Vaccinations

Yes, all indoor cats should be vaccinated. An up-to-date rabies vaccination is required by law to your pet and public health. Although rabies is not common in our companion animals, it still exists in the wildlife population. Indoor cats should also receive the FVRCP vaccine, to prevent severe herpes outbreaks in times of stress or illness.

FVRCP is a short form of a vaccine for 3 viruses that include rhinotracheitis (herpes), calicivirus and panleukopenia. This vaccine is considered a core vaccine that all cats should receive, along with rabies.

We recommend that an adult cat have the FVRCP vaccine given every 3 years and rabies is given annually.

Any vaccine has the potential to cause a vaccine reaction, however, they are not common. These can include but are not limited to lethargy, inappetence, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, neuropathies and rarely anaphylaxis. In rare cases a tumor called fibrosarcoma may develop at the injection site, however, this has been found to develop in only specific individuals who are genetically predisposed to form these tumors secondary to any type of infection or inflammation.