As a responsible cat owner, you want to keep your pet healthy and happy. This means feeding them a good diet, ensuring they get exercise, and vet treatment when needed. But, with cats, it’s often hard to gauge when you need to take them to the vet.

Cats are quite independent and self-sufficient. So, a lot of cat owners think they don’t need to take their kitty to the vet unless there are obvious symptoms. 

In reality, cats need to see a vet more regularly than most people think. Let’s look at how often you take a cat to the vet.

3 Types of Vet Visits As a Kitten

Kittens are cats up to 6 months old. This is often the time when cats are the most vulnerable health-wise. 

You need to take your cat for routine vet appointments at this age.

1. General Health Checkups

The kitten’s first vet visit should be a general health checkup. This should happen at 8 weeks old, because no kitten should be removed from its mother before that.

A general health checkup ensures that the kitten is healthy and developing right. It’s also a chance to discuss future care including vaccinations.

2. Vaccinations and Microchipping

Vaccinations start at 8 weeks. Usually, cats get their final at the age of 16 weeks. 

Core vaccines given are for rabies, feline distemper, feline herpesvirus, and calicivirus. Optional (non-core vaccines) include feline leukemia virus and bordetella.

If you choose pet tracking for your cat, micro-chipping also happens during the first vaccination appointment.

While it’s not a legal requirement to microchip your cat, it’s often a condition of pet insurance. 

3. Neutering

The last of the routine vet appointments to consider for kittens is for neutering.  

Cats reach sexual maturity at around 4-6 months of age, so you need to get your cat neutered at 4 months to prevent any unwanted pregnancies.

This early period of cat ownership is also a good time to consider our pet insurance. There is no legal requirement for your cat to be microchipped nor is it a condition of pet insurance (though some providers may demand it).

Vet Visits for Junior Cats

Between the age of 7 months and 2 years, appointments with the vet should be scheduled every 6 months. 

During the period of growth, the vet will want to assure you that kitty’s development is progressing as it should be.  

The vet will usually check for fleas and parasites. General health will come under scrutiny, so nutrition and weight management will be discussed with any problems highlighted and solutions presented. They will also look at dental hygiene and may recommend dental treatments you can do at home. Any issues of behavior will also be discussed and advice given for any concerns you might have.

Vet Visits for Adult/Mature Cats

This life stage is generally between 3 and 10 years.

Your cat will have stopped growing and its character developed with behavior patterns established. You will probably know your cat very well by now so you will recognize any obvious changes or physical symptoms.

Veterinary experts advise that adult cats should have an annual checkup. At these routine vet appointments, the focus will be on the maintenance of health and wellbeing, including the prevention of disease. The vet will also ensure vaccinations are up to date.

Vet Visits for Senior Cats

The question of how often to take a cat to the vet gains greater importance as your pet enters its senior years. Senior cats are prone to age-related diseases, some of which will have obvious physical symptoms, others that will be invisible.

There are compelling reasons for a generally healthy- senior cat to have six-monthly checkups with the vet. Cats age much faster than humans, they hide illness, and obviously, they can’t tell you if and where it hurts.

Vets will look for early signs of common diseases and conditions including dental problems and blood pressure. A vet’s practice may have a well-cat program that they offer to senior cats which will include a set of standardized tests for the most common conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, obesity, kidney disease, liver disease, and hyperthyroidism.

Unscheduled Visits to the Vet

As well as routine vet appointments for cats of any age, there are times when your furry friend might need urgent attention.

It is important that you recognize signs that your cat is in distress or there are changes in behavior that may be caused by a physical/medical issue.

Sometimes, it will be obvious. Your cat might have been in a fight and there is a physical injury. Always be cautious If there is blood anywhere. It might also have been injured by people or a vehicle.

Another sign you may need to take your cat to the vet is a change in eating habits. If a kitty has stopped eating or is drinking a lot more, it is usually a sign of an internal problem that needs to be identified. Feline diabetes is more common than you might imagine and there are lots of dietary indicators that your cat might have the condition.

Here are some of the most common signs to look for that should raise concern that you might need to dig out your pet carrier:

• Abnormal bumps and lumps or a visible growth
• Abnormal bathroom habits
• Discharge from the eyes or nose
• Vomiting
• Continuous or intense panting
• Labored breathing
• Hyperactivity
• Bald patches in their fur
• Tiredness or lethargy
• Persistent coughing
• Visible signs they are experiencing pain

Any of these means you should make an appointment with your vet. 

Don’t Worry About Taking Your Cat to the Vet

To do the best for your beloved cat, be guided by age for your routine vet appointments but also be aware of when something is wrong that may need urgent treatment or investigation. Make sure your pet is microchipped, vaccinated and has a pet tag linked to their health profile. Feed it a healthy diet and play with it and love it. Enjoy your time as a pet parent.