Rabies is on the cat list because it is serious and because indoor cats are not exempt from risk. This page covers the requirement and the paperwork.
The requirement
Rabies is one of two required vaccines for cats at Happy Paws, the other being FVRCP. The kennel's vaccination page says it cannot accept a cat without proof of an up-to-date rabies vaccination. It also says the vaccine is re-administered every three years in healthy adult cats, which your veterinarian will confirm for your own cat.
A cat must also be at least 16 weeks old before the first day of the stay, so a young kitten may not yet be old enough to have had its rabies shot or to board.
Indoor cats count too
The kennel's page points out that both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk of rabies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that rabies spreads mainly through bites or scratches from an infected animal, that wildlife such as bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes are the animals most often found with it in the United States, and that keeping pets up to date on the vaccine greatly lowers the risk of the disease. A bat that gets into a house is the classic way an indoor cat meets rabies, which is why the vaccine is not only for outdoor cats.
What the law says
California's statewide rabies statute, Health and Safety Code section 121690, is written about dogs. The kennel's requirement for cats is its own boarding policy, and the cat vaccine rules where you live may also be set by your city or county. Your veterinarian will know what applies at home. For the kennel, the rule is simple: every cat needs a current record.
Sending the record
- Upload the certificate to your ProPetware account when you send a booking request.
- Or email it, or bring a copy to the first check-in.
- Check the expiration date against your pick-up day.
- Send an updated record after any booster.
Next steps
Read the whole list on the cat vaccine page, then look at the cattery, where each cat has its own four-level tower, litter box and blanket. Medical questions, including whether a particular cat should skip a vaccine, belong with your veterinarian. Please call 707-678-6600 to confirm for your pet.