You love your cat, and that's why you want to do whatever you can to ensure their happy, healthy life. In this blog, our Fremont vets explain how often you should take your cat to the vet for routine preventive care and a wellness exam.
Preventive Care & Early Diagnosis
One of the most effective ways to make sure your kitty has a long and healthy life is to prevent serious illnesses from developing, or catch them early when they are more easily treated.
By regularly bringing your cat to the vet, you are allowing your veterinarian the opportunity to keep an eye on your kitty's overall health, look for the earliest signs of disease, and offer you recommendations for preventive care products that suit your feline friend best.
Our vets understand how you might be worried about the costs of your cat's routine checkups and preventive care especially if they seem to be in optimal health. By taking a proactive, preventive approach to your kitty's health could save you the fees of more expensive treatments in the future.
Routine Wellness Exams For Felines
Taking your cat to the vet for routine wellness exams is like them going to the doctor for a physical checkup. As with people, how frequently your cat sees a medical professional will depend on their age, lifestyle, and overall health.
We typically recommend annual wellness exams for healthy adult cats, but kittens, senior cats, and kitties with an underlying health condition should see their vet more frequently for an examination.
Kittens (Less Than 12 Months Old)
If your kitty is less than a year old then we suggest bringing 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, kittens need several rounds of vaccinations to help protect them from common infectious diseases. Kittens need the Feline Leukemia and the FVRCP vaccines, which helps protect your feline friend from 3 highly infectious and life-threatening diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1) Feline Calicivirus (FCV), and Feline Panleukopenia (FPL).
Your kitty 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 cat'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.
Adult Felines (1-10 Years Old)
If you have a healthy adult cat, we recommend taking them in once yearly for a wellness exam. These examinations are yearly physical checkups that should be completed even when your cat seems healthy.
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 give your pet any necessary vaccines or booster shots, have a conversation with you about your cat's diet and nutritional requirements and recommend the appropriate parasite protection products.
If your vet detects any signs of an arising health issue they will explain their findings to you and recommend the next steps.
Senior Cats (10+ years old)
Your kitty is officially considered a senior cat when they turn 11 years old.
Since many cat diseases and injuries tend to be more common in older pets we recommend bringing your senior companion to the vet every 6 months. Twice-yearly wellness check-ups for your geriatric cat will include all of the checks and advice listed above, but with a few additional diagnostic tests to obtain extra insights into your furry friend's overall health.
Some of the most often recommended diagnostic tests can include blood tests and urinalysis to check for early signs of problems such as kidney disease or diabetes.
Geriatric care for cats also incorporates a proactive approach to keeping your feline companion comfortable as age-related issues like 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.
