What to Expect at your Annual Visit
At The Cat Clinic of Louisville, we understand that cats are masters of hiding illnesses and injuries from their owners. We also understand that your cat is a member of your family, and you want them to be as healthy and happy for as long as they can be. This is why we recommend keeping your cat up to date on vaccinations as well as bringing them in for a checkup once a year. Nearly half of the cats in the US are not brought in for annual checkups after their first year, and only brought in once they have already begun to show signs of illness. ​Annual examinations allow for our doctor to catch any issues early, which can lead to better rates of recovery and more treatment options for your pet.
Wellness Exam
One of the best first steps to keeping your cat healthy is to bring them in for a yearly physical examination. During this exam our doctor looks your cat over, starting from the tip of the nose and going to the tip of the tail, checking out everything in between. Physical examination is the first line of diagnostics with any visit.
Vaccinations
FVRCP: The FVRCP vaccine is recommended on an annual basis. The FVRCP vaccine is a combination vaccine that prevents against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia.
Rabies: The rabies vaccine is required by law in Jefferson County. With previous vaccine history this can be done on a 3-year basis.
FeLV: The FeLV vaccine protects your cat against Feline Leukemia, a very contagious and currently incurable disease that is often spread between feral cats. This is recommended to any cat that spends large portions of time outside unsupervised.
Fecal Testing
Parasites are never a fun situation to deal with but catching them early can help prevent health issues caused by our not so welcome visitors. We recommend fecal testing on an annual basis, even if your cat always lives inside. Intestinal parasites can be transmitted to your cat in numerous ways, and being inside does not mean they are immune, so remember to bring in a sample on your next visit.
Annual Blood Work
As cats age, there are several common old age diseases that can develop. Cats age much faster than humans, and because of this, these diseases can develop quickly. We recommend beginning annual bloodwork when your cat is around the ages 6 or 7. Cats are masters of hiding illnesses, so it’s important to start by getting a baseline for what your cats organ functions look like and watch for any changes as the years progress.
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