How frequently should a cat see a doctor? Is it usual to go to the vet only every few years? If you want to make sure your cat is happy and healthy, should you take her to the doctor more frequently?
It depends on the age of your cat. A kitten needs regular visits for various reasons, while for junior cats up to 2 years you should schedule a checkup with a vet every 6 months. For older cats, you can reduce these to once a year, until a cat becomes senior when twice-yearly visits are again recommended.
And then, of course, you’ll have any extra visits to treat any unexpected illnesses or injuries.
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Why do cats need regular vet visits?
Cats need to be checked over by vets at various stages in their life for various reasons. There are the normal steps in getting your cat properly cared for, and then the checks for any signs of ill-health that you might not be able to detect on your own.
At 8 weeks, if you’re going to get your kitten vaccinated, then that’s when vaccine injections will begin, which will last until around 16-20 weeks. But as well as the regular kitten vaccinations, the veterinarian will also do a full health check during each visit to make sure that the kitten is developing properly and showing no signs of unexpected illness.
It’s around the 16 week mark that the discussion will also be had around neutering the cat. There’s a lot of discussion about the right age to neuter your cat but doing it early can make sure that the cat doesn’t develop certain unwanted behaviors that are associated with reaching sexual maturity.
You should expect to see the vet every 1-2 months when you have a kitten.
Arranged for kittens and adult cats to have regular medical care
After the cat reaches the age of six months, you shouldn’t have to take it to the vet as frequently. This will make it possible for you to continue receiving vaccinations, have your weight evaluated, and take care of your oral health. About every six months is appropriate. When the vet examines your cat for parasites, looks for behavioral problems, and confirms that they are receiving adequate nutrition, this is a great moment to discuss the cat food you are feeding your pet and whether you need to modify their diet.
Once a cat reaches the age of two, a veterinarian will consider it to be well matured, thus regular checks can be cut to once a year. During these visits, the vet is once more merely looking at the cat’s health; as it becomes older, though, they will think about how to reduce the risk of, or manage, age-related illnesses and health difficulties.
Do outdoor cats need to see the doctor more frequently?
Even while your outdoor cat might not need additional visits to the veterinarian, you should make sure that your regular checkups contain particular attention for cats who live outside.
Particularly relevant here is feline leukemia, a fatal disease that is curable by immunization. All cats, indoor or outdoor, are immunized against this widespread disease up until the age of one; however, after that, only cats that spend time outdoors are likely to need an annual booster.
There are reasons to believe that seeing outdoor cats more frequently may make sense given that pet owners spend less time with their cats. When you are unable to see their usual behavior, it can be more challenging to determine whether something is wrong. Additional visits to the vet can guarantee that anything abnormal is found and treated as soon as possible, even if you haven’t seen the signs yourself since you haven’t had enough time to monitor their typical behavior.
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As your cat ages, you should start increasing the number of times you take it to the vet for a checkup, usually beginning around the time it turns 11 and is deemed a senior cat. Visitation is advised at least twice a year.
Your cat will by this time be more vulnerable to a variety of illnesses as they get older and their immune system weakens. Your cat’s vet may also conduct additional tests at this time, such as blood pressure monitoring and standard urine and blood sample collection.
Older cats require specific veterinary care as they mature swiftly and need to be protected. Once your cat reaches a particular age, you should start using your regular vet appointment to discuss end-of-life care since older cats, or geriatric cats, are more susceptible to common ailments. Cats who are 15 years of age or older are referred to as geriatric cats.
What other times should I go to a veterinary clinic?
There are further reasons why you, as a cat owner who is concerned, might wish to schedule a visit with your veterinarian. If you’ve never had a cat before, you might be concerned about how to trim its claws. Many pet owners lack the confidence to do it on their own for the first time, despite the fact that it is relatively simple to do. Get the cat carrier out and head to your veterinarian if you need help understanding how to do this. Once you’ve been shown how, you’ll have no trouble doing it on your own. It’s crucial to maintaining your pet’s health.
You might wish to visit the vet office if you notice a change in your cat’s behavior outside of the yearly checks for a wellness exam or vaccination. If your cat suddenly loses their energy or becomes passive, it’s critical to identify the source. It’s possible that they won’t use the litter box as regularly as they once did.
Also keep an eye on your cat’s gums. The dental health of your pet is very important, and you don’t want to have to extract a cat’s tooth because you missed the early signs of gum disease, which can greatly reduce the cat’s quality of life.
In general, it’s a good idea to have your cat checked out whenever you suspect a problem. You don’t want to put your animal companion’s health in danger because you were reluctant, even if it might not be anything. It doesn’t matter if your pet has a serious respiratory condition or only a flea infestation; pet insurance will ensure that you are covered for any unanticipated vet costs.
You can keep your cat healthy, treat any ailments with the highest chance of success, and find any illnesses early by scheduling those yearly checks (or more regularly, depending on the cat’s age) in addition to emergency visits.
How often do cats visit the veterinarian? Have you been neglectful, or are you extremely eager to have your cat examined? Please leave a remark below.
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