To help your cat stay as healthy as possible, you should bring them to the vet for routine exams. In this blog, our Novato vets express the importance of routine exams for pets and how often you should be bringing your cat to the vet.
How Frequently You Cat Should See The Vet
Preventing serious illnesses and conditions or having them caught early is the best thing you can do to keep your cat as healthy as possible.
Taking your kitty to the vet on a routine basis gives your veterinarian the time to assess your pet's overall health, check for early signs of illness, and give you recommendations for preventive care products.
At South Novato Animal Hospital, we realize how the costs of preventive care and routine checkups can be worrying, especially if your cat appears to be in good health. But taking a proactive, preventive approach to your cat's health could save you money in the long run by not having to pay for more expensive treatments.
Checkups For Cats
When your cat sees a vet for a routine wellness exam, it's like bringing them to the doctor for a physical checkup. Just like humans, how often your kitty should have a physical examination depends on how old they are, their overall health, and their lifestyle.
Generally, we suggest bringing healthy adult cats to the vet annually for a wellness exam, but senior cats, kittens, and felines with underlying health conditions should attend examinations more frequently.
How Often You Should Bring Your Kitten to The Vet
If your furry friend is less than one year old, you should take them to the vet once a month, with their first appointment taking place when they are about 8 weeks old.
Before they have their first birthday, kittens have to get several rounds of vaccinations to help keep them safe against common infectious diseases. For kittens, we highly recommend the Feline Leukemia vaccine and the FVRCP vaccine, which guards them against 3 very contagious and life-threatening feline diseases, including Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1) Feline Calicivirus (FCV), and Feline Panleukopenia (FPL).
Your kitty will be given these vaccines over the course of about 16 weeks, and they will help keep your cat healthy their entire life.
The precise timing of your kitten's vaccinations depends on a few factors, including your cat's overall health and where you live.
Our vets recommend getting your kitten spayed or neutered when they are between 5 and 6 months old, this helps prevent a range of diseases and undesirable behaviors, as well as unwanted litters of kittens.
How Often Healthy Adult Cats Should See The Vet
Is your cat healthy and between 1 and 10 years old? We suggest bringing them to their vet once a year for a routine wellness exam. These annual checkups are conducted when your kitty 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, and tooth decay.
Your veterinarian will also provide your kitty with any booster shots or vaccinations they require, speak to you about your cat's nutritional needs and diet, as well as suggest the appropriate parasite protection products.
If your vet finds any signs of developing health problems, they will explain their findings to you and recommend your next steps.
How Often Your Senior Cat Should See The Vet
Usually, cats are considered senior when they turn 11 years old.
Lots of feline injuries and diseases are more common in older pets, which is why you should take your senior cat to the vet every 6 months. Wellness check-ups for geriatric cats include all of the examinations and advice detailed above, but with some additional diagnostic tests to get more insights into your furry friend's overall health.
Blood tests and urinalysis (to check for early signs of problems such as kidney disease or diabetes) are just a couple of the diagnostic tests we recommend for senior cats.
Geriatric care for cats also encompasses a more proactive approach to keeping your cat comfortable as age-related conditions like joint pain become more common. If you have a senior kitty, ask your vet how often you should be taking them 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.