What is a wellness exam?

Wellness exams are often also referred to as 'general examinations' or ‘check-ups’. These examinations provide a detailed medical check-up of your cat who appears to be healthy, rather than when they are ill. Wellness exams help to achieve your cat’s optimal health while diagnosing common diseases that are more easily treatable if diagnosed early on. Treating a disease or medical issue at an early stage typically costs far less than once it has become more advanced, and early treatment also usually increases the chance of a successful outcome for your cat.

How often does my cat require wellness exams?

There’s no definite answer to this question as it really depends on your cat’s current health status and age. However, we recommend that during the early stages of life when they are most susceptible to illness, kittens should be checked on a monthly basis. Once they have reached adulthood, wellness exams should then take place on an annual basis and become more frequent as they become older (generally twice-yearly). These check-ups play a vital role in the ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach, so we really do encourage you to visit us regularly even if your cat appears to be fit and healthy to you.

What happens during a wellness exam?

During a wellness exam, your vet will begin by asking you questions about your cat’s general health, specifically related to diet, behavior, litterbox routine, and day-to-day living habits. They will also ask you whether you’ve noticed anything out of the ordinary that you’d like us to provide guidance on. The veterinary team will then carry out a full physical examination of your cat, including conducting diagnostic tests such as urine and fecal testing, blood work, and tick-borne testing.

What’s the next step?

Once assessed, the vet will present the relevant findings to you. If the vet has detected any signs of ill health or injuries, they may recommend carrying out more extensive diagnostic tests and present potential treatment options. This may include preventative medicine, such as vaccinations, parasite control (for both external parasites such as fleas, ticks, and ear mites, and internal parasites such as worms or heartworm), nutrition, skin and coat care, joint health, weight management, or dental care. For healthy cats, your vet will still provide you with advice to ensure their continued well-being, including guidance on their diet, regular exercise routines, future vaccination info, and suitable parasite prevention.

In summary

Wellness exams help prevent commonly treatable diseases and play a huge part in the 'prevention is better than cure' approach. The cost of prevention is generally far less than dealing with a problem once it has developed further, and early treatment increases the likelihood of a successful outcome. That’s why we recommend carrying out regular examinations with our expert medical teams to ensure the ongoing health and well-being of your beloved cat.