You love your cat, and you want to ensure that they live a long, healthy life with you. Today, our West Salem vets explain when to take a cat to the vet for routine checkups and preventive care.
How often should you take a cat to the vet?
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 are easier to treat.
Bringing your cat to the vet on a regular basis allows them to monitor your kitty's overall well-being and physical health, look for early signs of disease, and recommend preventive care products that will benefit your feline friend the most.
We understand that the cost of routine checkups and preventive care can be daunting, especially if your feline companion appears to be in good health. Taking a proactive, preventive approach to your cat's or kitten's health, on the other hand, may save you money on more costly 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 your kitten is less than a year old, we recommend taking them to the vet once a month beginning when they are about 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 receive these vaccines over the course of about 16 weeks, which will help them stay healthy for the rest of their lives.
The exact timing of your kitten's vaccinations will vary depending on your location and the overall health of your pet.
Veterinarians also 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.
How often should middle-aged cats see a vet?
If you have a healthy adult cat aged one to 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 excellent condition.
During your adult cat's routine exam, your veterinarian will perform a head-to-tail examination to look for early signs of disease or other problems, 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 appropriate parasite protection products.
If your veterinarian notices any signs of a health problem, they will explain their findings and advise you on the next steps.
How often should senior cats see a vet?
Cats are typically considered senior when they reach the age of eleven.
Because many feline diseases and injuries are more common in senior cats, we recommend that you take them to 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, along with a few additional diagnostic tests to gain a better understanding of your pet's overall health.
Blood tests and urinalysis are two diagnostic tests we recommend for our senior patients to look for early signs of issues, such as kidney disease or diabetes.
Geriatric care for cats entails taking a more proactive approach to keeping your feline companion comfortable as age-related issues like joint pain become more prevalent. If you have a senior cat, ask your veterinarian how often you should bring him in for a routine checkup.
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.