Vet Basics
Regular check-ups catch most problems early, while they're still cheap and easy to fix. Here's what routine care looks like.
Check-ups
Book a first visit within a week of bringing your kitten home, then a yearly check-up for adults. From around age 8–10, many vets suggest twice a year, plus blood and urine tests to catch kidney and thyroid problems early. Have your cat microchipped and keep the details up to date, even if they never go outside.
Vaccines
- Core vaccines for every cat: panleukopenia (feline distemper), herpesvirus and calicivirus, usually given together as one shot (FVRCP). In the US and many other countries, rabies is core too, and often required by law. In the UK, rabies vaccination is only needed for travel.
- Feline leukemia (FeLV): many vets now recommend it for all kittens, since you can't always know whether a kitten will end up going outside, and for adults who go out or live with cats that do.
- Schedule: the kitten series starts at 6–9 weeks, with boosters every 3–4 weeks until at least 16 weeks old, then another at 6–12 months. After that, top-ups every 1–3 years, depending on the vaccine and your cat's lifestyle.
Parasites
Indoor cats can still pick up fleas and worms, which come in on shoes, other pets or the occasional escape. Ask your vet what prevention makes sense for your home, and use cat-specific products only: some dog flea treatments are deadly to cats.
Teeth
Dental disease is extremely common in adult cats and often goes unnoticed, because cats hide mouth pain well. Watch for bad breath, red gums, drooling or chewing on one side. Brushing a few times a week with cat toothpaste (never human toothpaste) is the gold standard. Dental treats or foods help if they carry the VOHC seal. Most cats need a professional cleaning under anesthetic at some point.
Go to the vet promptly if you see
- Fast or open-mouth breathing (see Breed Health Issues).
- A male straining in the litter box with little or no urine. This can be a blocked bladder, which is an emergency.
- Not eating for more than a day, especially in an overweight cat.
- Repeated vomiting, hiding, or sudden changes in drinking or peeing.