How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet?

By Justin Jones Last updated Nov 6, 2022

As a proud cat parent, you know How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet? and that you are responsible for your cat’s health and well-being. You’ve done research on the best foods, carefully set up and chosen the best litter and litter box, and bought all the interactive toys and cat trees you can afford. You might be really proud of yourself for being so good at taking care of pets.

Your next, and arguably most important, the task is to take care of your cat’s health with the help of a good vet, not just when you’re worried or there’s an emergency, but also as a preventative measure to make sure your cat is doing well.

Everyone agrees that taking a cat to the vet can be a scary experience How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet?. It’s scary for your sweet cat to go to the vet and face all the strange sights, smells, and new places, like the car ride there, the hissing and howling, and the smell and sounds of all the other pets at the vet’s office. As a parent, it’s upsetting and stressful to have to put your sweetheart through all of this.

With all this drama and stress, it can be tempting to put off going to the vet until there’s something serious to treat. But regular trips to the vet are important and should be done often. But what does it mean to be “regular”? How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet?

There is no hard and fast rule about how often you should take your cat to the vet. Instead, how often you take your cat to the vet will depend on your cat’s age and lifestyle. Below, we’ve listed some general guidelines for How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet?

Table of Contents

How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet?

When should a kitten be taken to the vet? Kittens need to go to the vet a little more often than adult cats, mostly to get their necessary shots.

Between six and eight weeks, the first round of shots is given. The second round comes about three or four weeks after the first. More vaccines are given at three months and again at six months.

After six months, How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet? you can spay or neuter your cat, and you can also get a microchip for your pet around this time.

So, you’ll take your kitten to the vet a lot in the first year of its life to make sure it gets off to the best start possible.

How often should I go to the vet with my adult cat?

Adult cats (between one and seven years old) will need to see the vet less often than kittens. Even if your cat is in perfect health, you should still take it to the vet at least once a year. But if your cat is acting strangely, you can always ask a vet online for help and get professional advice right away. Every pet owner can use Petcube’s 24/7 Online Vet to talk to a vet at any time of day or night.

It’s not always easy to tell if your cat is sick because they tend to hide it well. Going to the vet regularly can help find any hidden problems or symptoms that look normal to the untrained eye but could be signs of something more serious.

An annual wellness check is important to catch any problems early, get any needed vaccine boosters, and give you a great chance to talk to the vet about any worries you may have. During these annual checkups for How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet? your cat’s teeth and gums will also be checked to make sure they are healthy.

If your cat goes outside, there are more things to worry about, like the risk of parasites. That doesn’t mean that indoor cats don’t need to go to the vet. Indoor cats, especially those that have been spayed or neutered, often get fat and gain weight.

Taking your cat to the vet on a regular basis will also help them get used to the process, making it less scary for them over time. There are many ways you can help your cat feel better about going to the vet.

How often should I get my old cat checked out by a vet?

About seven years old, your cat is a senior and should go to the vet a little more often. It’s best to get a checkup every six months instead of just once a year.

It’s likely that when your cat gets older, it will need more medical care to stay healthy and well. You’ll need to pay more attention to your cat’s health and keep an eye out for any changes that might be worrying.

This is a good thing for How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet? to do with your cat at any age, but it’s even more important as your cat gets older. Get in touch with your vet as soon as possible if you notice something strange that worries you.

If you’ve been taking your cat to the vet regularly, your cat may be more used to regular checkups by this point in its life. This can make the process much less scary for you and your cat.

When does a cat need to go to the vet right away?

Preventive care is always better than reactive care, so the more times you take your cat to the vet for checkups, the more likely you are to catch problems early. One of the best ways to get preventive care without stress is to talk to a qualified online vet.

But don’t wait until your next checkup if you notice any of these signs in your cat. Here are some signs that your pet might have a serious problem and needs to see the vet right away:

Changes in appetite
Lethargy
Limping or awkward movement
Changes in stool or urine
Avoiding contact with people

Final thoughts

Going to the vet shouldn’t be something you only do when you’re sick, in an emergency, or worried. If you go to a qualified professional regularly, they may be able to spot and stop any serious problems before they get worse.

Getting to know How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet? your vet well will not only help your cat, but it will also give you someone you can trust to talk to when you’re worried about your cat. Your vet will get to know your cat and its medical history over time. This can help him or her notice when something is wrong.

FAQs

Do cats have to go to the vet once a year?

At least twice a year, or every six months, How Often Should You Take a Cat to a Vet? take your adult cat to the vet for a checkup. Most of the time, checkups include cleanings, inspections, and shots. Even if your cat stays inside, it will still need to be vaccinated against distemper and rabies.

How often should you bring a cat that stays inside to the vet?

each half-year

Indoor cats should go to the vet at least once a year, preferably every six months. This will make sure they get the vaccines they need and give you a chance to catch and treat any health problems before it’s too late.

Do cats remember vet visits?

Cats might get nervous when they have to go to the vet. Most cats will remember that as a place with barking dogs and nurses who put thermometers up their backsides and poke them with needles.