Are you supposed to take your cat for a check up each year?

peeps

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I'm used to having dogs where you have to take them in for shots every Spring. We adopted a cat last August and the humane society did all his shots except for rabbies and the vet did his rabbies shot so he's up to date on all shots. Are you still supposed to take him to the vet for any reason? He's a very healthy, energetic boy so I don't have any concerns about his health.
 

sharky

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a once a yr check up is a great thing to catch things early...

1 time a yr for healthy kitties till age 8

2 times a yr for healthy kitties after age 8
 

phenomsmom

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Yes. Take your new kitty every year. And keep a close eye on them. They hide pain and illness very well. If they have litter box issues that is normally a pretty good sign that there is something wrong.
 

misty8723

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Absolutely take them for annual vet visits. The cat clinic I go to has a special program for the tests they do based on age, and if you sign up for the program you get a discount on everything else (except food, which I don't buy there anyway).
 
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peeps

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Thanks. I guess since we had him at the vet last August and he doesn't need any shots that we can wait till August to go back. That way it might not be as crowded with all the dogs who are getting their shots in the Spring.
 

cococat

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I don't give annual shots but I do go for a overall check-up just b/c
 

cloud_shade

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Originally Posted by sharky

a once a yr check up is a great thing to catch things early...

1 time a yr for healthy kitties till age 8

2 times a yr for healthy kitties after age 8
Exactly. Yearly or twice-per-year visits are really important. They don't always need shots, particularly if they are indoor only, but the exam is more than just shots. The vet should listen to the cat's heart and lungs, examine the eyes and ears, and check the teeth for signs of problems. In older cats, blood tests are also a really good idea to check for common disorders, like hyperthyroidism, diabetes and kidney issues. The vet will also check your kitty's weight and body condition to see if he/she is eating the right amount and maintaining his/her weight.
 

EnzoLeya

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YES YES YES.....You never know what your kitty could have gotten into or possibly what you could have brought home from another pet. Sometimes you can bring something home to your pets and not even know it till you take them to the vet. For the most part you're safe just observing your cat regularly, but it's always a good idea to get a second/proffessional opinion from your vet.
 

gailuvscats

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I never take mine unless they are sick, or have something that needs attending to. For example, Fang had bad breath, I took him in for a teeth cleaning and they discovered he had two cracked teeth as well as bad gums etc. My cats are healthy, and I watch very closely the poo and pee. I do not get annual shots, or any shots after the initial kitten stuff. When Fang went in for his teeth, he was required to get another rabies shot, fine. They are young healthy cats.
On the other hand when my elderly cats were dying, I took them once a week, if I thought it prudent. They lived to be 15 and 17. ONly had their intitial shots and whatever was required for teeth cleaning, which I usually consider at the age of 5. Fang needed his early from his rough start on the streets, I guess.
 

epona

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Mine go to the vets any time I have a slight anxiety about their health so that's about once every couple of months
but an annual checkup is a good thing, and twice a year when they get into 'middle age'. I go to the doctors myself twice a year to have my blood pressure taken and urine sample checked, and I wouldn't want to skimp on any of my pets' healthcare.
 

meow meow

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I am not sure if I am going to do this. My kitty is now 1 years old. When I got him at 4 months he was all up to date on shots and neutered. He never goes outside and is not interested in going outside so fleas and communicable disease is not much of threat. He eats high quality food, is active, has a beautiful coat and excellent litterbox habits.

I am also not going to be doing ongoing vaccinations.

So.... I really wonder about the value of a 1 year old check-up. It is not that I am cheap (money is no issue) I just don't want to subject him (and me) to it without a valid reason.

Maybe I'll do every two years so they can at least check his teeth.
 

urbantigers

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I think an annual check up is necessary as the earlier you pick up problems the better. Once there are physical signs, the illness may be too advanced to treat. A vet can check the cat over with an objective eye and palpate the abdomen with more knowledge than I can, so may pick up on something I've missed. Tbh, unless a kitty is extremely nervous and a vet trip is a complete nightmare I can't think of any reason not to get them checked over once a year at least.
 

cloud_shade

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Originally Posted by meow meow

He never goes outside and is not interested in going outside so fleas and communicable disease is not much of threat.
Unfortunately, being indoor only is not much protection against fleas--my indoor only cats have had them a couple of times. Fleas can hitch a ride into the house on us and then jump onto our cats.
 

missymotus

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Originally Posted by urbantigers

I think an annual check up is necessary as the earlier you pick up problems the better.
We do yearly check ups and vax every 3 years, except for my show boy who needs to be vaxed every 2 yrs.
 

momofmany

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Even if your cats an indoors and you have them on the 3 year rabies vaccinations, I still suggest that you have an annual check up for them. A vet can often pick up on things that you don't notice on a day to day basis (teeth being one of them). My last vet held off on the 3 year rabies for a long time because he was frustrated by people who didn't bring their cats in each year. He was NOT the type to want business to pay his bills, he actually looked for the best interest of the cat.

And yes, he has found medical problems during the exam (heart murmurs) that I would not have found and those conditions would not have been treatable had I waited another year.
 

littleraven7726

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my cats go in at least once a year. i think nabu is the only one who's just had his main vet visit in the past. usually the guys are in to see the vet at least couple times a year.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

My last vet held off on the 3 year rabies for a long time because he was frustrated by people who didn't bring their cats in each year. He was NOT the type to want business to pay his bills, he actually looked for the best interest of the cat.
my vet doesn't even offer that anymore. when we moved to iowa in 2004 i found out their clinic doesn't offer it because seeing too many problems with it. our cats get the purevax rabies shot (annual) and they don't have that "downtime" of being sick like they used to after their shot.
 
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