Something people ask me a lot is whether indoor cats need vaccinations. I'd like to be able to give a pat answer, but the answer is really "It depends." One might think the safest route is to go ahead and vaccinate across the board "just in case", but cats can actually develop cancer from vaccinations. See this article for more information.

So if cats can develop cancer from vaccinations, why bother to vaccinate at all? This is a case of needing to see if the benefits outweigh the risks. Most state and local laws require you to vaccinate your cat against rabies. Yes, even if they never go outside, even if their risk of getting rabies is slim to none. My guess is that my cats, who consider an open door to be Smell-O-Vision, and would never consider venturing outside, will never come into contact with a rabid anything.

That said, the county I live in requires all pets to be vaccinated against rabies, so I follow the law. Otherwise, I have discussed with my veterinarian whether or not to vaccinate my adult cats, and have chosen to only do the rabies shots. Depending on your area of the country and needs, you may need to vaccinate more than I do.

So, the real answer is naturally, "talk to your vet." But especially when choosing whether or not to vaccinate your pets, consider whether they'll ever, ever go outside. Some cats might be interested and might slip out, others would never even consider it. Only you know your cats well enough to make the decision.