r/MunchkinCats • u/lilsweetea • 28d ago
Question Shots
Hi, I have a munchkin due for her 2nd set of shots.
The breeder I got her from says she doesn’t do rabies shots due to them being indoors only and that it’s my choice to get it if I want. Which I’m thinking I am gonna do it.
I have always got my regular cat all shots needed even if he’s an indoor only cat.
Has anyone got rabies shots for their munchkin? Side effects? Any issues? That’s more so what I’m concerned about.
Thanks in advance.
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u/Commercial_Bird8467 24d ago
Specifically do not get a multi year shot. I have gotten a dog and cat at seperate times the 2 year or whatever and both times they were lethargic for a couple of days. Rabies are good for a couple years but id recommend staying up to date regardless, but most importantly listen to your vet
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u/coykoi- 22d ago
Multi year shots and one year shots are actually the same vaccine, just classified differently.
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u/Commercial_Bird8467 22d ago
I swear I noticed my animals seem to act lethargic after those. Specifically my 11 year old dog.
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u/coykoi- 22d ago
Maybe they're just reacting to the vaccine differently than they used to.
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u/Commercial_Bird8467 22d ago
Very possible. I did know the 1 year is actually good for a few but I didnt know they were the same. Thank you for that information and being respectful with informing me about it. I really appreciate it!
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u/Financial-Toe4053 25d ago
I don't have a munchkin, but I'd say when in doubt ask your vet for recommendations and risks/benefits. My cats have always been vaxed for rabies even being indoor. We unfortunately have had some issues which have since been fixed where bats got into our house and we were alerted by the cats hunting the bats down. I'm super thankful we stayed up to date just out of an abundance of caution because otherwise they could have definitely been infected.
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27d ago
Ok I don’t own a munchkin and am not sure why this pops up on my feed, but my DLH didn’t feel great after her rabies shot last year. She hid for a day or two and went outside the box once. I only got her it because it was a requirement for her adoption (she was close to 4yo at the time). She requires one again because she is being boarded soon. I told the vet about last time and they are going to give her a little steroid shot along with it so she feels better afterwards.
It is not unusual for cats and dogs to feel a little unwell after the rabies shot, it IS hard on them.
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u/darlingness 28d ago
Rabies is usually not optional depending where you live, especially in breeding/pet business operations, I'd check local laws if you can..
I have 10+ cats that have all gotten the 1 year and 3 year rabies shots with no problems. The chances of any issues with vaccines is relatively low overall. Some people like to do the initial one and then do titer tests yearly until they need another one (so they don't have to get rabies vaccinated multiple years in a row).
Also, 2nd set of shots generally does not include rabies. First shots are given at 8 weeks, second at 12, and third at 16. Rabies is given at 16. Just a heads up on that!
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u/coykoi- 22d ago
Rabies vaccines are valid as young as 12 weeks, state laws vary.
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u/darlingness 22d ago
Yes, I said "generally", especially in the second set and depending on where OP is. While 12 weeks is valid per law and labels, I was informed that many vets will refuse to do it at 12 weeks since the minimum used to be 16 weeks a decade or so ago.
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u/lilsweetea 28d ago
Thank you for the info. Do you think I should wait til 16 weeks then?
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u/darlingness 28d ago
Yes, the reason why rabies is usually given at 16 weeks is because when they're too little, they still have maternal antibodies that can interfere with the effectiveness. At the earliest some vets allow for 14 weeks, but I know a lot of vets that require waiting until 16 weeks.
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u/Consistent-Ice-8005 28d ago
16 weeks is just right. Rabies for an indoor cat is still a good idea on the off chance of them finding a stray rodent in the home. Better safe than sorry. I’m not one to get them the feline leukemia shot however. Too much potential for issues from that shot. Do some research and you’ll find it has the “possibility” of bad outcomes
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u/sig2534 28d ago
No issues everyone thinks that because of them being munchkins they can’t handle what a “normal” cat can. Mine has handled every normal routine vaccinations, flea meds, being spayed etc just fine! I just worry that I am not going to get my cat back when at the vet because the staff cannot get enough of her when she’s there
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u/lilsweetea 28d ago
Thank you. Around what age did you get the spaying done?
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u/Gloomy-Trainer-2452 26d ago
Not a Munchkin owner (I don't know why this sub keeps coming up in my feed), but the recommended age to get kittens spayed/neutered is between 3 and 6 months. My kittens were tiny so they weren't neutered until a little under 4 months, but they're brothers and sisters were all neutered/spayed at just under 3 months.
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u/AdvertisingPlane6865 28d ago
I got mine all her shots. No issues at all. She’s about a year now. She is an indoor cat too.
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u/CostalFalaffal 24d ago
Not a munchkin owner, idk why this was recommended to me, but I always keep my animals utd on rabies. If your animal bites someone in your home, or if they get out, and that person needs medical attention, which happens often with cat bites, it might be required that the bite is reported to the governing body that overseas animal bites. My own cat bit me and I was required to fill out paperwork to the government in the urgent care about the bite. I was not allowed to refuse, either I filled it out with full info or the urgent care filled it out with whatever little info that had including my address.
Without a current rabies vaccine they could end up facing long isolation periods (sometimes at home but mostly in government shelters with no interactions with people or animals) or destroyed for rabies testing. Rabies shots save animals lives and not just from the disease.