You love your cat, and you want to ensure that they live a long, healthy life with you. But how often should you take your cat to the vet? Today, our Little Rock vets explain when to take your cat to the vet for routine checkups and preventive care.
Why Routine Checkups Are So Important
The best way to ensure that your cat lives a long and healthy life is to prevent serious illnesses or detect them early, when they can be treated more easily.
Bringing your cat to the vet regularly gives your veterinarian the opportunity to monitor your kitty's overall wellbeing and physical health, watch for the earliest signs of disease, and offer recommendations for the preventive care products that would suit your feline friend best.
We understand that the cost of routine checkups and preventive care can be prohibitive, especially if your feline companion appears to be healthy. Taking a proactive, preventive approach to your cat's or kitten's health, on the other hand, may save you money on more expensive treatments down the road.
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 veterinarian more often.
How often do you take a cat to the vet?
Below, we'll discuss how often cats should go to the vet based on their age.
How often do kittens need to go to the vet?
Recommended vet visits for kittens less than a year old is once monthly starting when they are approximately 8 weeks old.
Kittens require multiple rounds of vaccinations during their first year to protect them from common infectious diseases. Kittens should receive both the Feline Leukemia vaccine and the FVRCP vaccine, which protects them from three highly contagious and potentially fatal feline diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1), Feline Calicivirus (FCV), and Feline Panleukopenia (FPL).
Your kitten will be provided with these vaccines over the course of approximately 16 weeks, which will go a long way in helping to keep them healthy their whole life. The exact timing of your kitten's vaccinations will vary depending on your location and the overall health of your furry friend.
Our veterinarians recommend that you have your kitten spayed or neutered between the ages of 5 and 6 months to avoid a variety of diseases, undesirable behaviors, and unwanted litters of kittens. This is also a good time to have your kitten microchipped.
How often do middle-aged cats need to go to the vet?
If you have a healthy adult cat between the ages of one and ten, we recommend bringing them in for an exam once a year. These exams are yearly physicals that should be completed even if your cat appears to be in perfect health.
Throughout your adult cat's routine exam your vet will implement a head-to-tail examination to look for early signs of diseases or other issues, such as parasites, joint pain, or tooth decay.
Your veterinarian will also administer any necessary vaccines or booster shots, discuss your cat's diet and nutritional needs, and recommend parasite protection products.
If your vet notices any signs of a health problem, they will explain their findings and advise you on the next steps.
How often do senior cats need to go to the vet?
Cats are generally considered seniors when they reach the age of 11.
Because many feline diseases and injuries are more common in senior cats, we recommend visiting the vet every six months. All of the checks and advice listed above will be included in your geriatric cat's twice-yearly wellness check-ups, as well as a few additional diagnostic tests to help you understand your pet'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.