How Often Should I Take my Cat to the Vet?
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If your cat is ill or involved in an accident, you won’t hesitate to take them to the vets. However, if, as we all hope, our beloved cats remain healthy and happy, how often should they be checked over? Is wrestling your cat into their carrier and to the vets really worth the stress to both of you when everything seems fine? Perhaps you’re even beginning to dread vet appointments, because of how upset it will make your cat?
The truth is these health checks are not only useful and valuable but, in some cases, they are even vital! However, there’s a lot you can do to make it much calmer and less upsetting to all concerned.
What is a health check?
A general health check, or ‘wellness check’, is a veterinary appointment to perform a routine medical examination of a pet who is thought to be healthy and happy. It consists of a discussion between you and your vet about your cat’s routine, environment and diet, and a full physical health examination. It may also involve screening tests for early signs of disease, such as blood pressure measurement, bloodwork (blood tests) and urinalysis (urine tests).
These exams focus on maintenance of optimal health and wellbeing, and on preventing any medical or behavioural problems.
Regular vet check-ups are vital to ongoing good health and can catch early signs of illness or disease.
There is also time included for discussion of routine matters such as diet, dental care and parasite management, and any other concerns you might have.
How frequent are these check-ups?
As a responsible cat parent, by now, you may be wondering when was the last time your cat has seen the vets? Was that frequently enough? But the frequency of appointments will depend on some factors like your cat’s age and development:
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When to take your kitten to the vet?
Kittens (from birth to 6 months) will need regular weighing to ensure their nutritional needs are being met, and that there are no growth or developmental issues. Correct dosing of antiparasitic medication (flea and worm treatments) also depends on accurate weight measurements, so a weight check every 1 – 2 months is usually recommended. -
When to take your adult cat to the vet?
Junior and adult cats (6 months – 10 years) are generally encouraged to have a minimum of one health check per year. This often happens at the same time as their vaccinations. Many vets now recommend that an examination every 6 months allows for earlier detection of any problems and is therefore optimal, and your vet, who knows your cat best, can let you know which frequency they think is more appropriate for your cat. -
When to take your senior cat to the vet?
Senior (11-14 years) and super-senior (over 14 years old) are encouraged to have more frequent health checks1,2 – perhaps every 6 months. This is because they are more likely to be affected by certain diseases, such as dental problems, kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. As early detection of illness often leads to a better quality of life, frequent visits are usually recommended.
Illness
If you are concerned about your cat, even if you think it is a minor issue, it’s ideal to book an appointment with your vet rather than wait for their annual check.
Cats can be very subtle when it comes to illness and disease, and it can be easy to miss some of the early signs. A slight change to behaviour or routine, mild changes to their gait (the way they walk), small amounts of weight loss – these can all be signs of significant disease in cats, such as dental disease, arthritis or cancers.
Should I take anything with me?
Your vet should have access to all your cat’s medical records. However, if your cat has been registered or treated at another veterinary clinic, it can be handy to have a copy of your cat’s vaccination records with you, and details of any medication.
If you are your cat's primary carer but aren't able to attend the appointment, it's important that the person who takes your cat to the vet has an understanding of their usual routine, diet, any medications and all of your concerns regarding the health of your feline friend.
If you have noticed any changes in your cat (either physical or behavioural differences), try and take a video of your cat displaying these signs. A vet visit can be stressful for a cat, so it is expected that they would not be acting themselves or displaying specific signs in the consult room. Therefore, a video of your cat can really help the vet understand your concerns.
Also, if you notice any changes in your cat related to jumping up/down, going up/down stairs, running or playing, there is a possibility it is linked to arthritis. Lesser recognised signs of arthritis can also include accidents outside of the litter tray, being more aggressive and taking less care of their fur. If any of these signs sound familiar, it would be a good idea to complete our cat arthritis checklist and to show the results to your vet.
My cat hates the vets!
We know how distressing it is for you to see your cat resisting being put into a carrier, upset, and hating the car journey. But the good news is that it doesn’t always have to be that way. Here are some tips to help the day go smoothly, as these visits are important for your cat’s health and wellbeing.
- Schedule the appointment for a time when your cat is usually in, so that you don’t have to change their routine (or go chasing around the garden for them).
- Invest in a robust carrier, with a large enough entrance that you don’t have to squeeze your cat into it. Top-opening carriers are good to swiftly lift and place your cat inside.
- Get the carrier out a few days before, so that your cat gets used to it. Try feeding treats around the carrier to encourage a more positive association.
- Use a pheromone spray to help make the carrier more appealing and for your cat to feel calmer.
- Secure the carrier in the car so that it doesn’t wobble around.
- Ask if you can put your cat carrier somewhere quiet when you reach the vets, preferably raised off the ground.
- Try to keep them up high in the waiting room.
- Look for a feline-friendly vets – a practice with extra training and special procedures to make your cat’s vet visits as painless and relaxed as possible.
We also have a dedicated blog post on ‘How to get your cat to the vet safely’ which expands on these tips.
Cat health checks: final thoughts
If our cats could talk, many of them would probably tell us they don’t like visiting the vet, but those regular visits are a really important part of making sure your cats lead a happy, healthy life. Yearly wellness checks are usually enough for an adult cat, but kittens benefit from regular growth checks, and our golden oldies need some extra care with a health exam twice a year. These examinations are invaluable for early disease detection, as well as general care such as weight and dental health. And, let’s not forget, to put your mind at ease!
If you can’t remember the last time you took your cat to the vets, we invite you to take this opportunity and book their appointment now.
1 Elderly cats – special considerations | International Cat Care
2 Critchley, J. (2014), Practicalities of senior wellness clinics. Veterinary Nursing Journal, 29: 54-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/vnj.12112
3 Cat Friendly Clinic | Passionate about cats
