California does not require cats to be vaccinated against rabies. Why? I am not sure. Maybe the state thinks we all have only indoor cats. Not even cats with a catio.
As a practicing veterinarian, I can tell you this is not the case. Here in Santa Barbara, many cats are indoor/outdoor.
We all know that an outdoor cat is exposed to many dangers, such as cars, bully cats, dogs, coyotes and rabid animals like bats.
If your cat is indoor/outdoor, be sure it is vaccinated for feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a fatal virus spread cat to cat by sharing bodily fluids, such as in a cat fight.
FVRCP is a combination vaccine that also is needed to protect against three serious viral illnesses in cats: feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia.
An indoor-only cat should be vaccinated for rabies for its safety and yours. According to the California Department of Public Health, Santa Barbara County had no rabid bats reported in 2023, but Ventura County had three rabid bats, San Luis Obispo County had one and Los Angles County had 23.
In 2022, Santa Barbara County reported four rabid bats, Ventura County reported six, San Luis Obispo County reported one and Los Angeles County reported 50.
Your cat can get rabies from fighting with a rabid skunk or being bitten by or eating a rabid bat. When bats get rabies, they eventually fall to the ground and flail around with seizures.
Cats see them as play-toys. Cats may play with sick bats on the floor inside a house, as well as on the ground outside.
You would never know if your outdoor cat encountered a rabid bat. The bite of a rabid bat leaves a very small puncture that typically is not apparent to owners.
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bats are one of the most commonly reported rabid animals in the United States. They are the leading cause of rabies deaths in people in the United States.
Rabid bats have been found in all 49 continental states, with only Hawai‘i being rabies-free.
The good news is that most bats don’t have rabies. But you can’t tell if a bat has rabies just by looking at it; rabies can only be confirmed in a laboratory.
Any bat that is active during the day or is found in a place where bats are not usually seen — like in your home or on your lawn — might be rabid. A bat that is unable to fly and is easily approached could be sick.
Seeing bats outside is common and normal, especially at dusk and through the night. Avoid intentional contact with bats outside. Use screens, tents or mosquito netting when sleeping outside.
The CDC recommends that if you find a bat in your house, talk to a health-care or public health professional and have the bat captured for possible rabies testing. Call animal control, wildlife conservation or a public health agency for assistance.
Testing the bat may help you and your doctor decide if you need a rabies vaccination.
Examine your home for holes that might allow bats entry. Caulk any openings larger than a dime. Use window screens, chimney caps and draft-guards beneath doors to attics.
Fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool, caulk or other material rated for pest exclusion. Ensure that all outside doors close tightly.
Santa Barbara Humane has vaccines as does your local veterinarian hospital.
Besides vaccinating your cats, there are a few other things that will help prevent rabies. Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. The CDC says “Love your own animals and leave other animals alone.”
If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and get immediate medical attention. Report all bites to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.
Have all dead, sick or easily captured bats tested for rabies if exposure to people or pets occur. Do not attempt to pick up a bat yourself; call county Animal Services to handle it.
The CDC says be a responsible pet owner by keeping vaccinations current for all dogs and cats.