Restlessness or agitation after Rabies Vaccine in cats

The FDA has received 79 reports of restlessness or agitation in cats after Rabies Vaccine. That is 3.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 4.9% across reports for all cat medicines, so it is reported less often than average with this medicine.

79Reports

53%Marked serious

38%Recovered

8.9%Died or euthanised

Same dayTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

48 68%

1–2 days

13 18%

3–7 days

6 8.5%

1–4 weeks

3 4.2%

Over a month

1 1.4%

How the animals did

Recovered

30 38%

Still unwell when reported

20 25%

Died

6 7.6%

Euthanised

1 1.3%

Not known

22 28%

Problems reported at the same time

27 34%

23 29%

18 23%

17 22%

16 20%

14 18%

11 14%

11 14%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: vaccine.

Mild, short-lived lethargy, soreness or a small lump at the injection site are the most commonly reported vaccine reactions.

Questions owners ask

Can Rabies Vaccine cause restlessness or agitation in cats?: 79 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within the same day of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Restlessness or agitation with similar medicines

Restlessness or agitation after Feline Core Vaccine 42 reports · 2.7% of its reports
Restlessness or agitation after Feline Leukemia Vaccine 26 reports · 3.3% of its reports

All reported side effects of Rabies Vaccine in cats · Medicines most reported with restlessness or agitation