Anyone *not* have rabies shot and/or license for cat?

[NaturalMamma]

Our 10 mo old cat has never had a rabies shot and we don't plan to get one. She is spayed, but we declined the shots and our vet was very cool about it all. I still don't quite know if our state mandates one--I get mixed info from people. She is a very happy and health indoor cat.
Our town requires pet licenses and we don't have one of those either. It costs $30 every year. Today I read that our county just made major changes in how is handling the animal control. They said that they will give people until 10/1 to get a pet license. After that, they will be fined $125. Quite frankly, I find the whole concept of licensing an indoor cat ridiculous.

I'm curious how others circumvent the issue of rabies and pet licenses. Anyone else just simply not do it?

[Ola_]

Well I don't have a cat, just 2 dogs. But what I'm doing at this point is the 3 year rabies only for my younger dog and nothing for the 11 year old dog. Neither has a pet license. I used to have one in the previous city we lived in. I actually don't mind paying for it since it supports the local animal services. But once I get it I have to renew it each year, which means updating their rabies vaccs every 3 years, and well, I don't want to be obligated to do that without considering my pet's health.

As far as an indoor cat that no one will likely see unless you want them to? Yeah, I wouldn't do either.

[womenswisdom]

In case you're wondering, here is a list of all the states and their rabies vaccine requirements: http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/AHID/anima...y_requirements. The only states that do not require it are CA, Iowa, NJ and OK. Michigan requires an initial vaccine but not boosters.

[Minky]

We vaccinate, but we recently moved counties and have not attained a "cat license" for one of our three cats because her vaxes aren't due yet.

I've never had anyone check my cats for a license, vaccines, whatever, and have had more cats than the city allowed, not gotten licenses, etc. Just don't let your cats go outside, and don't do anything that would attract complaints from neighbours, and you should be good. I've never heard of these laws being enforced unless you let your cats wander, or someone complains about them.

[outlier]

I've had my indoor cat for eight years and have never licensed her. I didn't even know that was expected! I guess if for some strange reason it ever comes up to people who would care about that kind of thing, I would plead ignorance. She's lived in three different states with me and no vet ever brought that up either.

As for the rabies vax, I used to vaccinate her but stopped because it seemed pointless when she's never exposed to any other animals. I only take her to the vet if I have a specific concern. They usually ask when she's last had her shot and I just say it's been within the last three years.

[MsVyky]

We don't license our indoor cats, but we do vaccinate them for Rabies, Feline Leukemia and FIV because I truly do feel it's irresponsible not to. Cats escape, and you can never really know what's lurking around out there.

[womenswisdom]

Originally Posted by MsVyky

We don't license our indoor cats, but we do vaccinate them for Rabies, Feline Leukemia and FIV because I truly do feel it's irresponsible not to. Cats escape, and you can never really know what's lurking around out there.

As a PSA, the vaccine for FIV causes a cat to test positive for the disease, so you might consider microchipping so that if your cat were injured or lost and tested, it would not be euthanized when it tested positive and returned to you instead.

[SquishyKitty]

Originally Posted by womenswisdom

As a PSA, the vaccine for FIV causes a cat to test positive for the disease, so you might consider microchipping so that if your cat were injured or lost and tested, it would not be euthanized when it tested positive and returned to you instead.

My cats have both had FIV and neither of them have ever tested positive, before or after.

I agree with microchipping, and honestly I would vax because on the off-chance she gets out, she could be exposed to a lot of nasty things.

[womenswisdom]

Originally Posted by SquishyKitty

My cats have both had FIV and neither of them have ever tested positive, before or after.

Then I would guess the vaccine was not effective for your cats (efficacy of 82%). The FIV vaccine causes the body to produce antibodies to FIV, which is the only type of in-house testing we have available for FIV. I have worked in a cat-only clinic for the last 9 years, and this is information directly from the manufacturer of the vaccine. Here is a link from a reputable website: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...=0&SourceID=69.

Also, there are a few different strains of FIV, and the one that this vaccine protects against is not one of the most common ones here is the US, so we don't offer this vaccine at our clinic.

[kblackstone444]

My cat is an inside cat- she is not updated on her vaccinations and I honestly don't see any reason for it.

My two dogs are never outside unleashed or unsupervised, as we live in an apartment building in the middle of town. They are both overdue for all their vaccinations, due to money issues, but I'm thinking of just not updating them at all. My little one is too much of a scaredy-cat, she wouldn't go near a strange animal if her life depended on it, and my bigger dog, she'd make an excellent hunter, but because of this, we are extra careful not to let her in any opportunities where she would bite or get bitten by another animal.

[MsVyky]

Originally Posted by womenswisdom

As a PSA, the vaccine for FIV causes a cat to test positive for the disease, so you might consider microchipping so that if your cat were injured or lost and tested, it would not be euthanized when it tested positive and returned to you instead.

I agree with the microchipping. Our cats are chipped (they did it free with the spay and neuter)

[faithsstuff]

We vax our cat who loves to go outside. My parents have two indoor cats, one is vaxed, the other is alergic and didn't get the rabies or anything else.

[Magelet]

our indoor kitty isn't licensed. heck, I don't think there ARE cat licenses here, only dog licenses.

I imagine he has the rabies vaccine, in fact I'm sure he's still up to date on his vax'es, since we adopted him from the humane society 6 months ago. I doubt we'll keep him updated though. If he were an outdoor cat, I would maybe. Since he's indoor, he doesn't get vaxes, flea/tick meds, or heartworm meds, unless there was a real reason to. He also only sees the vet as needed, not for check ups.

(he is microchipped. they did it at the humane sociaty, but I'd do it anyways. on the very very slim chance that he got out not only of the apt, but the building, I want him to have a microchip.)

[~Adorkable~]

My now old wonderful kitty gets rabies vax any time we move long didtanses, often because I need to fly with him and they require proof. If we manage to stay put I let it lapse sometimes. He is vaxed for the main other ones though.
At 16 I am now skittish to inject anything into him, my move next month will be the last time for sure, I hope we stay still for mine and his sake.

I think that leicences for the most part are a good funding and fine, but my cat is certainly not wearing that big thing! It's also a safety thing to watch out for folks doing things bad, for those that never get complaints, they will also never notice if you have them.

[~Adorkable~]

Oh and remember to register the microchip, if not they will just call the vet that placed it, in my case I don't go there anymore and they would have no way of finding me. It's just a few dollars to register your info and without it the chip is really not that useful.

[2xy]

I have three indoor cats. One goes outside sometimes, but on a leash.

I have never, ever licensed a cat (don't know if RI requires it, to be honest), and only get vaccines that I can't weasel out of. Nobody around here would neuter or spay an animal that didn't at least have the required rabies vaccine. I have an older cat who is a heartworm survivor and has arthritis, takes medication for both and needs monitoring, so yeah, the vet will make her get a rabies shot when her three years is up.

I understand that cats get out and get lost....I really do. But I live in the city. If one of my cats escaped, the likelihood of getting hit by a car, eaten by a coyote or stray dog, or starving/freezing to death during the winter is probably way higher than getting rabies or distemper. They're pampered animals who lack survival skills.