The table on this page outlines what is generally recommended to be included at each veterinary health check in the different life stages. Although this table looks daunting, it can help you understand both what your vet will be doing at each check, and also what additional evaluations are recommended as your cat begins to get older.
At every examination, your vet will review what is referred to as the ‘Medical and Surgical History’ of your cat. This is simply reviewing what has happened in the past, and in particular any changes with your cat that may have occurred since it was last examined.
An important part of the history will be reviewing your cat’s environment and behaviour as this can have major impacts on its wellbeing. Your vet may ask you to fill in one or more questionnaires before examining your cat, to gather more background information on these aspects.
Other features of each health check are explained in more detail elsewhere, and you will also find pages for you to download for you and your vet to fill in at each examination. These are divided into the six different life stages, and are partly there as a reminder of what can and should be done at each check. They also allow some important information to be recorded, so that you and your vet can review any changes that take place over time. For example, looking at trends in bodyweight or in assessment of urine samples can give early warnings of underlying problems.
Table of recommended examinations by life stage