Most masses think of madness as a dog problem , but more cats than canines are reported to have the disease every year in the U.S.
More than250 catsare cover to haverabiesevery year in the United States . While this may seem like a small amount when compared to the total cat population , which numbers in the tens of millions , it ’s not insignificant . That ’s because madness is the deadliest infectious disease in the world . Once the signs of contagion appear , there is no treatment . Moreover , the rabies virus is zoonotic , meaning it can be pass from animal to people . And it ’s just as deadly in humans as it is in cats .
There is n’t a remedy for madness in cats , but there is a wide useable and extremely effective tool at your disposal that can protect your beloved pet : the rabies vaccine .
Photo: demaerr / Getty
How Is Rabies Transmitted?
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals , causing deadly inflammation in the brain and spinal cord . According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC ) , most pets get rabies from interacting with wildlife like raccoons , bat , skunks , and foxes .
The rabies virus is present in the saliva of infectious animals , and transmission typically appears when a cat is bitten by one of these fauna . Though rare , the virus can also be transmitted when infective saliva come into lineal physical contact with a scratch or open wound or with a mucous tissue layer ( e.g. eyes , nose , mouth ) . TheCDCnotes that contact with the blood , water , or feces of an infectious beast is not a drive for concern .
Once the rabies computer virus enter a cat ’s body , it travels through the face to the brain . This process , known as the brooding time period , typically takes anywhere from two week to around five months , says Brandi Whittemore , DVM , ofHancock Veterinary Servicesin Pineville , Mo. , though it can be longer or shorter . Caterpillar do n’t show any clinical sign during the incubation period . These usually begin once the computer virus reaches the mental capacity and begins multiply . It ’s also at this point that the virus moves into the salivary glands , producing infectious spittle .
Why the Rabies Vaccine is Important for Cats
Rabies can not be cured , but it can be foreclose . And protecting cats from madness is n’t just a matter of favored wellness . Because the disease can authorize from cats to people , there are huge import for human health , too . That ’s why Whittemore considers the rabies vaccine to be the most importantvaccination a cat can receive .
Every year , the rabies computer virus kills intimately 60,000 people around the world , and most of its victim are nestling . The disease is only rarified in the United States thanks to the preponderance of immunised pets , enounce Whittemore . When you immunize your cat , you are part of a global opening move to dilute the telephone number of madness deaths to zero .
Luke Gamble , BVetMed , play a part in this initiative as well . As the founder and CEO ofMission Rabies , a nonprofit organization that run vaccination and education programs in rabies hotspot like India and Malawi , he ’s seen the suffering that hydrophobia can make firsthand and describes the vaccine as the safest and most effective way to protect both pets and citizenry . " By keeping your pets up to date on their rabies vaccination , you’re able to help prevent them from take the disease from wildlife or other unvaccinated pets , and in so doing , keep possible transmission to your family or other people , " says Gamble . " Even in the U.S. where human hydrophobia cases are rarified , we must all take action to prevent disease outbreak . "
It ’s also authoritative to note that if your cat has never been vaccinated and is suspected to havecome in contact with rabies , the CDC recommends immediateeuthanasia . The only other selection is to place the cat in strict quarantine with no direct human or animal contact for four month , but it is unconvincing the cat will find .
Rabies Vaccine Schedule for Cats
The threat of rabies is so serious to both pets and people that in most states you ’re legally take to immunize your kitty between 12 and 16 weeks of old age with a booster shot a year after , says Whittemore . you may learn what ’s ask in your area by asking your vet or by contacting your local wellness department .
How often your computerized axial tomography is given subsequent booster shot may also be decided by local laws . There are two selection : a 1 - year shaft and a 3 - twelvemonth shot . allot to Whittemore , the dispute between the two vaccine essentially comes down to labeling as the components are the same .
If your cat number into contact lens with a potentially rabid creature , your veterinary surgeon may give your pet an extra inoculation — even if your big cat is up to date — just to be safe . And while no vaccine is 100 - percentage effective , the madness vaccine is extremely successful at protecting guy against infection .
How Much Does the Rabies Vaccine for Cats Cost?
The cost of vaccinate a cat against rabies varies by mathematical product and veterinary clinic , but you should expect to pay somewhere between $ 15 and $ 35 . If thecostis a barrier , you may be able-bodied to find a low - monetary value inoculation clinic or creature tax shelter near you that can allow the shot for free or at a boil down rate .
Do Indoor Cats Need a Rabies Vaccine?
Yes — indoor catsshould be vaccinate against rabies too , says Whittemore . For one , there ’s a good chance it ’s already mandated by the body politic in which you live . But more importantly , while an indoor guy ’s chance of coming in tangency with the rabies computer virus is low , it is n’t zero . Your cat could escape out the front door or a penis of your local wildlife community of interests , such as a bat or racoon , could make its way in through an assailable window or room access . One trademark of lyssa is that it can do animals that are normally shy and withdraw to lose all fear of other animals and become extremely fast-growing . give the earnestness of the disease , it is n’t worth the risk .
Side Effects of the Rabies Vaccine in Cats
The rabies vaccinum is very safe , but as with other vaccinum that stimulate an immune response , it can cause side effect like mild febrility , decrease appetence , and lethargy , says Whittemore . Your true cat may also experience soreness or well at the injectant site . Whittemore notes that these side effects typically decide within one or two daylight .
Though rare , there ’s also a opportunity your computerized tomography could have an supersensitized response to the madness vaccinum . Associated side effects admit facial intumescence , regurgitation , trouble breathing , and hives . If you think your quat is having an hypersensitized reaction , seek immediate care .
Feline injection - site sarcomas are another uncommon reaction that can rise follow any injection in computed tomography , says Whittemore . These are cancerous tumour that can appear at the site of injection month and even years after the consequence . If a lump variant where your cat has been given a shooting , be sure to let your veterinarian know .
And if you ’re ever worried or unsure about your hombre ’s reaction to a vaccinum , do n’t hesitate to reach out to your veterinary squad for advice .
