How Often to Take Your Cat to the Vet in 2025? A Vet’s Comprehensive Care Schedule Guide 🐱🩺

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc, Ask A Vet Blog

Cats are masters at hiding health issues, so regular veterinary care is essential—even if they seem perfectly healthy. In 2025, vets recommend visits tailored to your cat’s life stage, health status, and lifestyle. This guide explains when to visit, what to expect, how to reduce stress, and why each appointment matters.

1. 🍼 Kitten Stage: Early Visits & Vaccines

From 6–8 weeks until ~4 months, kittens grow fast and need frequent vet attention:

• Visits every 3–4 weeks for vaccinations (FVRCP, FeLV, rabies), deworming, physical exams and microchipping :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
• Discuss spay/neuter planning at ~5–6 months.
• Aim for at least 3–4 visits before finalizing kitten vaccinations by ~16–20 weeks :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

2. 🐾 Healthy Adult Cats (1–7 years): Annual Check-Ups

Once past kittenhood, healthy cats typically need a checkup every 12 months:

• Annual physical exam, vaccinations, parasite prevention updates, and wellness screening :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Routine blood work may be done annually to catch early disease.
• Indoor cats still need yearly check-ups—diseases like kidney issues, diabetes, or dental problems can hide silently :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.

3. 👵 Senior Cats (7–10+ years): Exams Every 6 Months

As cats age, twice-yearly visits become critical:

• Full physical exams plus bloodwork and urinalysis twice per year :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• Monitoring for age-related changes: kidney, liver, thyroid, arthritis, dental issues.
• Veterinary teams may perform screenings for chronic illnesses and adjust care plans proactively.

4. 🩺 Cats with Chronic Illnesses: Customized Schedules

For cats with ongoing conditions (e.g., kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism):

• Follow vet-recommended frequency—often every 3 to 6 months.
• Monitor lab results, weight, symptoms, and adjust medications or diet.
• Communicate changes using tools like Ask A Vet app for remote support.

5. 🚨 Emergency or Illness Visits

Additional visits are needed when cats show any of the following:

• Sudden illness signs: vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, appetite loss.
• Injuries or trauma: fights, accidents.
• Difficulty urinating, breathing problems, seizures, or collapse :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.

Do not wait—seek immediate veterinary care.

6. 🧳 Reducing Visit Stress

Help your cat feel calm and secure:

• Leave carrier out at home with soft bedding so it becomes familiar :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.
• Use pheromone sprays or calming aids before travel.
• Cover the carrier during car rides to reduce visual stimulation.

7. 📋 Preparing for the Visit

Ensure efficient and meaningful appointments:

• Bring recent medical records, list of concerns, medications, and behavioral notes.
• Weigh your cat regularly at home for vet comparison.
• Note any changes in behavior, appetite, litter box use, or grooming habits.

8. ✅ Annual & Senior Visit Checklist

• ✔ Physical exam: weight, coat, dental, heart/lungs, eyes, etc.
• ✔ Bloodwork: CBC, chemistry, T4, kidney/liver values, glucose.
• ✔ Urinalysis for kidney health and diabetes screening.
• ✔ Fecal test and parasite prevention update.
• ✔ Vaccine boosters as needed.
• ✔ Dental evaluation and cleaning recommendation.
• ✔ Nutrition, behavior, and environmental enrichment discussion.

9. 🛠️ Partnering with Ask A Vet, Woopf & Purrz

• Ask A Vet App: Log symptoms, schedule visits, and consult your vet remotely between check-ups.
• Woopf: Offers carrier training kits, calm travel tools, and wellness reminders.
• Purrz: Provides visit trackers, pre-visit kits (e.g., pheromones, treats), and behavior logs.

❤️ Final Takeaways from Dr Houston

📅2025 Vet Visit Summary:

• Kittens: every 3–4 weeks until ~4 months.
• Adult cats: at least once per year.
• Seniors (10+): exams twice a year.
• Cats with illness: as directed by your vet.
• Emergency symptoms: see vet immediately.

These visits allow early disease detection, vaccination updates, dental care, and discussion of any concerns. Each life stage has different needs, and scheduling accordingly helps your cat live their best life. Questions about timing, symptoms, or stress-free visits? Contact us via the Ask A Vet app. Happy, healthy years await! 🐾✨