Regular veterinary examinations are an important part of keeping your feline friend healthy. Here, our Merced vets answer, 'How often do you take a cat to the vet?' and what you can expect during these routine exams.
Veterinary Checkups for Cats
To help keep your cat happy and healthy throughout their life, you must keep up with regular veterinary visits. When you bring your cat to the vet, you allow the opportunity to monitor your kitty's overall well-being and physical health, watch for the earliest signs of disease, and offer recommendations for the best preventive care products to suit your feline friend.
At our Merced animal hospital, our vets understand that the potential cost of routine checkups and preventive care can be a concern, especially if your feline friend seems to be in perfect health. With these routine exams, we can help you avoid the cost of more expensive visits later on to treat serious conditions that could have been spotted earlier with a wellness exam.
Cat Checkups at Santa Fe Pet Hospital
Routine wellness exams are essentially veterinary physical checkups for cats. The frequency with which your cat should visit the vet will depend on several factors, including their health, age, and lifestyle.
We typically recommend annual wellness exams for healthy adult cats, but kittens, senior cats, and kitties with underlying health conditions should see their vet more frequently for an examination.
How often should you take a cat to the vet?
When you wonder, 'How often do you take a cat to the vet?' The answer depends on its age and health conditions. In the following section, we break it down by age.
When to Take a Kitten to the Vet
The recommended frequency of vet visits for kittens is monthly. Of course, this varies, and you should ask your vet for a schedule suited to your kitten's unique needs.
Throughout their first year, kittens need multiple rounds of vaccinations to help protect them from common infectious diseases. Kittens should get the Feline Leukemia vaccine and the FVRCP vaccine, which help protect your feline friend from three highly contagious and life-threatening feline diseases: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1), Feline Calicivirus (FCV), and Feline Panleukopenia (FPL).
Your kitten will receive these vaccinations over the first 16 weeks. This will help provide them with a solid foundation for lifelong protection against various diseases.
Speak with your vet at Santa Fe Pet Hospital in Merced to determine the right wellness exam schedule for your new friend.
Our vets recommend spaying or neutering your kitten when they are between five and six months old to prevent diseases, undesirable behaviors, and unwanted litters.
When to Take an Adult Cat to the Vet
If you have a healthy adult cat, your vet will likely recommend bringing them once each year for a full examination. Your vet will check over your cat and perform any necessary diagnostics or dental care.
Your vet will implement a head-to-tail examination throughout your adult cat's routine exam to look for early signs of diseases or other issues, such as parasites, joint pain, or tooth decay.
Your veterinarian will also give your kitty any required vaccines or booster shots, discuss your cat's diet and nutritional requirements, and recommend the appropriate parasite protection products.
If your vet spots any concerns, they will share their findings and recommend the next steps.
When to Take a Senior Cat to the Vet
Once a cat reaches 11 years of age, they will be considered a senior. At this time, their care needs may begin to change a bit. Your vet will likely suggest bringing your cat in every six months to accommodate these changes. Twice-yearly wellness check-ups for your geriatric cat will include all the checks and advice listed above but with a few additional diagnostic tests to obtain insights into your furry friend's overall health.
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 for a routine exam.
Pet Wellness Exams in Merced
Your vet will be the best sort of advice when it comes to planning your cat's ongoing care. Ultimately, following your vet's advice can help meet your cat's needs. Routine care, including pet checkups at our clinic in Merced, will be a vital part of keeping your feline friends safe and healthy while allowing your vet to monitor them for any potential conditions and issues that may arise.
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.