We know you love your cat, which is why you will do anything you can to ensure they have a healthy and happy life. In this blog, our vets in Sacramento share how often you should bring your cat to the vet for preventive care including wellness exams and vaccinations.
How Often Do you Take Your Cat to the Vet?
Preventing diseases or catching them early when they are easier to treat is the best way you can keep your kitty in optimal health and help them have a long, healthy life.
By regularly taking your cat to the vet you are providing your vet with the chance to monitor your feline's health, check for early signs of disease, and provide you with recommendations for the preventive care products that best suit your kitty.
At South Sacramento Pet Hospital we know that you may be concerned about the costs of routine checkups and preventive care for your cat, especially if they appear to be perfectly healthy. However, by being proactive and taking a preventive approach to the health of your cat, you can save on the costs of future more expensive treatments.
Cat Checkups
Brining your kitty to the vet for routine wellness exams is similar to taking them to the doctor for a physical checkup. Like people, how often your feline friend needs to have a physical exam depends on their overall health, lifestyle, and age.
Generally, we recommend bringing healthy adult cats in for wellness exams once a year, but kittens, senior cats, and cats that have an underlying medical condition should see their vet for examinations more often.
How often Kittens Should See a Vet
If your kitty is under a year old we recommend taking them to the vet once a month, with their first veterinary appointment taking place when they are approximately 8 weeks old.
Throughout their first year, kitten's require multiple rounds of vaccinations to help protect them from common infectious diseases. Kittens should get the Feline Leukemia vaccine and the FVRCP vaccine which helps protect your feline friend from 3 highly contagious and life-threatening feline diseases, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1) Feline Calicivirus (FCV), and Feline Panleukopenia (FPL).
Your adorable little feline furball will be provided with these vaccines over the course of approximately 16 weeks and 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 vets recommend having your kitten spayed or neutered when they are between 5 - 6 months in order to prevent a host of diseases and undesirable behaviors as well as unwanted litters of kittens.
How Often Middle-Aged Cats Should See a Vet
If your cat is between 1 - 10 years of age and in good health, we suggest bringing them to the vet for an exam once a year. These examinations are annual physical checkups that are conducted when your kitty appears to be perfectly healthy.
During your adult feline's routine exam your vet will perform a head-to-tail examination to check for early signs of diseases or other problems, such as joint pain, parasites, or tooth decay.
Your veterinarian will also give your kitty any booster shots or vaccines that they require, and talk to you about your cat's nutritional requirements and diet, as well as recommend the parasite protection products that are appropriate for your furry friend.
If your vet finds any signs of a developing health condition they will discuss their findings with you and recommend the next steps.
How Often Senior Cats Should See a Vet
Typically cats are considered to be senior when they reach 11 years of age.
Because lots of diseases and injuries in cats tend to be seen more often in older pets we suggest bringing your senior feline to the vet every 6 months. Twice-annual wellness check-ups for your geriatric cat will consist of all the checks and advice discussed above, but with several additional diagnostic tests to gain extra insights into the overall health of your kitty.
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.