You cherish your cat and are committed to ensuring they enjoy a long, healthy, and joyful life. Our Clarksville veterinarians will now clarify the recommended frequency for scheduling routine check-ups and preventive care appointments for your feline friend.
How often do you take a cat to the vet?
To ensure your cat enjoys a healthy and happy life, the most effective approach involves preventing serious illnesses and detecting them in their earliest, most treatable stages.
When you take your feline companion to the vet, you empower your veterinarian to closely monitor your cat's overall health and well-being, identifying the earliest signs of emerging diseases and providing recommendations for the most suitable preventive care products for your kitty.
Here at Sango Veterinary Hospital, we recognize that the expense of routine check-ups and preventive care may raise concerns, especially when your feline friend appears perfectly healthy. However, adopting a proactive, preventative approach to your cat or kitten's health can ultimately save you the expenses associated with more costly treatments down the road.
What is a cat check-up?
Bringing your cat in to see us for a routine wellness exam is like bringing them to the doctor for a physical check-up. As with people, how often your cat should have a physical examination depends on their age, lifestyle, and overall health.
We typically advise bringing your healthy adult cat in for an annual wellness exam each year. However, getting them in for more frequent visits is essential for kittens, senior cats, or cats with underlying health conditions.
How often should kittens see a vet?
If your cat is under 1 year old, we strongly recommend bringing them to our office on a monthly basis. Their initial veterinary appointment should occur at approximately 8 weeks (or two months) of age.
During their first year, kittens require multiple rounds of vaccinations to safeguard them against common infectious diseases. Kittens should receive both the Feline Leukemia vaccine and the FVRCP vaccine, which provides protection against three highly contagious and life-threatening feline diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1), Feline Calicivirus (FCV), and Feline Panleukopenia (FPL).
Your adorable kitten will receive these necessary vaccinations over a span of approximately 16 weeks. These vaccinations play a crucial role in ensuring their long-term health. The exact timing of your cat's vaccinations will be tailored to their specific location and overall health.
Our veterinarians strongly recommend spaying or neutering your kitten when they reach 5 to 6 months of age. This helps prevent a range of diseases, undesirable behaviors, and the occurrence of unwanted litters of kittens.
How often should middle-aged cats see a vet?
If you own a healthy adult cat aged between 1 and 10 years old, we strongly advise bringing them in for an annual check-up. These routine examinations are designed to ensure your cat's continued well-being.
During your adult cat's annual check-up, your veterinarian will conduct a comprehensive head-to-tail examination to detect early signs of diseases or other concerns, such as parasites, joint pain, or tooth decay.
Your veterinarian will administer any necessary vaccines and booster shots and engage in discussion with you regarding your cat's diet and nutritional needs. We will also recommend suitable parasite prevention products and treatments.
Should your vet identify any emerging health issues, they will explain their findings and provide recommendations for the next steps.
How often should senior cats see a vet?
Since older cats are more susceptible to injuries and diseases, we recommend scheduling regular visits with our Clarksville veterinary team every six months for your feline companion. These biannual wellness check-ups for your geriatric cat encompass all the assessments and guidance mentioned earlier, supplemented by additional diagnostic tests aimed at gaining deeper insights into your beloved pet's overall well-being.
Among the diagnostic tests we recommend for our senior feline patients are blood tests and urinalysis to detect early signs of conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes.
Geriatric care for cats also involves taking a proactive approach to ensure the comfort of your aging feline friend, especially as age-related issues like joint pain become more prevalent. If you have a senior cat, consult your veterinarian to determine the appropriate frequency for routine examinations.
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.