanize your animal."  — Dr. Angie "It's a peace of mind vaccine because rabies is fatal."  — JoJo"This is no shade to bats. Yes. Like they do so much."   — Dr. Angie "Well, I think there's like this trend right now to not vaccinate for rabies."  — JoJoFollow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTubeSchedule your personalized one-on-one consultation with Dr. Angie Shop my favorite CBD.Please subscribe and review! xoxo Dr. Angie & JoJo