How Often Do You Take A Cat To The Vet?

There is no doubt that our pets are one of the closest members of our family, and we all want them to live long. Your pet cat should be taken to the vet from childhood for a regular checkup. It is impossible to say how often you should take your cat to the vet. It entirely depends on your cat’s age, breed, and physical condition.

In general, kittens and senior cats need to be taken two to three times a year to the veterinary clinic. Besides the dates of vaccines and medications, grooming emergencies are also considered before taking the cat for a check.

The content below will discuss how often you should bring your cat to the vet.

Diet & Nutrition

A cat’s health depends on proper food and nutrition. There are some clinics where the vet can advise you more prominently about your cat’s needs. Diet and nutrition for cats can not be suggested in general because it depends on height, weight and the cat’s age. It’ll be best if you take your furry ball to the vet and take the best guidance from him.

Grooming

There is no such calendar about how often you should take your cat for grooming. Most cats groom themselves and maintain themselves if they do not have any severe health issues. But to make their habits and to learn about trimming, you can contact and make appointments with your vet. Your vet can also give you advice about some exercises to keep your pet at a healthy weight.

Arrange For A General Checkup

If your cat hasn’t developed any severe health issues, it would be better to make an appointment with a vet at least once a year. However, it depends on the age of your cat. Generally, a kitten should be taken to the vet twice a year. And the senior cats can be checked up 2-3 times a year.

Signs For Taken To The Vet

According to eminent veterinarians, there are some prominent signs of a sick cat. If such symptoms are visible in your cat, then it is time for you to make an appointment with your vet. Some common symptoms are:

• Sudden change in their behaviour.
• Uninterested in crying, playing, mewing.
• Change in their appetite.
• Vomiting tendency or repetitive vomiting.
• Growth of sudden lumps.
• Coughing and breathing problems.
• Nose or eye discharge.
• Dragging their back legs.
• Extreme tiredness.

When Should I Be Aware Of My Cat’s Weight & Hairballs?

You should know that it is time to go to the vet if your cat weighs much according to age. For the first seven or eight months, kittens gain one pound per month. An adult cat should weigh 8-12 pounds based on its nature and breed. If you find that the car weighs more or less than its usual weight, bring your pet immediately to the vet for a checkup.

The occasional hairball isn’t a matter of concern, and it is common for cats with long coats. But if your cat coughs up hairballs daily or once a week, it is a matter of concern to avoid that; regular brushing is recommended along with a supplementary diet. It is also wise to visit your vet and ask about your cat’s health.

When The Kitten Should Be Taken To The Vet?

A kitten should be taken to the vet several times in the first year. In fact, before bringing a cat to your home, choose a veterinarian, and take the pet immediately after it is taken to home. Contacting a vet for your kitten is vital because the kittens are to be given vaccines from time to time. As a pet owner, it is also essential for you to know about your cat’s diet and nutrition, training and grooming, exercises, multi-pet issues, etc. After taking the kitten to the pet, he will examine it thoroughly to know about its health and growth. It is the best time to clear your concerns about your pet. Your vet can also learn about the medicines, bathing routine, flea prevention etc. Knowing the time of vaccines is extremely important for young kittens. They do not have strong immunity power. During these visits, the vet can also recommend deworming treatments. Most kittens are born with intestinal worms, so deworming treatment is essential.

Apart from that, a thorough physical checkup is also needed for tick and flea prevention. Vaccines for kittens generally when they are six to eight weeks old. AAHA and AAFP are the two standards and recommended vaccines for kittens when they are six to eight weeks old. Besides that, feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, feline viral rhinotracheitis, etc., are some other vaccines for a kitten necessary to prevent the spread of disease. FVRCP is another combination vaccine that protects the kitten from three viruses. FVRCP is given to the kitten when they are twelve to sixteen weeks old.

Feline Leukemia is another vaccine given to a one-year-old kitten. A frequent visitor to the vet is recommended to know about all these vaccines and treatments. How often you bring your cat to the vet depends on the expert’s recommendations. Generally, a kitten should be checked up every three to four months. Also, around 12 weeks, your vet may suggest a blood test for your cat. Feline Leukemia vaccine boosters are given in two sets in three to four weeks. This vaccine is necessary as a protection against Feline Leukemia. At the age of 16 weeks, a rabies vaccine booster is given to the kitten.

These are some of the well-recommended vaccines for a kitten in general. Depending on the lifestyle and breed of the kitten, your vet may suggest some other vaccines, like non-core vaccines, to protect against bordetella or Chlamydia. Again if you want to neuter or spaying, consultation with your vet is a must. Generally, neutering is performed after the kitten gets five to six months old. Your vet will be the best person to recommend the perfect time.

When The Adult Cat Should Be Taken To The Vet?

A kitten is considered an adult cat when they’re one to seven years old. They have gained strong immunity till then, and regular checkups like kittens are not necessary then. Generally, an annual checkup will cover it, but some veterinarians recommend checking up twice a year. If your cat has no specific vaccines and is healthy without any particular disease, an annual checkup is sufficient throughout the adult years.

During a checkup, your cat will be thoroughly checked from head to tail, along with its weight and growth. Keeping the cat at its ideal weight was the most critical challenge then. Your vet will recommend diets and exercises necessary for your cats based on their weight. Being overweight and obese can cause deadly diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease etc.

Dental care for the cat is also necessary for the body checkup. A blood test can also be recommended during these annual visits to check internal organ functions. These tests will help to detect diseases earlier. In most cases, early detection will help to prevent the profession of illness. 

Apart from that, based on your cat’s lifestyle, your vet may recommend additional vaccine boosters. Again he can assure you about your other concerns you might have about the health or behaviour of your pet.

Do not forget to bring one-fourth of stool samples before every visit. It is necessary to check their parasites. The names and doses of supplements and medicines are also to be given at that time. Adulthood is the time when cats are mainly prone to outdoor activities.

Your vet can recommend some additional vaccines. If he does, he may think it is necessary because the cats who venture outdoors are more likely to be affected with Feline Leukemia and Feline Infectious peritonitis (FIP). It doesn’t spread among humans, but it is infectious in cats. The vets recommend no vaccines for FIP, so the cats roaming outside should be taken care of consciously.

Along with dental health, your pet should be assessed for oral health also. Plaque, gingivitis, and tarter can attack the pet at this time. Most cats have periodontal disease at the age of six years. So on long-term medication, an annual or half-yearly checkup might be recommended to keep your car healthy.

When The Senior Cat Should Be Taken To The Vet?

Cats over seven years are considered senior cats. Seniorhood for cats is considered between 8 to 10 years. They are prone to several health problems. Their immunity power reduces with time, and they are affected by diseases easily. So they require close attention and care. In this case, at least two visits to the vet are recommended. Any type of change in their behaviour may be fatal. They should always be taken under medical observation.

Before going to the get for a biannual visit, have a close observation of your pet’s regular habits—walking, jumping, toilet habits, playing, etc. You can share your comments with the physicians if a kind of reluctance is observed in daily activities. In extreme cases, the vet can advise you to give pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products to your pets.

At the time of the visit, the vet will check your pet thoroughly. In detail, a physical examination will be performed, including some tests for extreme cases. Any lumps, stiffness, changes in behaviour, weight and habit are not neglected. So it would be best if you always kept in touch with your vet to avoid serious illness.

If the physician thinks it necessary, he can also check blood work and urinalysis. At this time, cats are likely to be affected with thyroid, liver problems, kidney distinction, diabetes etc. An oral checkup is also advisable. Teeth cleaning and teeth removal can be recommended if necessary.

The vet may also prescribe some vaccine if he thinks so. A stable relationship with your vet can keep you tension free about your four-legged friend.

How Frequently Can Boosters Be Given To The Cats?

Cats need different boosters at different ages under veterinary care. In general, from six to eight weeks of age, vaccines are started. It is given frequently and gradually until they achieve natural immunity. At first, the cats are given FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus Panleukopenia) vaccines. It is a type of combination vaccine for protecting cats from the feline.

After giving FVRCP, another combination vaccine is provided in three to four weeks. It lasts upto one year. At 13 to 16 weeks, the kittens get their first rabies vaccine. Aligning Leukemia vaccines is advisable if the cat spends a lot of time outdoors. FIP can be a dangerous disease for cats transmitted from one cat to another via body fluids.

These are some kinds of available vaccines given to almost all cats. After they get six years old, they will be neutered or spayed. After getting their first FVRCP and rabies vaccine, the vet can prescribe three years of these vaccines.

In adult age, no such general vaccines are needed. However, in particular or extreme cases, the vet can recommend as per need. If your cat has any chronic or inherited disease, some specific type of vaccine can be recommended.

Why Is It Important To Take The Cat To The Vet?

A cat’s life is valuable to you. A visit to the vet will help detect any illness. At the visit, the vet will check the cat with every type of examination. Some tests may also be included to prevent internal organ functions, dental disease, skin conditions, etc. Ticks, fleas or ear mites can attack most cats. At the time of checkup, all problems are treated.

These complexities may increase if your cat is fond of outdoor activities. However, do not think to skip the visit if your cat remains indoors. They are also to be kept updated on vaccines. Apart from that, routine diagnosis is also essential. Moreover, it is better to visit the vet for an annual or semiannual checkup to protect your cat from any severe disease.

How To Know If It Is Time To Take The Cat To The Vet Immediately?

In the previous points, we have discussed why it is essential to check the cat regularly by the vet. Here you should know in which cases you must take the cat immediately to the vet other than for routine checkups.

If you have seen any change in your cat’s behaviour or habits, make haste to take the cat to the vet without wasting time. The following points are the signs that your cat needs an urgent visit to the vet.

• Changes in appetite.
• Limping or awkward movement.
• Lethargy.
• Avoiding contact with people.
• Changes in stool or urine.
• Extreme bleeding.
• Difficulty in breathing.
• Extreme pain.
• Heat stroke or heart stress.
• Get unconscious sometimes.
• Vomiting or diarrhoea.

Apart from these signs, if you have noticed any behaviour which is not usual for your cat, don’t waste time consulting with your vet.

Consult If Your Appointment With The Vet Is Due

If you hadn’t taken your cat to the vet for a routine checkup last year, it is high time to make an appointment. It would be best to keep a calendar or make a reminder on your phone to avoid forgetting. A visit to the vet should be held as due as it can affect your cat’s health.

Sometimes the pets may show extreme anxiety before visiting the vet. Yes, it can be stressful for both of you and your cat, but it shouldn’t be the reason for skipping the appointment. You can talk with your vet about how to reduce your cat’s anxiety.

Now online checkups are also available. So you can schedule an online checkup if you’re running out of time recently. After free, try to go for a physical or face-to-face checkup.

Consult With A Vet If You Are Implementing A Lifestyle Change

Medications and vaccines can change according to the life struggle of the cat. So if you’re planning a significant lifestyle change in the future, consult first with your vet. The vet would be the best person to suggest what your cat will need to adjust to in that new situation.

For instance, if you’re considering moving to a new place with a lot of free outdoor space, your cat may need additional vaccines to protect against external fleas. Sometimes cats do not like to shift from the old residence, and after going to the new place, they might always feel afraid or anxious. Such anxiety may also lead to physical illness.

So before shifting to a new place, try to finish two essential tasks. First, with your vet about the upcoming change in your pet’s lifestyle. Secondly, find a new clinic near the new residence and check up on the cat after shifting to the new place.

Conclusion

So, an appointment with a vet can not wait if your primary concern is to see your cat as healthy. So a regular visit can keep you tension free about it. It’ll also help to build a strong relationship with your vet. And after knowing your medical history, he can give the best advice for your cat.

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