Do Indoor Cats Need Shots?

Many owners of indoor cats wonder, “Why should I vaccinate my cat for diseases they’ll never be exposed to?” It’s true that vaccinations help protect cats from many bacterial and viral conditions they’ll only catch from other cats, but if your unprotected cat slips outdoors, she’s got no help fighting communicable illness.

You should discuss with your vet which shots your indoor cat needs.  But if you’re not willing to get all shots the vet recommends for your indoor cat, please at least get the rabies vaccine. In some states this is required.

There are several documented cases of infected animals making their way into residences and, for an indoor cat, a bat can make a tempting squeaky toy! If your indoor cat catches a mouse, or if a bird gets into the house, and that animal is infected with rabies – the result could be fatal for your cat.  It’s just not worth risking – get them their rabies shot! For more information about the need for a rabies shot for indoor cats, click HERE.

Indoor Cats Need to See the Vet Regularly

It’s important that your indoor cat visit the vet once a year.  The physical exam covers several important things like monitoring your cat’s weight, checking her blood pressure, heart rate, temperature.  The vet will look at your cat’s mouth and teeth and look inside her ears.  These are all ways that any developing illness or condition can be detected early – which may prevent serious illness in the future.

As cats get older, they can start to show signs of typical diseases associated with age. A simple blood test can check for chronic kidney disease, overactive thyroid and diabetes, which commonly affect older cats. Establishing a baseline and keeping an eye on these markers can allow for early detection and easier treatment.

My vet discovered kidney disease early on in my then-10-year-old cat, changed her food to one specifically formulated for that particular condition – and literally saved my cat’s life. (That’s her in the picture – she lived 20 years!)

Fleas and ticks can easily hitch a ride into your house not only on outdoor cats, but also dogs, kids, even you! Your indoor cat must absolutely be protected against fleas and ticks.  And even one stray mosquito in the house is capable of transmitting potentially lethal heartworms to your cat. Prevention is easy with products like Advantage.  Do it. Don’t put your cat at risk.  For more information, read my article (includes video), Flea and Tick Control.