How Often Should Your Cat See the Vet?
Taking good care of your cat is generally a priority. Making sure they're healthy and strong while trying not to over do it. This is definitely a delicate balance, but how often should your cat see the vet? There are several answers to this question, as no cat is ever the same. Some have medical conditions while others are perfectly healthy. If you're wondering whether or not to see a vet for your cat, here are some specific instances when it is a good idea to go.
1. See at vet for regular check ups: Just like your children have to be seen every year for their well child check, your cat should also be seen for a "well cat" check. This is especially true if you have new kitten. Kittens need to be blood tested for Feline Leukemia Virus which is a fatal disease in cats. There are no clinical signs so there's really no way of knowing whether or not your cat has this disease. You get it through bit wounds or close contact through other cats with the disease. Make sure you schedule vet visits at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. There are certain vaccines that your kitten will need to stay disease free so don't neglect the vet during these important weeks of their life.
2. See a vet if your cat is vomiting. Many cats will swallow hair while they are grooming themselves and the hair will clog the stomach without allowing the food to pass through. The usual reaction is the cat will wretch and vomiting may or may not occur. Hair balls are common and can be treated with over the counter medications as well as controlled by a new enzyme that helps reduce the hairball formation. However, if it's not just a hairball and your cat is vomiting you need to see your vet immediately, especially if it's happening more than once a day, contains blood, bile, or mucus. Other symptoms such as diarrhea need to be handled with a vet as well. If your cat gets too dehydrated it can result in death.
3. See a vet if your cat has diarrhea. As previously mentioned, diarrhea is not normal in cats and should give you an immediate red flag that something is wrong. Take your cat to the vet if you notice any diarrhea. This can be caused by parasites, diet problems, viral and bacterial infections, kidney disease, or diabetes. There are number of things that can lead to diarrhea so don't hesitate to take your cat to the vet right away just to be safe. Diarrhea can also cause dehydration and death if left untreated. Make sure you get a sample of your cats poop to take with you to the vet so they can run tests to be certain what it is.
4. Take your cat to the vet if there is unusual bleeding. If you see blood coming from anywhere that is uncontrollable and excessive you should take your cat to see the vet right away. No blood is normal and can indicate other problems like toxins, infections, lacerations, bit wounds, parasite, and poisoning.
5. See a vet if your cat is wheezing or coughing. Just like a child, many cats can get a "cold" so to speak. Any type of wheezing, coughing or panting is not normal and could indicate a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. These can be signs of heart disease, lung disease, or even cancer. Some cats can also develop asthma, and a few even get allergies to certain things. This can have an affect on how they breathe. Some cats can be exposed to flu like viruses and if left untreated it can lead to death.
There's no real number for how often you should take your cat to the vet. If you notice anything unusual in your cat's behavior it's always better to be safe than sorry, and if you have a brand new kitten it's important to see a vet regularly for the first 16 weeks. Other than that, stay in tune with your cat's behavior and you should know if they need professional attention or not.
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