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Getting a cat vaccinated is a crucial part of their regular preventative healthcare, but the overall costs per vaccination vary depending on the type of the vaccine, where you live, and whether other preventative procedures take place at the same time.
Your veterinarian will provide a recommendation for your kitten’s needed rabies vaccination based on your cat’s overall risk factors, including the possible risks they may face in the wild or if they are expected to travel internationally, based on state and country legislation. Your kitten will undergo a primary vaccination course for core vaccines starting at 6-8 weeks of age, depending on the vet’s recommendation or when you adopted the kitten, while the rabies vaccine is usually administered at 12-16 weeks of age.
After their initial vaccination, your cat will need to get a booster, which is every 1-3 years depending on the type of the vaccine and risk factors. On average, rabies vaccines can range anywhere from $25 to $60 for the first shot and from $20 to $35 for boosters. For a more accurate estimate, please contact your veterinarian.
The Importance of a Rabies Vaccine
Rabies has quite the reputation, and for a good reason. Rabies is a fatal viral disease that can spread from infected animals to pets and humans. In almost all cases, rabies leads to death, and it’s vital to stay on top of rabies vaccinations for your cat, especially if they are an outdoor feline in a risk area.
Due to the serious nature of the disease, vaccination against rabies is required in almost all states. The rabies vaccine protects your cat from becoming infected with rabies, which proves fatal in unvaccinated animals. Rabies is primarily transmitted through animal bites, usually from wild animals like bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks that wander into your yard.
The severity of rabies caused most states and local governments to require a rabies vaccine. Once signs set in, the disease is guaranteed to be fatal and there is no available treatment. It is concerning and poses a significant risk for the health of the human population as well as pet animals, and many states require euthanasia of unvaccinated animals exposed to any potentially rabid animal, or a 6-month long quarantine at a dedicated facility.1
Euthanasia is often required, even for a suspected case of rabies, because it is impossible to diagnose rabies in the brain of a living animal. Rabies can only be confirmed from brain tissue extracted during a procedure after death.
Rabies is a complicated topic, if you have questions, we suggest speaking to one of our vets!
Cost of Rabies a Vaccine
The cost of your cat’s rabies vaccine varies depending on the type of the vaccine, if any other procedures are recommended at the same time, such as microchipping, where you live and the clinic you choose. Some pet insurances and vet clinic policies cover the costs of annual vaccines and general wellness through additive care plans on top of your policy.
However, on average, a standard rabies shot can range from $25 to $45. The individual shot cost will also vary based on whether your cat has the 3-year or 1-year vaccine. Regardless of the choice, you will still have to get annual boosters every 1 to 3 years, alongside other recommended vaccinations.
We looked at rabies vaccination costs according to veterinary information by region:
- South: The average cost of a rabies vaccine is around $20–$45. You can find this range in states like North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Alabama.
- West: The average cost of a rabies vaccine was $20–$50. You can find these rates in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and California.
- Midwest: The average cost of a rabies vaccine was $15–$45. You can find this range in states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Kansas.
- Northeast: The average cost of a rabies vaccine was $25 –$50. You can find rates like this in Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia.
It is important to remember that these are individual shot prices, meaning your total might be more if other procedures or treatments are done at the same time. Please note that these are just approximations of the expected cost. For a more accurate estimate of anticipated costs, it’s best to contact your vet directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Rabies Vaccine for a Cat?
The rabies vaccine functions as any other vaccine for a viral disease would. Also called immunization or just the rabies shot, this can be a killed or inactive vaccine—meaning the virus within the vaccine has been killed and will not cause the receiver to become infected. Rabies vaccine can also be recombinant, meaning the viral DNA has been changed and manipulated so that it can’t produce illness, only activate the immune response. Since it’s much like our flu shots, the vaccine contains certain parts of the rabies virus within and stimulates your cat’s immune system to build an immune response against the presence of the virus.
Once your cat has had this immune response, they will make their antibodies to fight off the invasion of the rabies virus if a rabid animal ever bites them.
What to Expect After a Rabies Vaccine?
Starting from around 3 months of age, the first rabies vaccination triggers a cycle of yearly or triennial boosters so they can always be protected, and it is well worth it. Reactions to vaccines are rare in cats, even for the rabies vaccine. Side effects of rabies vaccines don’t happen often, but as with any vaccine or drug, they are possible. Your cat may show signs of lethargy, fever, a decreased appetite, or superficial inflammatory swelling at the vaccine site.
Most of the side effects, if any do appear, will generally go away in a few days. In extreme cases where cats develop an allergic reaction to the vaccine or anaphylaxis, which is very rare, take your cat back to the vet immediately. Extreme reactions can include hives, severe swelling of the face, breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, itchiness, or collapse. Allergic reactions, especially severe ones, are rare and occur in 1-5 out of 10,000 cats vaccinated.
Another rare adverse event whose exact cause and risk factors still remain under investigation is feline injection site sarcoma, a type of cancer that can be locally quite aggressive and requires extensive surgery for removal. This is believed to occur in around 1-4 in every 10,000 vaccinated cats in the USA, so the benefits provided by the vaccine far outweigh the risks. However, it’s understandable to have concerns regarding your cat’s vaccination, so please speak to a vet for more information.
How Often Does My Cat Need a Rabies Vaccine?
After the initial rabies vaccine, cats will need a shot every 1 to 3 years. Regular booster shots are necessary for rabies and will rotate on a cycle depending on the type of the vaccine. Your vet will determine the best vaccination schedule for you and your cat.
Does Pet Insurance Cover the Rabies Vaccine?
Most pet insurance does not cover the cost of vaccines within their standard policies. They often don’t offer vaccination coverage or other preventative medicine coverage without an added wellness plan. Your regular premium will increase, and the new wellness plan may only cover certain vaccines.
While your vaccines may not be covered under a basic accident and illness plan, any emergency medical care or surgery typically is.
Conclusion
Keeping your cat vaccinated is necessary to ensure your pet stays healthy and protected from severe and in case of rabies, fatal disease. The price for a rabies vaccine will vary depending on the type of the vaccine, any additional procedures done at the same time, where you live, what insurance and wellness plan you have (if any), and the clinic you choose to use.
You will typically pay anywhere from $25 to $50 for your cat’s rabies vaccine, which may increase if you combine it with your cat’s yearly wellness exams.
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
