After the announcement by KDHE earlier this month that there have been rabid cats found in the state, Erica Miller, DVM with Apple Lane Animal Hospital reminds us to get those barn cats vaccinated.
“One of those cats I think was in Jewell County,which is where my in-laws are from,” Miller said. “I sent that article to my husband to show his parents, yes, even the barn cats, outdoor only. Truly, I mean, those are the ones that need to be vaccinated for rabies because they have the most exposure.”
The outdoor cats in particular are exposed to the wildlife.
“I’m sure everyone’s seen videos where we’ve got the plate of cat food out, and we’ve seen, you know, then we’ve got like possums and raccoons coming up to eat it too,” Miller said. “We can see that, so more exposure to the wildlife with our outdoor pets, and you know, not only that, but rabies is required in the state of Kansas, so you know, I have to tell you, everything has to be vaccinated for rabies.”
If you find a litter of kittens in your barn, remember to get those new ones vaccinated as soon as possible.
“Specifically rabies vaccine, you know, four months, 16 weeks,” Miller said. “We do recommend other vaccines for cats, even barn cats, you know, one of the vaccines helps prevent against kind of the upper respiratory tract infections, they’ll pass to one another being outdoors, and then the feline leukemia vaccine that they can also pass, and so most people with barn cats, or, you know, that aren’t kind of the family cats, they will just do the rabies.”
To set an appointment for those vaccinations, call your veterinarian.
