The Importance of Regular Check-Ups: Advice From a Cat Care Hospital

It’s estimated that 47% of pet owners say they own at least one cat in their family. We all want our furry felines to be happy and healthy. However, that can be difficult with cats compared to dogs.

Cats are notoriously good at hiding pain and illness until it’s too late. That’s why it’s so important to schedule regular check-ups with a cat care hospital.

But what should the vet look for during these check-ups? And how often should you schedule them? In this guide, we’ll briefly dive into these questions so you can get a better idea of what to expect from your next cat check-up.

Why Are Regular Cat Check-Ups Important?

Regular cat check-ups are important in the same way that human check-ups are important. You want to make sure that everything is working properly while potentially catching conditions and diseases early on to maximize treatment.

However, the difference between humans and cats is that due to their fast metabolism, cats age significantly faster than humans. What’s more, cats are extremely good at hiding sickness and pain.

The only way to tell that something is wrong is through subtle changes in their behavior. If your cat is sick or hurt, a check-up is a great way to find out if there are any problems.

If they’re caught early on, many types of cat illnesses are both easier and less costly to treat. As such, you can save yourself money in the long run by prioritizing your cat’s health.

What Should a Cat Care Hospital Look for During a Check-Up?

Different cats will have different needs during their check-up. The usual wellness testing visit will involve running some tests, reviewing nutrition, and exploring potential behavior changes in your cat.

In this section, we’ll be exploring some of the specific things you should ask about during your check-up.

Cat Vaccinations

Cat vaccinations are vital for protecting your feline friend from common diseases that can threaten their health. Some of the common vaccinations protect against things like feline herpes virus, feline parvovirus, feline chlamydophila, calicivirus, and feline leukemia virus.

However, as this study notes, your cat may not need all of the vaccinations. The needs of a house cat who lives alone will be very different from outdoor feral felines.

As such, you should describe your cat’s lifestyle and habits to your vet. From there, they can give you a recommendation on which type of vaccinations might be beneficial for them.

Neutering

Unless you want to breed your cat, neutering is an essential and ethical practice. What’s more, neutering can help prevent certain types of diseases and cancers that occur in cats.

Usually, if you’ve adopted your cat, it will already be neutered. However, it’s important to confirm this medical history on your first visit. The earlier you can neuter a cat, the better.

Ideally, you’ll be able to do it when they’re kittens. That being said, if you’ve adopted an adult cat who isn’t neutered, you should take care of it as soon as possible. Make sure to check out this guide to get the crash course on pet neutering.

Behavior Changes

You might notice subtle behavior changes in your cat. Maybe they’re not eating as much or urinating outside of their litter box. Or they could be getting into frequent fights with a new cat.

It’s vital to report these changes to your vet during the check-up. Sometimes they can be indicators of an underlying disease or condition. Keeping your vet in the loop about them can help the professionals make a more accurate diagnosis.

Worms, Ticks, and Fleas

Fleas and ticks can cause your cat a lot of irritation. What’s worse, they’re also great at transmitting a variety of diseases and illnesses. Many people think that they only need to worry about ticks and fleas with outdoor cats.

However, the reality is that these pests can breed indoors as well. You should also have your vet help with parasite prevention for cats.

This should include things like roundworms or tapeworms. These parasites can live inside your cat’s digestive system and affect their eating habits.

Dental Status

As your cat gets older, its dental health will likely decline quickly. Since cats can’t complain about toothaches, the only way to notice it is if you find that they’re only chewing on one side of their mouth more than the other.

As such, a vet check-up is a good opportunity to make sure that they aren’t experiencing any teeth options. If they are, the solution will be to either change their diet or consider teeth removal surgery.

Weight Levels

Some cats are overweight and not just fluffy. Your vet can help you determine if your cat’s current weight level is a cause for concern. If it is, they can give you diet recommendations for improving their overall nutrition levels.

How Often Should You Take Your Cat to Check-Ups?

For most cats, annual physical exams are the way to go. That being said, age is an important factor in this question. If you have a kitten you should bring them into the cat care hospital more often, especially if they’re experiencing health conditions.

This is important for monitoring their development and getting them any vaccines they might need. The same goes for older cats or cats with chronic conditions. Health conditions can arise suddenly in a matter of weeks or even days with these older cats.

As such, more frequent check-ups ensure that you can diagnose a problem before it becomes serious for the cat. Make sure to check out this guide for more details on when you should bring your cat in for vet appointments

Get Your Cat the Care They Need at Slaton Animal Veterinary Hospital

We hope this guide helped you learn more about regular check-ups from your cat care hospital. Here at Slaton Animal Veterinary Hospital, we know that cats can feel like a member of your family.

That’s why we treat them with the same love and compassion as you do. When you visit us, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will welcome you to our state-of-the-art facility.

During your check-up, we’ll answer any questions you might have honestly and openly. So if you’re ready for your cat’s check-up, schedule an appointment online now.