You love your cat, and you want to ensure that they live a long, healthy life with you. Today, our Snellville vets explain how often you should take your cat to the vet for routine checkups and preventive care.
How often do you take a cat to the vet?
To ensure your cat enjoys a long and healthy life, it is important to prevent serious illnesses or detect them early when they are more manageable.
Regular veterinary visits provide an opportunity for your veterinarian to assess your cat's overall health, monitor their well-being, and identify early signs of any potential diseases. They can also recommend preventive care products that are most suitable for your cat's needs.
We understand that the cost of routine checkups and preventive care can be a concern, especially if your cat appears healthy. However, taking a proactive and preventive approach to your cat's health may ultimately save you money by avoiding more expensive treatments in the future.
What is a cat checkup?
Taking your cat to the vet for routine wellness exams is like bringing them to the doctor for a physical checkup. As with people, how often your cat should have a physical examination depends on their age, lifestyle, and overall health.
We usually recommend annual wellness exams for healthy adult cats, but kittens, senior cats, and kitties with underlying health issues should see their vet more frequently.
How often should kittens see a vet?
If you have a kitten that is under a year old, we recommend taking them to the vet once a month, starting from around 8 weeks of age.
During their first year, kittens require multiple rounds of vaccinations to protect them against common infectious diseases. These include the Feline Leukemia vaccine and the FVRCP vaccine, which guards against three highly contagious and potentially fatal feline diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1), Feline Calicivirus (FCV), and Feline Panleukopenia (FPL).
These vaccinations will be administered to your kitten over a period of around 16 weeks, greatly contributing to their lifelong health.
The exact timing of the vaccinations may vary depending on your location and your kitten's overall health.
To prevent a range of diseases and unwanted behaviors, as well as the possibility of unwanted litters of kittens, our veterinarians recommend having your kitten spayed or neutered when they are between 5 and 6 months old.
How often should middle-aged cats see a vet?
If you have a healthy adult cat aged between one and ten years old, it's advisable to take them for an annual check-up. These check-ups are regular physical exams that should be done even if your cat seems perfectly healthy.
During your cat's routine exam, the vet will conduct a thorough examination from head to tail to detect any early signs of diseases or problems like parasites, joint pain, or tooth decay.
Your veterinarian will also administer any necessary vaccines or booster shots for your cat, discuss their diet and nutritional needs with you, and suggest appropriate products for parasite protection.
If the vet notices any signs of a health issue, they will explain their findings to you and recommend the next steps.
How often should senior cats see a vet?
Cats are typically considered to be senior when they reach 11 years of age.
Because many feline diseases and injuries are more common in senior cats, we recommend taking your senior companion to the vet every 6 months. All of the checks and advice listed above will be included in your geriatric cat's twice-yearly wellness check-ups, along with a few additional diagnostic tests to gain additional insights into your furry friend's overall health.
Some diagnostic tests we recommend for our senior patients include blood tests and urinalysis to check for early signs of problems such as kidney disease or diabetes.
Geriatric care for cats also includes a more proactive approach to keeping your feline companion comfortable as age-related issues such as joint pain become more common. If you have a senior cat, ask your vet how often you should bring your pet in for a routine exam.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.