How Often Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet

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Many pets don't love going to the veterinarian. But cats are especially reluctant to get in a carrier, travel to an unfamiliar location, and let new people examine them. If your cat seems healthy, it's easier to skip the hassle of veterinary visits. That's probably one reason why 40% of cats don't see a vet each year, compared with only 15% of dogs.

Getting your cat to the vet might be difficult, but cats need regular health checkups just like dogs and people. Cats also commonly hide their pain and discomfort. Regular veterinary visits and blood work can help detect these issues before they become a major problem.

So how often does your cat need to go to the vet?

How often should you take your cat to the vet?

Cats need to go to the vet at least once a year for a veterinary checkup. For senior cats ages 10 and older, it's best to get a veterinary checkup at least every 6 months. Because older cats are more likely to have health issues, more frequent vet visits can help you catch problems earlier.

Regular checkups may include preventive care, such as vaccinations and flea prevention medication. Your veterinarian may do routine blood work on your cat to look for signs of health problems. They should also check your cat's teeth for gum or dental disease.

Why do cats need regular veterinary checkups?

By seeing your cat for regular checkups, a veterinarian can help protect their health in a number of ways, including:

• Understanding what's normal for your cat's health

• Keeping your cat up to date on their vaccinations

• Catching potential health issues as early as possible

• Doing blood work to check for chronic health conditions

• Screening for dental problems that can affect your cat's well-being

• Making sure your cat stays at a healthy weight

• Getting support for behavioral issues, like not using the litter box

• Preventing minor health problems from becoming an emergency

• Detecting age-related health changes in your cat

What routine care does your cat need?

All cats need at least a yearly vet checkup. Other routine care will vary depending on your cat's age and needs. Here are recommendations for veterinary care based on your cat's life stage.

Kittens (up to 1 year old)

Among the first things kittens need are their core vaccinations and boosters. Ideally kittens will get their first round of vaccinations at 6 to 8 weeks old, followed by boosters a few weeks later.

Kittens need the following vaccines:

• Feline calicivirus

• Feline herpesvirus-1

• Feline panleukopenia

• Feline leukemia

• Rabies

Your veterinarian may recommend other routine care, such as spaying or neutering your kitten. They might also recommend microchipping, which can help you find your cat if they get lost. Your vet can provide guidance on the best diet to feed your kitten and what to expect as they develop.

Young adult cats (1 to 6 years old)

As part of a young adult cat's routine veterinary care, your vet will:

• Make sure your cat is up to date on their vaccine boosters

• Check their weight and ask about their diet

• Examine their gums and teeth for signs of dental disease

• Make sure your cat is getting their parasite prevention medication

• Ask if you've seen behavior changes in your cat

Mature adult cats (7 to 10 years old)

By the time your cat is 7 to 10 years old, you may start to notice some early signs of aging. So routine care for these mature adult cats often includes:

• Yearly physical and dental exams

• Blood work

• Discussions about changes and modifications as your cat ages

• Vaccine boosters

• Flea and parasite prevention

Senior cats (over 10 years old)

Experts recommend that cats over 10 years old get veterinary checkups every 6 months. For cats over 15 years old, it may be best to take your cat to the vet every 4 months. This allows you and your veterinarian to keep a close eye on any health changes in your cat.

As part of their checkups, senior cats should get blood work done. Blood tests check the health of your cat's kidneys, liver, thyroid, and other body systems. This will help you catch potential chronic health problems and start treatment as soon as possible. Your veterinarian may also take a urine sample from your cat to monitor their health.

Your veterinarian will continue to check your cat's gum and teeth health. They'll also make sure your cat is up to date on their vaccine boosters and flea and tick prevention medication.

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