We all want to be great pet paw-rents. We feed our fur-babies the best food, provide them with safe and comfortable homes, encourage daily physical activity, and take them to the groomers. Another thing a good parent does: take pets to the veterinarian. Yes, you take them during emergencies but do you also take them for regular checkups? While you may not have an old or ill cat, you should still take them for routine appointments. Continue reading for how often to take your cats to the vet.

Kittens

If you've adopted a young kitten, make sure to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. This gives you a chance to create a relationship with the vet, allows the vet to observe your kitten in every stage of life, and gives you the opportunity to discuss general care and questions you may have. Kittens should be seen every 3-4 weeks until they are about 4 months old. The vet will administer vaccines and possibly take stool samples to look for gastrointestinal issues. Typically, the rabies vaccine is given when the kitten is 3 months old (with boosters given per the manufacturer's recommendation). You can spay or neuter your cats beginning at the 6-month mark.

Adult Cats

When you have an adult cat, they should receive checkups every 6 months to a year for dental care, general physical exams, and vaccinations. Your vet will ask about your cat's lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoor) and determine which vaccinations to give. Additionally, some require booster shots.

Senior Cats

As cats enter into their senior stage (7-10 years old), it's important to increase the frequency of appointments to 2-3 times per year. After the age of 10, you'll want to have an additional visit per year. You'll speak to your vet about any behavioral changes you may have noticed so they can test for arthritis, kidney and liver problems, obesity, and other issues.

Having regularly scheduled appointments for your cat can offer them the healthiest life possible. A vet can notice issues that we as pet parents may miss. If there's anything we can do to help extend the lives of our pets, we'll gladly do it.