--- title: Rabies Vaccine for Cats and Boarding | Happy Paws Kennels url: https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/rabies-cats/ 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/) - Rabies vaccine for cats # Rabies vaccine for cats Happy Paws Kennels needs proof of a current rabies vaccination for every cat, along with the FVRCP shot. The record must show the vaccine is up to date and will not expire during the stay. [Book a stay](https://happypawskennels.propetware.com/customerLogin)[Call 707-678-6600](tel:+17076786600) 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](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/cat-vaccines-for-boarding/), then look at the [cattery](https://happypawskennels.com/cat-boarding/), 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. ### Sources (checked October 19, 2026) - [Happy Paws Kennels vaccination requirements](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccination-requirements/) - [CDC: About rabies](https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/about/index.html) - [California Health and Safety Code section 121690](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=121690.&lawCode=HSC) ### 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/) - [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/) - [How to send vaccine records](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/sending-vaccine-records/) ## 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 - [DHPP (distemper/parvo) for boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/dhpp-distemper-parvo/) - [Bordetella vaccine](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/bordetella/) - [Intranasal vs oral bordetella](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/intranasal-vs-oral-bordetella/) - [Canine influenza](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/canine-influenza/) - [FVRCP for cats](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/fvrcp/) - [Leptospirosis vaccine](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/leptospirosis/) - [Heartworm prevention in the Delta](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/heartworm-prevention/) - [Flea & tick prevention before boarding](https://happypawskennels.com/vaccines/flea-and-tick-prevention/) 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 indoor cat need a rabies vaccine to board? Yes. Every cat needs proof of a current rabies vaccination. ### How often is the cat rabies vaccine given? The kennel's page says every three years in healthy adult cats. Your veterinarian confirms the schedule for your cat. ### Is cat rabies vaccination required by California law? The state rabies statute covers dogs. The cat requirement at Happy Paws is the kennel's own policy. ### What if my cat's rabies shot expires during the stay? Get the booster first and send the new record. Records must be good through the end of the stay.