--- title: Is Rabies Required for Cats in California? | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/questions/is-the-rabies-vaccine-required-for-cats-in-california/ business: Happy Paws Kennels address: 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 phone: 707-678-6600 hours: drop-off and pick-up every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2:00-5:00 PM type: Dog and cat boarding kennel on about 10 country acres; caring for pets in Dixon since 1971 rates: 2026 rates, effective for reservations made on or after Jan 1, 2026 (dogs from $52 a night, cats $35 a night) --- - [Home](https://happypawskennels.com/) - [FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/) - Is the rabies vaccine required for cats in California? # Is the rabies vaccine required for cats in California? California's rabies statute, Health and Safety Code section 121690, is written for dogs, so the state does not set the same rule for cats. Happy Paws Kennels requires a current rabies vaccine for every cat it boards, and no cat is accepted without proof. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) Both facts matter if you are packing for a trip: the law is one thing, the kennel's requirement is the one your booking depends on. ## The law and the kennel are two separate rules Section 121690 tells dog owners to vaccinate against rabies and license the dog. It does not use the same language for cats. The California Department of Public Health notes there is no statewide requirement for cats and still recommends the vaccine, even for indoor cats. The kennel requires it. When you read the kennel's list, the cat requirement is a house rule that applies to every cat in the cattery, indoor or outdoor, young or old. ## What a cat needs to board Two vaccines: rabies and FVRCP, the combination that covers rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. The cat must be at least 16 weeks old before the first day of the stay and have the vaccines recommended for its age. The records on file have to show both vaccines are up to date and will not expire before check-out. ## How long a cat's rabies vaccine lasts Feline rabies vaccines come as 1-year and 3-year products, your veterinarian chooses the product, and the certificate's expiration date is what the kennel checks. Check the expiration date on the certificate when you book, not on the day you pack. If it falls inside the trip, the booster comes first and the new certificate goes to the kennel. ## An indoor cat still counts An indoor-only cat is boarded in a cattery with other cats, in a building with doors that open for other people. That is why the requirement does not carve out indoor cats. If your cat has a medical reason that keeps it from being vaccinated, call 707-678-6600 and talk it through with the staff before you plan the trip. The [cat rabies vaccine page](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-cats/) goes into the details. ## Sending the proof Upload the certificate to your ProPetware account, email a copy, or bring one at the first check-in. Updated records after a booster are welcome at any time. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [California Health and Safety Code section 121690 (leginfo)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=121690.&lawCode=HSC) - [Happy Paws Kennels vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [California Department of Public Health, rabies](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Rabies.aspx) ### Visit or call 6677 Midway Road, Dixon, CA 95620 [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) | Drop-off and pick-up, every day | 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 2:00 to 5:00 PM | | --- | --- | | Tours, every day (no appointment) | 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 2:00 to 4:00 PM | [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin) ### Related - [Rabies vaccine for cats](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-cats/) - [Which vaccines does a cat need for boarding?](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/cat-vaccines-for-boarding/) - [FVRCP for cats](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/fvrcp/) - [Cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/) - [Cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/cats/) - [FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/) ## Read next - [Does the FVRCP vaccine expire?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/does-the-fvrcp-vaccine-expire/) - [Does my pet's vaccine have to last through the whole stay?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/does-my-pets-vaccine-have-to-last-through-the-whole-stay/) - [Is the kennel cough vaccine required by California law?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/is-the-kennel-cough-vaccine-required-by-california-law/) - [Is a rabies tag enough proof of vaccination?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/is-a-rabies-tag-enough-proof-of-vaccination/) - [How much does it cost to board a dog for a week?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-board-a-dog-for-a-week/) - [How much does it cost to board a cat for two weeks?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-board-a-cat-for-two-weeks/) - [How much does it cost to board a dog for a month?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-board-a-dog-for-a-month/) - [How much does it cost to board two dogs?](https://happypawskennels.com/questions/how-much-does-it-cost-to-board-two-dogs/) Answers ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) (every day 7:30-11:30 AM and 2-5 PM) or see the [boarding FAQ](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/). ### Does an indoor cat need a rabies shot to board? Yes. The kennel requires current rabies proof for every cat. ### What else does a cat need? FVRCP, plus the cat must be 16 weeks old before the first day of the stay.