If you live in a country where rabies is present in wildlife, vaccinating your pets against this deadly disease is not only essential to saving their lives, but may also be required by law. As with many other things in the United States, the laws and guidelines regarding rabies vaccinations vary from state to state. Some states do not have mandatory state laws for rabies vaccinations, while others require that cats, dogs, and ferrets be vaccinated even if they do not go outside.
Once you understand the legal aspects of rabies vaccination, you will encounter many more inconsistencies, such as the fact that rabies vaccines must be administered annually, whereas some only need to be administered once every three years. It is up to you to research your legal obligations regarding rabies vaccinations, but we can assist you in understanding the different types of vaccines, vaccination schedules, and whether there is one that is best suited for your cat. But first, let’s refresh our knowledge about the rabies virus itself.
Rabies virus in cats
The rabies virus can infect any mammal and is transmitted through saliva. It is usually transmitted by bite wounds, but can also be transmitted through contact with open wounds. Interestingly, although cats are the most frequently reported species of rabies in the United States, there have been no documented cases of cat-to-cat transmission.
The virus attacks the nervous system, causing the following symptoms:
- Anorexia
- Irritation
- hiding
- Nervousness
- Invasion
- Wild animals may lose their fear of humans
The disease usually progresses in two forms:
- Enraged (also known as “mad dog”) rabies includes dilated pupils, obvious aggression, and attacking with teeth and claws in response to the slightest provocation or loud noise.
- Paralytic rabies (also called “paralytic rabies”) includes paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles, excessive salivation, inability to swallow, and loss of muscle control. These animals rarely bite, but infection can occur if a human examines their mouth.
Diagnosis is very difficult – definitive diagnosis requires examination of brain tissue after death – and rabies can resemble several different diseases.
Unvaccinated cats suspected of having rabies should be euthanized immediately or quarantined for six months. Vaccinated cats should be revaccinated and closely monitored for 45 days. Mixed-breed cats such as Ocicats and Savannah cats can be vaccinated against rabies, but their vaccination status is not officially recognized and if a mixed-breed pet bites a human, they may be required by law to be euthanized for testing for the rabies virus.
Vaccination is key
Because the risk of infection to humans is high, especially with the virulent form, vaccination is the most important step you can take to protect yourself and your cat, regardless of state laws. The rabies vaccine is considered highly protective against infection, and very few vaccine failures have been reported.
by American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)The recommended vaccination schedule for cats is as follows:
- First vaccination given between 8 and 16 weeks
- Second vaccination within 12 months
- Subsequent vaccinations are given every three years, although local laws may require vaccinations to be given annually or every two years.
Animals are considered fully protected 28 days after the first vaccination and immediately after subsequent vaccinations if given within the recommended schedule. These dates must be strictly adhered to, especially when it comes to travel.
What is the difference between a 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year vaccine?
This is where things get a little confusing, but bear with me. First, we need to talk about vaccine adjuvants.
Adjuvanted vs. unadjuvanted
Adjuvants are substances that enhance the body’s immune response to vaccinations, which is great from a preventative standpoint, but they are also responsible for most of the side effects of vaccinations, including lethargy, fever, swelling and pain. For cats, adjuvanted vaccines carry an additional risk: feline injection site sarcoma (FISS). The vaccines most commonly associated with the formation of FISS are the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and rabies virus vaccines.
To reduce the risk of FISS, vaccination intervals have been modified to maintain high immunity levels while minimizing the risk of sarcoma formation, so most vaccines are recommended to be given every three years with cats receiving their first booster shot approximately 12 months after kitten vaccination. Studies in dogs have shown that immunity may last for up to eight years in some individuals, but a balance must be struck between minimizing the potential risk of vaccine side effects and the public health impact.
Purevax has taken the added step of using a recombinant canarypox virus to safely immunise against FeLV and rabies without the need for an adjuvant. The FeLV vaccine is currently only licensed for annual dosing, whereas in the UK the rabies vaccine is licensed for revaccination every three years, followed by a booster dose 12 months after the initial dose.
In the United States, the Purevax rabies vaccine comes in two versions, a one-year and a three-year version, the only difference being the label. We can only assume that the two formulations were created to make it easier for veterinarians to comply with different laws in different parts of the United States. However, there are some cases where veterinarians only use the one-year formulation, mistakenly believing it provides better protection than the three-year vaccine.
So which vaccine is better?
Given the high level of protection offered by the unadjuvanted Purevax rabies 3 year vaccine, it is certainly the clear winner when it comes to minimising risk whilst protecting your cat and your family, however for cats who are in poor health or immunocompromised, the adjuvanted vaccine may offer better protection as the unadjuvanted vaccine relies on a strong immune response to provide future protection.
Vaccination requirements in the US vary depending on the product you use, with the exception of California, which requires cats to be vaccinated every two years after the first dose, but it’s important to check with your local government agency to make sure you’re complying with the law.
Most veterinary clinics only carry one or two vaccine brands, so you may need to call around to find a clinic that uses the vaccine you want according to the schedule established by the AAHA. There may also be other geographic and personal factors to consider, so talk to your veterinarian about their recommendations and experiences.
Final thoughts
Rabies is a very dangerous and deadly virus and the best way to protect yourself, your family and your pets is through vaccination. Even if you live in an area where rabies infection is rare, you are still at high risk when it comes to this virus.
Many of the past concerns about vaccine side effects, particularly for cats, have been significantly alleviated by changes in vaccination schedules and the development of a reliable non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine. Unlike the non-adjuvanted FeLV vaccine, the Purevax rabies vaccine is licensed for administration every three years, which is an ideal compromise that maximizes protection while minimizing side effects. Note that the non-adjuvanted vaccine may not be suitable for cats in poor health or with weakened immune systems. In these cases, the adjuvanted vaccine every three years is the safest option.
With confusing labeling and varying state and local laws regarding rabies vaccinations, it can be difficult to know what’s best for your feline family, but we hope that you can use this information to discuss your options with your veterinarian.
Featured image credits: bmf-foto.de, Shutterstock
