Get Rabies In Michigan

Cats must be eight weeks of age or older and be currently vaccinated against panleukopenia, herpesvirus-1 and calicivirus. Cats 12 weeks of age or older must also be currently vaccinated against rabies.

Dogs and puppies must be vaccinated against distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus-2. All vaccinations except for rabies must be given at least seven days before entering Michigan. Dogs 12 weeks of age or older must also be currently vaccinated against leptospirosis and rabies.

Yes. It's important for cats to receive the rabies vaccine as it's required by law in most states. Vaccination against the disease is important to the safety of both people and cats.

Rabies is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. If an unvaccinated (or overdue for vaccination) dog or cat is exposed to a rabid animal or bites a human, the animal may be subjected to extended quarantine periods and, in some cases, euthanasia.

Rabies is perhaps the scariest illness an unvaccinated cat can get. What's more, cats are more likely than any other domesticated animal to get rabies. This illness poses a human health risk and is always deadly since the CDC requires euthanasia for all rabid animals, domesticated or otherwise.

Michigan law requires that dogs and ferrets must be vaccinated for rabies and it is recommended that all cats and any domestic livestock in contact with the public be vaccinated if a licensed vaccine exists.

Dogs and cats both require rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age. In Michigan, the first rabies vaccination expires in 1 year. Each subsequent rabies vaccine expires in 3 years. For puppies and kittens vaccine protocols start at 6 weeks.

The law states that an exemption may be granted for the rabies vaccine, if “a rabies vaccination would endanger the dog's life.” It also requires that the condition warranting the exemption be documented. This state law applies for dogs only. Local jurisdictions may enact similar requirements for licensing of cats.