Sep 9, 2026 · 22 min · 11 segments
Just because your cat never goes outside doesn't mean the conversation about rabies vaccination is simple. In this episode of **Cat Talk Radio**, Molly DeVoss takes an evidence-based look at one of…
I'm your host, Molly De Vos, and today we're gonna tackle a topic that I know can stir up some strong opinions.
Um, this episode isn't gonna be about me telling you whether to vaccinate your cat or not vaccinate your cat.
I'm gonna help you become an informed advocate so your cat, you know, y- you can ask those thoughtful conversations about your cat with your vet, you know, based on your cat's individual lifestyle and health and risk factors.
'Cause, you know, the reality is not every cat lives the same life, you know? You have a barn cat in rural Texas, and that cat has a really different exposure risk than a 17-year-old cat who's spent every day of its life in a high-rise apartment.
So today we're gonna explore why rabies vaccination is different from every other vaccine you're gonna give your cat, and what the actual risks are and what the benefits are, and what questions you should be asking, you know, your veterinarian before that syringe ever comes out.
Rabies is unlike almost any other infectious disease we deal with because once clinical signs develop, rabies is essentially always fatal, and not just in cats, but in humans, and that fact is what drives public health policy.
It's also about protecting veterinary staff, animal shelter employees, and groomers, and pet sitters, us behavior specialists [laughs], neighbors, and anyone who might be bitten by an infected animal.
And it's why rabies laws are often written by state legislatures or public health departments and not veterinary organizations, and that's an important distinction.
Veterinarians make medical recommendations, and governments make public health laws.
I'm your host, Molly De Vos, and today we're gonna tackle a topic that I know can stir up some strong opinions.
Um, this episode isn't gonna be about me telling you whether to vaccinate your cat or not vaccinate your cat.
I'm gonna help you become an informed advocate so your cat, you know, y- you can ask those thoughtful conversations about your cat with your vet, you know, based on your cat's individual lifestyle and health and risk factors.
'Cause, you know, the reality is not every cat lives the same life, you know? You have a barn cat in rural Texas, and that cat has a really different exposure risk than a 17-year-old cat who's spent every day of its life in a high-rise apartment.
So today we're gonna explore why rabies vaccination is different from every other vaccine you're gonna give your cat, and what the actual risks are and what the benefits are, and what questions you should be asking, you know, your veterinarian before that syringe ever comes out.
Rabies is unlike almost any other infectious disease we deal with because once clinical signs develop, rabies is essentially always fatal, and not just in cats, but in humans, and that fact is what drives public health policy.
It's also about protecting veterinary staff, animal shelter employees, and groomers, and pet sitters, us behavior specialists [laughs], neighbors, and anyone who might be bitten by an infected animal.
And it's why rabies laws are often written by state legislatures or public health departments and not veterinary organizations, and that's an important distinction.
Veterinarians make medical recommendations, and governments make public health laws.
The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
Search every transcript — by keyword, by phrase, or by meaning, across every show Radar indexes
Trends — what is surging across podcasts, measured against its own baseline
Alerts — when a name you follow appears in a newly indexed episode
No account is needed to search Radar.
