The Cat Doctor of Dover

State law: All kittens and cats over the age of 3 months are required by the State of New Hampshire law to be up to date on Rabies vaccine.  This includes indoor only cats and kittens.  See NH State RSA 436:100 as follows. 

436:100 Rabies Vaccination Required; Exemption.
I. Except as provided in paragraph II, every dog, cat, and ferret 3 months of age and older shall be vaccinated against rabies. Young dogs, cats, and ferrets shall be vaccinated within 30 days after they have reached 3 months of age. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets acquired or moved into the state shall be vaccinated within 30 days after purchase or arrival, unless under 3 months of age, as specified above. Every dog, cat, and ferret shall be revaccinated between 9 and 12 months after the initial vaccination and subsequently receive booster vaccines as outlined in the most current National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians' Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control. In rabies infected areas, dogs, cats, and ferrets recently vaccinated shall be kept under control for at least 30 days before being allowed to run free.

II. A rabies immunization exemption may be issued, where illness or a veterinary medical condition warrants, by the local rabies control authority upon the written recommendation of a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B. The recommendation shall also be signed by an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine diplomate and the state veterinarian. The exempted animal shall be maintained in strict rabies isolation, under conditions that are at the discretion of the local rabies control authority, until such time as the medical condition has been resolved and the animal can be immunized against rabies. Exempted animals shall not be allowed outdoors without being on a leash and shall be under the direct physical control of an adult owner at all times. In addition, when the animal is outdoors, it shall be muzzled in a manner approved by the local rabies control authority. The exemption shall be valid for no more than one year from the date of the last signature on the written recommendation for exemption.

Source. 1985, 72:1. 1992, 250:3. 1995, 202:4, eff. June 12, 1995. 2007, 79:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2008. 2009, 296:12, eff. Sept.29, 2009.

The Cat Doctor of Dover Hospital Policy: The Cat Doctor of Dover recommends all kitten and cat patients aged 3 months and older be administered Rabies vaccine if not up to date as required by law.  This includes indoor only cats.  Rabies vaccination will be recommended by a doctor during every outpatient appointment if the patient is due or overdue.  Reminders for Rabies vaccination will be sent to clients who have provided previous Rabies vaccination dates and to clients of any patients who have been vaccinated previously by The Cat Doctor of Dover. All patients to be admitted into the hospital or boarding kennel must be up to date on Rabies vaccine unless they have received an updated official annual exemption from the State.  The Rabies Exemption form must be provided by the client prior to admission of the cat.

Rabies decline: If a client declines Rabies vaccination for any reason, a Cat Doctor of Dover Decline Rabies form must be signed and maintained in the patient’s record.  This form must be updated every year. This form is meant to inform owners of the NH State Rabies law and their responsibility as an owner of a cat in NH, as well as the risks of not keeping their cat vaccinated.  This form in no way releases a client from their responsibility to follow the law.  This form also does not mean a cat will be able to be hospitalized or boarded at The Cat Doctor Dover without an updated Rabies vaccine.

Sick patient: If a doctor determines a patient to be sick and is not safe to receive any vaccinations at an appointment, it will be discussed with the clients and vaccination may be delayed until the patient’s condition has resolved.  If the cat has a medical condition in which vaccination could cause serious or fatal reactions, a recommendation for application for Rabies exemption may be made to the client.  This process requires a client to schedule an exam and medical review of the cat’s records with a Certified Internal Medicine Specialist at the client’s expense.  If the specialist signs off on the Rabies exemption form, it then must be sent to the State Veterinarian’s office for final review.  If accepted, Rabies exemption status will be given for 1 year.  If the cat has a chronic condition that cannot be resolved in a year, reapplication for Rabies exemption is required every year.

Disease info: Rabies is a viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, although any mammal can get rabies.  It can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system of mammals and causes

• behavioral changes such as sudden, drastic shifts such as a shy cat becoming aggressive or a friendly cat becoming timid,
• extreme aggression such as uncharacteristic biting, scratching, or viciousness,
• neurological distress such as disorientation, stumbling, incoordination, and seizures,
• physical changes such as excessive salivation ("foaming at the mouth") and difficulty swallowing,
• extreme hypersensitivity such as overreaction to light, sound, or movement,
• paralysis often starting in the hindquarters and moving forward, leading to inability to breathe. 

The time from exposure (usually a bite) to symptoms is typically 3-8 weeks, but can range from 10 days to over a year. Once symptoms start, they rapidly worsen. Most cats die within 1-10 days after symptoms appear.  If a person or pet does not receive the appropriate medical care immediately after a potential rabies exposure, the virus can cause severe disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death. Once symptoms start in people and pets, there is no treatment or cure for Rabies.  The patient will die.