Feline Wellness Care

Adult Cat Preventative Care

SmartVet recommends that all cats be examined by one of our veterinarians annually, just as people should visit their doctor and their dentist regularly.  If your cat is older or has medical problems, they may need even more frequent examinations. Cats age more rapidly than humans, so one year in a cat’s life is equivalent to roughly five years in human life. Think how many health changes can occur in that time span! It’s also important for cats to receive annual examinations because they are masters at hiding disease.  Health issues that may be subtle can be detected by our veterinarian before they become more serious.

Annual Exam

An annual exam at SmartVet includes a thorough nose to tail examination, appropriate vaccinations, parasite control, nutrition, weight and behavioral counseling. Our veterinarian will be able to advise you on preventive care measures you can take at home to help your cat live a long and healthy life.  Please discuss with us any changes you may have noticed at home, especially behavior, eating & drinking, litterbox habits, or changes in activity levels.

Physical Exam

  • Bone/Joint and Muscle Examination
  • Skin & Coat Examination
  • Heart & Lung Evaluation
  • Eye & Ear Health Examinations
  • Abdominal Check
  • Urinary Tract and Genital Exam
  • Neurologic Check
  • Nutrition Consultation & Weight Assessment
  • Lifestyle & Behavior Consultation
  • Fecal exam to check for intestinal parasites
  • A thorough dental exam. 

Cat owners often overlook the condition of their cat’s teeth; it can be difficult for cat owners to get a good look in their cat’s mouth.  Dental disease can lead to the spread of bacteria through the bloodstream, settling in vital organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver and causing serious illness.

Health problems are always easier and less costly to treat when they are detected early.

Vaccination

There are many vaccines available to protect your cat from all sorts of diseases. Our philosophy is to vaccinate your cat for diseases that your cat is at risk of contracting. During your annual visit, our veterinarian will discuss the recommended vaccines for your cat with you and administer them as needed.  

Many people think that indoor cats do not need vaccines. This is not true. The most common carrier of the Rabies virus is bats.   A rabid bat does not behave normally. It will fly into places it would not normally go.   It will land places it wouldn’t normally land. From a basement door to a balcony door many floors up, a bat can fly in and potentially infect a cat.  Rabies is extremely serious and nearly always fatal for pets and people. Additionally, rabies vaccines are required by law. 

It has always been our goal to recommend vaccines that are needed for individual cats, rather than having a one-size-fits-all protocol. We do not have blanket protocol that fits all our patients. For cats that are over 1 year of age, we recommend the 3-year vaccines for rabies and feline distemper.

Make sure your cats stays healthy by keeping up to date with their vaccines.  Call us to schedule your cat’s exam and vaccines today.