Vaccines are mandatory to keep you and your beloved pet away from many serious diseases. Most pet owners vaccinate their outdoor pets, but what about indoor pets? Should they also get vaccinated, and what vaccine do indoor cats need? These are the common questions in every pet owner's mind. Before jumping deep into the topic, we will discuss the vaccine and why it is necessary to get vaccinated.
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What is Vaccine
A vaccine is a substance made from the causative agent, its products, or an artificial substitute. It acts as an antigen without causing the infection. Instead, it is used to stimulate antibodies and provide immunity against one or more diseases.
Why it is necessary to vaccinate the cats
Consider some situations that could expose your cat to disease. For example, cats who spend time outside are at a higher risk of getting various infectious diseases. Indoor cats do not need vaccination for feline panleukopenia virus, feline herpesvirus-1, or feline calicivirus.
However, because of these diseases’ widespread or severe nature, these core vaccines are recommended for all cats, indoor or outdoor.Indoor cats are generally at low risk of being exposed to infectious agents, mainly if the disease in question is only transmitted through direct contact between cats.
why indoor cats need vaccination
It is a myth that indoor cats do not need to be vaccinated against infectious diseases. While living indoors is safer than living outdoors, contributing to a longer life expectancy, acute contagious diseases can infiltrate indoor cats.
Some essential reasons help you to understand that why indoor cats need vaccination as well:
What vaccines do indoor cats need?
There are the following vaccines that indoor cats need to get
Rabies vaccination
It is required by Maine State Law for all cats, whether they go outside or not. It is because bats are one of the most common carriers of the Rabies virus. When a bat becomes infected, it is more likely to seek shelter and act strangely. For example, flying towards light sources and into people's homes. As a result, vaccinating your indoor cat against Rabies is critical. Every year, many indoor cats get an infection by playing with a dead bat in the house.
FVRCP
Another vaccine for indoor cats is FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia). This vaccine protects against two different upper respiratory diseases. The third ingredient guards against the Feline Distemper virus.
These all are highly contagious and can be spread to other pets who go outside or even the owners' clothing. This vaccine is given to kittens every four weeks from the age of eight to sixteen weeks. The following year, and every three years after that, it is boosted. In cats over the age of sixteen to eighteen weeks, the vaccine is given once and then raised the following year, with a three-year interval in between.
Parasite prevention for indoor cats
Situational flea control is essential for indoor cat parasite prevention. Flea control is necessary if you live in a private home with a dog or an apartment building with other pets. Remember that cats are a favorite host for fleas. Flea control is best achieved by applying a monthly topical or by administering a 6-month injection.