08/10/2026
Happy Mira Monday!!
Mira's Den (and Mira) are happy to chat about a very important, yet controversial topic..... vaccines!
It's National Immunization Awareness Month, so we are answering that question of "Does my cat really need vaccines?"
After all, we want you to make informed decisions when it comes to the health care of your cat!
Yes! Your indoor cat needs vaccines.
Rabies (CORE FOR ALL CATS) is necessary! Rabies is 100% FATAL in ALL SPECIES (including HUMANS). In the US we are VERY LUCKY to not see a high amount of rabies cases in pets and in people because our vaccination efforts have been highly successful with domestic animals and wildlife! HOWEVER, that is changing, more rabies cases are being reported and many believe it could be due to fewer vaccinated domestic animals and wildlife. THIS IS SCARY, and it should be! So yes, vaccinate your cat (and all your pets) for Rabies, because it takes just one small exposure.
FVRCP (CORE FOR ALL CATS) - protects against many respiratory viruses and panleukopenia (feline distemper). While not always fatal, these diseases can deeply impact your cats quality of life for its whole life. Polio is an extreme but similar example, not that often fatal, but often leaves lasting effects over the cats lifetime. (HOWEVER, panleukopenia does carry a nearly 90% fatality rate in kittens!)
FeLV (CORE for kittens, lifestyle for adults) - once exposed, cats can either develop an abortive infection (about 20% that will clear the infection), a regressive infection (cat is not sick but virus is present and can activate at anytime), or a progressive infection which is the clinical presentation of the illness (80-90% of cats die within 3 years)
Rabies (CORE FOR ALL CATS) is necessary! Rabies is 100% FATAL in ALL SPECIES (including HUMANS). In the US we are VERY LUCKY to not see a high amount of rabies cases in pets and in people because our vaccination efforts have been highly successful with domestic animals and wildlife! HOWEVER, that is changing, more rabies cases are being reported and many believe it could be due to fewer vaccinate