The rabies vaccine is a fundamental prophylactic measure that has managed to greatly reduce the cases of this infectious disease in the world. In areas where the infection remains endemic, this vaccine is essential in the most predisposed companion animals, ie dogs, cats and ferrets. So much so, that it even becomes mandatory in some places, including some places in Spain. These measures are taken, despite the fact that Spain is free of rabies, due to its proximity to endemic countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria (North Africa), and due to the possibility of contagion through wild and domestic animals in these areas.
Is the rabies vaccine mandatory for cats?
Depending on where we are, the rabies vaccine in cats will be mandatory or not. In Spain, most autonomous communities have established by legislation that this vaccine is mandatory for dogs, cats and ferrets. For this reason, although the vaccine is not compulsory in your autonomous community, if you move to another community that is and your cat is not vaccinated, you may be fined.
Specifically, in Spain, the legislation of each autonomous community says the following:
- Andalucía: Rabies vaccination is compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets. The first vaccination is from 3 months, revaccinated a month and then every year.
- Aragón: the rabies vaccine is only mandatory for dogs, cats and ferrets is voluntary except in case of travel to states of the European Union.
- Asturias: the rabies vaccine is voluntary for dogs, cats and ferrets.
- Islas Baleares: rabies vaccination is compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets from 3 months of age, with revaccination every year.
- Canarias: vaccination is mandatory for dogs and voluntary for cats and ferrets, except for transfers or displacements to other communities.
- Cantabria: the vaccine is mandatory for dogs and ferrets from 3 months with annual revaccination, but voluntary for cats.
- Castilla La Mancha: it is mandatory for dogs, cats and ferrets from 3 months, with revaccination every year and then every two years or according to manufacturer.
- Catalonia: vaccination is currently voluntary for dogs, cats and ferrets. However, due to the recent arrival of pets from Ukraine, where the disease has not been eradicated, this autonomous community has decided to make the rabies vaccine compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets. It is not yet known when this new regulation will come into force.
- Castilla y León: the rabies vaccine is mandatory for dogs and recommended for cats and ferrets (not mandatory), from 3 months of age with revaccination every year.
- Extremadura: the vaccine is compulsory for dogs from 3 months of age and is revaccinated every year. It is optional in cats and ferrets.
- Galicia: is voluntary in cats, dogs and ferrets.
- Madrid: it is compulsory in dogs from 3 months with annual revaccination and voluntary in cats and ferrets.
- Murcia: it is mandatory from 3 months in dogs and cats and 5 months in ferrets, in all of them with revaccination annual.
- Navarra: compulsory only in dogs from 4 months, with revaccination every 2 years. Therefore, in cats it is optional.
- Basque Country: is voluntary for dogs, cats and ferrets.
- La Rioja: it is only mandatory for dogs over 3 months of age and revaccination is every two years. In this way, in cats it is optional.
- Comunidad Valenciana: compulsory vaccination in dogs, cats and ferrets from 3 months with annual revaccination and after according to the manufacturer.
- Ceuta and Melilla: compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets from 3 months of age.
What is the rabies vaccine used for in cats?
Rabies is a deadly infectious disease and a very important zoonosis for humanity, because it spreads between animals and humans The causal agent Rabies is a virus transmitted by saliva, and it is frequently spread through bites from an infected animal. It is an agent that targets the central nervous system, causing a lower motor neuron syndrome that induces ascending flaccid paralysis, which leads to an upper motor neuron or cortex syndrome as the disease progresses, this being which ends up causing death by inducing coma and respiratory failure.
Symptoms of rabies in cats begin to appear between 2 weeks and several months after infection, and should make us suspicious of any sudden change in behavior to a more aggressive one. The main signs of the disease are reduced palpebral, pupillary and corneal reflexes, salivation, mandibular paralysis, convulsions, pica, disorientation, tremors, attacking and/or biting the air, walking aimlessly, fury, fear, irritability, ataxia, coma and death.
The rabies vaccine makes it possible to prevent contagion and, therefore, prevent the spread of the virus. This is why vaccinating cats living in places where the virus is latent against rabies is so important.
When is a cat vaccinated against rabies?
The first dose in young kittens is always from 3 months of age, never before this time, and will be revaccinated year. If the cat is an adult and has never been vaccinated against rabies, the vaccination can be done at any time, also with revaccination every year. Revaccination or reinforcement will depend on the legislation of the area where we are, as well as on each manufacturer, varying from annual to every 3 years, as we have already mentioned.
Kittens from communities or shelters must be vaccinated at the time of discharge from the shelter, although the requirement will depend on whether the disease is endemic in the place and whether the rabies vaccine for cats is mandatory by law.
How often is the rabies vaccine given to cats?
Depending on the legislation of the area where we are, as well as whether it is endemic or not or if we are close to an endemic country, the frequency and obligation will vary. Thus, it may be an optional or mandatory vaccine every year, every two years or every three years
Types of Rabies Vaccines
We can find rabies vaccines on the market modified virus, which, in addition to being used in dogs and cats, it has been used for the vaccination of wild animals such as European or Canadian foxes and Finnish raccoons. These preparations are safe derivatives of the SAD (Street Alabama Dufferin) strain of the virus.
Other types of vaccines available are the recombinant vectorized, which contain recombinant viruses that only contain the glycoprotein G gene of the virus. rabies, which is relevant for immunological protection. In North America, poxvirus and adenovirus vectors expressing this glycoprotein are used to control wild rabies orally, while the canarypox vector is used parenterally for cats.
Finally, we can find killed or inactivated virus vaccines, being the most frequently used to vaccinate our cats and dogs against rage. They are the safest and the ones that cause the fewest conservation problems.
Rabies Vaccine Side Effects in Cats
Like all vaccines, the rabies vaccine can also cause side effects after subcutaneous administration. Generally, these effects subside within a few hours of appearing, therefore, if they last longer or are very serious, go to your veterinary center.
Among the side effects of the rabies vaccine in cats, we find the following:
- Fever
- Apathy
- Appetite reduction
- Fatigue
- Redness of the area
- Tenderness to hide
- Allergic reaction
- Cutaneous vasculitis
- Lump in area
Regarding the last side effect, it is important to watch that the area where the vaccine is administered does not produce a growing lump or bump, as this could indicate a very aggressive tumor calledsarcoma at the injection site and that must be removed with very wide surgical margins, which is greatly hindered if the vaccine is produced in the interscapular area. For this reason it is preferred, especially if the vaccine is adjuvanted, that the rabies vaccine in cats be administered to the distal limbs, lateral abdominal chest wall, or distal tail. In addition, it is convenient to rotate the places of administration of the vaccines in this species.
Despite these risks, the benefit of vaccination is always greater if there is a risk of contagion, especially considering the importance of rabies for public he alth.
Price of rabies vaccine for cats
The price of the vaccine will vary between veterinary centers and brands, but it is normal for it to range between 25 and the 30 €. Some veterinary centers may offer deals if you give your cat other vaccines against other major infectious diseases, such as the leukemia vaccine or the feline trivalent or triple viral vaccine, which includes protection against feline panleukopenia viruses, calicivirus and feline herpesvirus.
