How Often Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet?

Written by Pet Wellness Clinics. Medically reviewed by Dinaz Lahewala, DVM, Pet Wellness Clinics.

Cats are remarkably good at looking unbothered and “healthy.” A cat can be losing weight, developing dental disease, or living with early kidney disease and still purr on your lap, clear the food bowl, and claim the same sunny spot every afternoon. That talent for masking discomfort is exactly why the answer to this question matters more than most cat owners expect.

The short answer to how often you should take your feline friend to the vet:

• Kittens: need several visits during their first year
• Adult cats: every six months
• Cats with chronic conditions: may need additional visits

Here is why that schedule exists and what each visit accomplishes.

The national numbers tell the story. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, only 57.3% of cat owners visited a veterinary practice in the past year, compared with 74.2% of dog owners. Cats are not healthier than dogs. They are simply quieter or secretive about it.

If you have been wondering whether your cat is overdue for a wellness exam, here is what a vet visit accomplishes and why it is one of the highest value things you can do for your cat.

Cats Are Wired to Hide Illness

In the wild, an animal that shows weakness becomes a target. Domestic cats still carry that instinct, so by the time you notice an obvious symptom, a condition has often been developing quietly for months.

What does show up early is a shift in routine. These changes are easy to dismiss at home, but any one of them can be the first visible sign of something our veterinary team can catch early. Mention what you have noticed at your next visit:

• Drink or urinate more than usual
• Eat slightly less, drop or spit food out, or chew on one side of the mouth
• Sleep in new or hidden places
• Groom less, or over groom
• Hesitate before jumping, avoid high perches, or take new routes to reach a favorite spot (literally stair-stepping their way up!)
• Any change in litter box habits

What a Cat Wellness Exam Covers

A wellness exam is a full head to tail assessment, not a quick weight check. A typical visit includes:

• A complete physical exam. We evaluate the heart, lungs, abdomen, and lymph nodes, plus assess skin and coat condition, eyes, and ears.
• A dental assessment. Dental disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in adult cats. It is painful and frequently goes unnoticed without an oral exam.
• Weight and body condition scoring. A one-pound weight gain on a 10lb cat is significant. During the visit we can troubleshoot and discuss a plan for weight loss and exercise.
• Vaccination review. Core protection plus lifestyle-based recommendations, discussed rather than assumed. 
• Parasite prevention. Year-round protection against fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal parasites is prescribed during the visit.
• Diagnostics when appropriate. Bloodwork and urinalysis may be recommended to reveal kidney, thyroid, and liver changes long before outward symptoms appear.
• A conversation about behavior, diet, and home life. Litter box setup, food type, stress, and multi-cat dynamics all affect health and can be addressed during your visit.

Cat Vet Visit Frequency by Life Stage

The right cadence depends on life stage:

• Kittens (under 1 year): Several visits during the first months for the vaccination series, deworming, spay or neuter planning, and growth monitoring.
• Adult and senior cats (1+ years): Wellness exams every six months. As cats age, conditions like hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney disease, arthritis, and diabetes become substantially more common.
• Cats with an existing diagnosis or a chronic medication: may need a schedule built specifically for them.

Indoor Cats Need Visits Too 

"She never goes outside" is the most common reason cat visits get postponed. Staying indoors does reduce certain risks, but it does not prevent: 

• Dental disease, which is largely independent if a cat stays indoors or goes outdoors
• Chronic kidney disease, the leading cause of illness in older cats
• Hyperthyroidism and diabetes
• Obesity and arthritis, both more common in indoor cats
• Fleas and parasites, which travel in on shoes, other pets, and open windows
• Rabies exposure, which can happen if a cat escapes or encounters a rodent or bat inside. Rabies vaccination is required by Indiana law.

Indoor life changes the risk profile. It does not remove the need for preventive care.

Making the Trip Easier on Everyone

Many owners skip visits because the carrier turns into a wrestling match. A few adjustments make a real difference:

• Leave the carrier out year-round with a soft blanket inside so it stops being a warning sign.
• Feed treats or meals near and then inside the carrier in the weeks before a visit.
• Spray a calming feline pheromone product on the bedding about 15 minutes before you leave.
• Cover the carrier with a towel in the car and in the lobby to reduce visual stress. Choose something breathable for air exchange.
• Choose a top-loading or removable-top carrier so your cat can be examined without being pulled out.
• Book a mid-morning or early afternoon appointment when the lobby is typically quieter.

Preventive Care You Can Plan For 

Our Feline Pet Prime membership bundles a full year of routine care into one plan:

• Unlimited exams and rechecks
• All annual vaccinations, including boosters
• 12 months of heartworm, flea, and tick prevention
• FIV and FeLV testing for kittens
• Annual dewormer or fecal parasite test

For cat owners, the unlimited exam benefit matters most. It removes the mental math of deciding whether a subtle change is "worth a visit." If something seems off, you bring your cat in. If a single-visit option suits you better, our Feline Wellness Package covers the exam, core vaccines, and annual deworming or stool exam.

Cat Care Across Greater Indianapolis

Pet Wellness Clinics has cared for central Indiana pets since 2005, with locations across greater Indianapolis. Medical records are shared across the locations, so if you are closer to a different clinic on a given day, your cat's history travels with you. You can see everything covered under cat care at Pet Wellness Clinics on our feline services page.

Your cat will not tell you when something is wrong. A routine visit helps you find out sooner. Ready to schedule?

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