--- title: Which Vaccines Does a Cat Need for Boarding? | Happy Paws url: https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/cat-vaccines-for-boarding/ 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/) - [Vaccines](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/) - Which vaccines does a cat need for boarding? # Which vaccines does a cat need for boarding? A cat needs two vaccines to board at Happy Paws Kennels: rabies and FVRCP. Both must be current and good through the last day of the stay, and the cat must be 16 weeks old before the first day. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) Cats have a shorter vaccine list than dogs, which makes preparing for a stay simpler. Here is the list, the paperwork and the order to do things in. ## The cat list Rabies and FVRCP are the two required cat vaccines. The kennel will not accept a cat without proof of a current rabies vaccination. FVRCP covers rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. The kennel's page says the rabies vaccine is re-administered every three years in healthy adult cats, and that interval is for your veterinarian to confirm for your cat. Nothing else is required for cats. Dog-only vaccines such as Bordetella and canine influenza are not part of the cat list. ## What the record must show The record has to show that the vaccines are up to date and will not expire during the stay. That is the date test: compare each expiration date with your pick-up day. A cat that is current on the drop-off date but due on day three of the stay needs a booster first. - Name of the cat and the vaccine names. - Date given and, if listed, the expiration. - Your veterinarian's clinic name or signature. ## A note on California law and cats California's statewide rabies rule, Health and Safety Code section 121690, is written for dogs. The cat requirement at Happy Paws comes from the kennel's own boarding policy, which treats rabies as essential for every guest. The kennel notes that both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk of rabies, and local rules for cats can differ by city or county, so your veterinarian can tell you what applies where you live. ## Steps before booking Pull the records, check the dates, and book a vet visit if anything lapses before pick-up. Then send the booking request through ProPetware with the record uploaded, or email or bring it. The kennel confirms each reservation. The [vaccine readiness checker](https://happypawskennels.com/tools/vaccine-readiness-checker/) covers the same steps. Cats also need to arrive flea and tick free, and a cat that arrives with a problem is bathed at the owner's cost. For help choosing a stay, see [cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/). ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [Happy Paws Kennels vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [California Health and Safety Code section 121690](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=121690.&lawCode=HSC) - [Cornell Feline Health Center](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center) ### Before your first stay - [Vaccination records](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) current through pick-up day - A signed [boarding agreement](https://happypawskennels.com/boarding-contract/) - Pets 16 weeks or older - [Bring nothing but your pet](https://happypawskennels.com/what-to-bring/) ### 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 - [Vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [Rabies vaccine for cats](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-cats/) - [FVRCP for cats](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/fvrcp/) - [Kitten vaccine schedule](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/kitten-vaccine-schedule/) - [Cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/) - [Cat boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/faq/cats/) ## Is my pet ready? Who is staying? Dog Cat Both Pick-up date Dog vaccines (three required, one recommended) Rabies Good until Distemper/Parvo (DHPP) Good until Bordetella (kennel cough) Good until Canine Influenza (H3N2 - H3N8) - recommended, not required Good until Cat vaccines (required) Rabies Good until FVRCP Good until Tick each vaccine your pet has had. Add the date it runs out to check it against your pick-up day. This checks our boarding requirements, not your pet's health. Your veterinarian decides which vaccines your pet should have and when. Upload records to your [ProPetware account](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin), email them, or bring a copy at check-in. ## Read next - [How far ahead to vaccinate before a stay](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/timing-before-boarding/) - [Titer tests and boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/titer-tests/) - [Rabies exemptions in California](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/vaccine-exemptions/) - [How to send vaccine records](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/sending-vaccine-records/) - [Dog licenses in Solano & Yolo counties](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/dog-licensing-solano-yolo/) - [Parvo in dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/parvo/) - [Rabies vaccine for dogs](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-dogs/) - [Rabies vaccine for cats](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-cats/) 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 my cat need a Bordetella or flu shot? No. Those are dog vaccines on the kennel's list. Cats need rabies and FVRCP. ### How old must a cat be to board? At least 16 weeks old before the first day, with all the recommended vaccinations for its age. ### Do I send records for each stay? Records stay on file, but they must cover the whole stay. Send an updated record after any booster. ### Where do I get the record? Your veterinarian's office can print or email it.