Preventative care is key to helping your cat live a long, healthy life. By taking your cat to the vet at least once a year, you can ensure they’re up-to-date on vaccines, protected against parasites, and treated early when health issues do arise.
 

The Importance of Annual Wellness Checkups 

Your veterinarian should see your cat at least once a year - not just when they’re not feeling well.

Cats are notorious for hiding signs of pain, and your veterinarian can look for early signs of illness to ensure your cat is not suffering needlessly from an undiagnosed illness or injury. 

During your cat’s annual wellness visit, your veterinarian will weigh your cat, ensure that their eyes and ears are clear and free of infection, and listen to their heart and lungs using a stethoscope. They may also take a blood sample to assess organ function, electrolyte levels, and hormones. Make sure to bring a fecal sample, which your veterinarian will use to test for internal parasites.

For kittens, Dr. Lindsay Butzer, DVM recommends scheduling kitty’s first vet visit within the first 72 hours of bringing them home. For adult cats over 11 months of age, you can hold off for up to a week while your new cat settles in at home, so long as you do not have any immediate health concerns.

During your cat’s first visit, you can ask your vet about what and when to feed your cat or kitten, their recommended vaccine schedule, flea, tick, and heartworm preventative recommendations, and any other questions you might have about your new cat’s health and care. 
 

Vaccines

Vaccines prevent viral infections that cause lifelong illness and death in cats. Your cat should receive their core vaccinations for FHV-1, FCV, FPV, FeLV, and rabies in their first few months of life. In many regions across the United States, cats are required to be revaccinated against rabies one year after the first dose, then every three years.

Your veterinarian may recommend non-core vaccines in accordance with how likely your cat is to encounter other viruses, which will depend on how often they are exposed to other cats and which diseases are prevalent in your region. 
 

Spaying and Neutering

Spaying and neutering are routine procedures that eliminate the chance that your cat will have unwanted kittens. Having your cat altered can also eliminate or greatly reduce your cat’s risk of developing reproductive cancers.

Spaying is the surgical removal of a female cat’s uterus and ovaries. An unspayed cat will go into heat every few weeks during the spring-summer mating season and will be more likely to roam far from home in search of a mate. 

Neutering is the surgical removal of a male cat’s testes. An unneutered male cat is more likely to spray pungent urine around your home to mark his territory, attempt to roam in search of a mate, and may be more aggressive.

If you’ve adopted your cat from an animal shelter or humane society, they will most likely already have been spayed or neutered. If your cat or kitten is not yet spayed or neutered, you can talk to your veterinarian about scheduling the procedure.

Spaying and neutering are routine procedures that can be performed on kittens as young as six weeks old. Kittens can become sexually mature and reproduce as soon as four months of age if not spayed or neutered, so it’s critical to have your cat altered as soon as possible to eliminate the chance that they will contribute to the overpopulation of unwanted kittens.
 

When Your Cat Is Sick or Injured

It’s almost inevitable that your cat will experience an illness or injury at some point. To prevent unnecessary pain and suffering and to give your cat the best chance of recovery, seek veterinary care as soon as you notice concerning symptoms.

Tip: Plan for unexpected vet bills by signing up for pet insurance.

Call your veterinarian first if your cat is ill or has suffered an injury. Depending on the nature of your cat’s condition, your veterinarian may allow you to schedule an appointment, squeeze you in for a same-day visit, or recommend that you seek emergency care.

Bypass the waiting room by opting for a veterinary telehealth appointment when possible. Schedule a same-day online appointment with VetLive for asking general questions, getting advice about nutrition or behavior, and treating certain health issues. 

For medical emergencies that occur outside of your veterinarian's office hours, you may need to take your cat to an emergency vet hospital. Seek emergency veterinary care for potentially life-threatening issues like difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, blood loss, seizures, and severe trauma.

Make sure you’re prepared for health issues and emergencies by saving your veterinarian’s contact information and that of an emergency veterinary hospital near you.