Frequently Asked Questions About Cat Checkups

Unlike people, pets often cannot tell owners when they need medical attention. Owners can look for signs that the pet is sick or injured, but some medical issues are not symptomatic. Additionally, pets require regular checkups and vaccinations. The care required for pets varies widely depending on the age of the pet. Puppies and kittens and senior dogs and cats, require different levels of care than healthy adult pets. Most people are not aware, for example, that puppies should be fed three times a day until they are six months old. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about pet checkups:

How Often Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet for Well Checks?

While every cat should see a vet at least once a year, many vets recommend a well check every six months. The number of visits also depends on the age of the cat. Kittens and senior cats require more frequent visits than adult cats. A veterinary clinic can provide a schedule of visits based on the age and health of your cat.

What Should You Expect During a Cat Well Check?

After the question “how often should you take your cat to the vet,” the question asked most often is probably “what should I expect during a well check.” Aside from vaccinations, a vet clinic will often conduct a blood test, a stool test, and, possibly, a urine test. The blood test is intended to determine whether the cat has feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, as well as other diseases. The stool test is intended to determine whether the cat has parasites. A urine test may be conducted if the vet suspects diabetes or other problems with the cat’s kidneys.

How Often Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet for Vaccinations?

The recommended cat vaccination schedule can be very complicated. A veterinary hospital can best schedule the vaccinations depending on the age of the cat. Briefly, however, you should expect to vaccinate your kitten as often as every three to four weeks until they reach sixteen weeks of age. After reaching sixteen weeks, booster vaccinations are recommended about every one to three years, depending on the vaccination. The core vaccinations recommended include rabies, feline distemper, feline herpesvirus, and calicivirus.