cat rabies shots

Question
My cats fannie (12yrs) and Moshe(6mths) are indoors. Their paws have never touched dirt after they were rescued.  My vet insists they get rabie shots, because in NJ it is the law and also Just in case they ever get out.  These are the only shots they will continue to receive as my vet does not find it necessary since  they are house bound.  I have read many articles about the shot, causes cancer sometimes etc?  Are they really safe.  My vet says it is very rare to have a bad reaction or a condition from this shot unlike others.

Answer
Not that it hasn't happened somewhere to some cat, but in my 30 + yrs of being in Veterinary Medicine I have never seen a rabies vaccination give a cat cancer. What I have seen, however, is indoor only cats getting leukemia from strays that hissed at them through a screen door and cats that were indoor only catch bats (rabid) that came inside. While it is rare, it happens. Indoor only dogs get heartworms regularly from mosquitoes that get into the house even when the owners swear that they don't. (and they don't give prevention).

So unless your cats live in an apartment building at least one story off of the ground, you might want to think about getting them a leukemia vaccination also.

I think your cats will be just fine getting a rabies vaccination.