Understanding Cat Health Checks: A Complete Guide to Feline Wellness

The average cat lives for 13 or 14 years. However, it isn’t uncommon for some cats to live for over 15 or 20 years.

Encourage owners to keep their cats healthy by recommending regular visits to your veterinary practice. A routine cat health check can ensure the early detection of potential medical conditions and maintain a cat’s overall well-being.

Do you need help convincing owners to schedule regular check-up appointments for their cats? Make every cat’s health a priority by emphasizing the importance of bringing a cat to the vet for your practice’s patients.

Discover everything you need to know about cat health checks below.

Understanding Cat Health Checks

A cat health check is the feline version of an annual physical. It allows a veterinarian to examine a cat’s body and all its various parts.

As a local vet, you should always prepare to perform check-ups on cats and other pets. Let’s start by explaining what happens during them.

Definition and Purpose

A cat health check is a physical examination designed to keep a pet healthy. It involves a veterinarian analyzing every aspect of a cat from whiskers to tail, including:

• A cat’s ears
• A cat’s nose
• A cat’s eyes
• A cat’s teeth (and a cat’s breath!)
• A cat’s skin
• A cat’s body

It also involves measuring weight and running blood tests.

If something’s wrong with a cat, it will likely appear during an evaluation. For example, a vet might find ear mites, fleas, or ticks when looking at a cat’s ears. They might also see signs of gum disease or the cause of bad breath (is it tartar build-up — or just something a cat ate?) while inspecting a cat’s teeth.

Whether an owner keeps a cat indoors or allows their feline friend to roam free outdoors doesn’t matter. An owner must prioritize health checks to keep a cat in good health.

Most cats pass health checks with flying colors and are in tip-top condition. However, some health checks reveal that cats could be in the early stages of chronic health conditions.

Frequency of Examinations

Some cat owners wonder, “How often should you take your cat for health checks?” It is essential to provide the correct answer.

The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends taking cats to veterinarians yearly for wellness exams. But this recommendation changes depending on several factors, including:

• Age
• Breed
• Health status

Kittens, for instance, should see a vet every one or two months, while older cats should see one about twice a year.

Components of a Comprehensive Cat Health Check

The total time a cat health check takes varies.

Once again, this will depend on factors like a cat’s age and health. A normal check-up for a healthy three-year-old cat might only take 15 minutes, while a more advanced check for a kitten or senior cat could take an hour.

No matter how long check-ups last, they should include the following components.

Physical Examination of a Cat’s Ears, Cat’s Nose, Etc.

During a physical exam, a vet will closely monitor every part of a cat. This involves assessing a cat’s:

• Weight
• Coat condition
• Dental care

A vet will also inspect the cat’s overall condition to pinpoint problem areas inside and out. For example, they will gently squeeze the cat’s stomach to assess the health of internal organs and give long-haired cats’ bald patches a second look.

Vital Signs Monitoring

Monitoring a cat’s vital signs is another crucial step a vet will take during a pet wellness exam. This will include checking a cat’s:

• Temperature
• Heart rate
• Respiratory rate

If any of these readings aren’t normal, it could be a sign that the pet owner must immediately have additional tests performed by a vet.

Laboratory Tests

An underlying digestive issue or another unusual symptom associated with a health condition won’t always appear right away. A vet will also perform laboratory tests to identify the presence of internal parasites and other issues.

A vet will carry out:

• Blood tests
• Urinalysis testing
• Fecal exams

Vaccination Updates

When a cat is still a kitten, it should receive certain vaccinations to prevent diseases. Here are a few vaccines a cat needs:

• Rabies
• Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
• FVRCP
• Feline calicivirus (FCV)
• Bordetella
• Feline rhinotracheitis

Owners also need to arrange to keep their cats’ vaccinations current.

Common Cat Health Questions Addressed During Check-Ups

Toward the conclusion of a cat health check, an owner can ask questions to a vet. Check out questions they should pose.

Dietary Concerns

Questions about a cat’s nutrition, weight management, and dietary supplements are always good. Some sample questions should include:

• Which food should I feed my cat?
• Is my cat too heavy?
• Which nutritional supplements should my cat take?

Behavioral Issues

Questions about a cat’s behavior, litter box usage, and social interactions are also great. Owners should ask:

• Why is my cat lethargic all the time?
• Should I be worried if my cat doesn’t always use its litter box?
• How can I get cats to play nicely if I have more than one cat in my home?

Preventive Care

Even topics like flea and tick prevention, dental care, and spaying/neutering should be on the table during cat health checks. A vet can answer questions like:

• What should I do if I find a tick on my cat?
• Why isn’t my cat cooperating when I try to brush its teeth?
• Is it time to think about spaying or neutering my cat?

Preparing for a Cat Health Check

A cat owner should prepare properly before visiting a local vet’s office for a health check.

Gathering Medical History

An owner should fill out pet medical history forms with updated information for their cat.

Observing Behavioral and Physical Changes

An owner should monitor a cat and note recent behavioral and appearance changes.

Transporting Your Cat

An owner should invest in a high-quality carrier to transport a cat to the vet and leave plenty of time to do so safely without stressing the cat out.

The Role of At-Home Health Checks

In addition to preparing for cat health checks, owners should perform at-home checks to closely monitor their cats’ health. Here are a couple of tips on how to do this.

Regular Monitoring

Cat owners should keep their at-home health checks simple. They can begin by monitoring a cat’s:

• Coat
• Eyes
• Ears
• Body language

Recognizing Warning Signs

Cat owners should also look for warning signs that suggest their felines aren’t healthy. These might include:

• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss
• Poor grooming habits
• Slightly damp skin or bacterial overgrowth on the skin
• Waxy discharge from or gritty substance inside the ears
• Visible external parasites

Enhancing Veterinary Practice Management With Weave’s Solutions

Is your veterinary practice making it easy for patients and their pets to connect with you? Weave offers tools to help make your vet office a more enticing option.

Streamlined Appointment Scheduling

Weave’s online scheduling tools facilitate easy booking and reminders for cat health checks.

Effective Client Communication

Weave’s communication platforms enable timely follow-ups and address client questions efficiently.

Digital Documentation

Weave’s digital forms maintain accurate health records and help share information with cat owners.

Let Pet Owners Know They Have a Healthy Cat by Providing Check-Ups

A veterinarian should do more than tell pet owners, “Keep your cat healthy by feeding it right and taking good care of it.” They should also say, “Check your cat’s health by bringing it in for regular check-ups.”

A cat health check will take little time. However, it can uncover key information about a cat’s condition and prevent minor health issues from spiraling out of control.

Ensure your veterinary practice prepares to provide cat owners with resources to care for their feline friends. Book a demo to explore Weave’s solutions for enhancing your operation and keeping owners satisfied.