A cat reaches the approximate human age of 15 by his first birthday. By his second birthday, he reaches the approximate human age of 24. Each year after, your cat ages approximately 4 “cat years” for every calendar year. So, your 8-year-old cat would be 48 in human years. Checkups are crucial because a lot can happen in a “cat year”.

Cats are excellent at hiding signs that they are sick or in pain. Your cat could develop a health condition before you notice anything is wrong. During your checkup, your veterinarians can spot small changes or abnormalities and detect many problems before they advance or become more difficult to treat.

Over 50% of cats are overweight or obese. As part of the checkup, your veterinarian will check your cat’s weight at each visit and provide nutritional and enrichment recommendations to help keep your cat at an ideal weight. Just an extra three pounds can put your cat at risk for diabetes; heart, respiratory, and kidney disease, and more.

Regular checkups are part of being a responsible caregiver. They can help avoid medical emergencies by detecting conditions or diseases before they become significant, painful, or more costly to treat. Try choosing a Cat Friendly Practice® or a veterinary professional who earned a Cat Friendly Certificate to provide you and your cat with a unique experience. These veterinary professionals and practices understand cats and want to create a plan with you to help your cat remain healthy.

That equals a lot of dental care! Periodontal disease is considered the most common disease in cats three years of age and older. Often there aren’t any obvious signs of dental disease. Most cats with dental disease still eat without a noticeable change in appetite. Discuss your cat’s teeth at their annual checkup.