Because you love your feline companion, you want to make sure they receive the best care possible so they can have a long and healthy life. Today our Powder Springs vets discuss how often your cat should see their veterinarian for a wellness exam and preventive care.
Preventive Care & Early Diagnosis
The best way you can keep your kitty safe from dangerous conditions is to prevent them or diagnose them early when they are most treatable.
By taking your cat to the vet on a regular basis you are giving your vet the chance to monitor your feline friend's overall physical health, check for early signs of disease, and provide you with recommendations for the preventive care products that suit your kitty best.
Our veterinary team understands how you could be worried about the fees associated with your cat's checkups and preventive care, especially if they look to be perfectly healthy. However, taking a proactive, preventive approach to your cat's health can save you the costs of more expensive treatments later down the road.
Cat Checkups - Routine Wellness Exams
Bringing your feline to the vet for routine wellness exams is similar to taking them to the doctor for a physical checkup. Just like people, how often you should bring your cat for a physical examination depends on their overall health, age, and lifestyle.
Our vets generally recommend yearly wellness exams for adult cats that are healthy, but kittens, senior cats, and kitties that have an underlying medical condition should visit their vet more regularly for an examination.
Kittens Up to 12 Months of Age
If your kitty is less than a year old 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, 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 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 Cats Up To 10 Years Old
If your cat is healthy and between the ages of 1 - 10 years old, we suggest bringing them in once a year for a wellness exam. These examinations are annual physical checkups that are implemented when your kitty appears to be healthy.
As part of your adult cat's routine exam, your vet will conduct a head-to-tail examination to search for early signs of diseases or other problems, such as tooth decay, parasites, or joint pain.
Your veterinarian will also give your four-legged friend any vaccines or booster shots that they require, and talk to you about your cat's diet, nutritional requirements, as well as 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 - 11 Years Up
Your kitty is officially considered a senior cat when they turn 11 years old.
Because there are lots of cat diseases and injuries that seem to be seen more often in older pets we recommend taking your senior cat to the vet every 6 months. Wellness check-ups twice a year for your geriatric cat will consist of all of the checks and advice listed above, as well as a few additional diagnostic tests to get further 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 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.