The short answer
Start with a yearly exam; ask about a shorter interval as needs change
The AAHA/AAFP feline guidelines recommend examinations at least once a year for all cats, and at least every six months for senior cats. Chronic conditions and individual needs can require more frequent visits.[1] These are starting points for a plan with your clinic, not a reason to wait when something changes.
Urgent problems override the calendar. Difficulty breathing, collapse, suspected poisoning or trouble urinating warrant immediate veterinary attention.[4] Call an emergency hospital if your regular clinic is unavailable.
A checkup plan for kittens, adults and seniors
The guidelines place senior cats at over ten years, while emphasizing individual assessment.[1]
| Your cat’s situation | What to arrange |
|---|---|
| Kitten or newly adopted cat with incomplete records | Ask the clinic to review the available records and give you a sequence of visits. Kittens need a vaccine series; one annual reminder cannot capture that schedule.[5] |
| Adult cat with no known ongoing condition | Book at least an annual examination, including for an indoor cat. Confirm whether this cat needs a shorter interval.[1] |
| Senior cat | Discuss examinations at least every six months. Cornell also emphasizes regular checks and taking changes in older cats seriously.[1][2] |
| Cat receiving ongoing treatment | Use the treating team’s recheck dates. Ask whether that appointment also covers routine care or whether a separate visit is needed. |
A vaccine reminder is not an examination schedule
Cornell explains that adult vaccine choices and timing depend on factors such as exposure and the duration of protection.[5] Keep two entries in your calendar: next examination and next vaccine or treatment follow-up. They may fall on the same day, but do not assume they must.
Hypothetical example: an owner sees a later date on a vaccination certificate and assumes nothing is needed until then. The useful call is: “This is the vaccine date I have. When is the next examination due?” Record the clinic’s answer rather than converting the certificate into a whole-care schedule.
If a visit is overdue, tell the clinic when the last one happened and mention any changes. Ask for a catch-up plan. There is no need to complete a perfect home checklist before making that call.
A six-field booking note that ends with an actual next step
This original planning aid is for organizing a conversation, not screening for disease. Keep one note per cat so a housemate’s records do not get mixed in.
- Identity and records: cat’s name, approximate age, last examination date and where earlier records are held. Write “unknown” when needed.
- Reason for this call: routine checkup, a requested recheck or a new change. Lead with a symptom if there is one.
- What changed: a brief observation and when it started. “No longer jumps onto the sofa” is more useful than “just getting old.” Cornell cautions against dismissing health or behavior changes as aging.[2]
- Care to review: exact food and treat labels, medicines and supplements, and questions you want answered. Our feeding diary helps when intake is the concern.
- Practical barriers: carrier difficulty, travel sickness, access needs or cost concerns. Ask for an estimate, what proposed tests are for, and what preparation the clinic wants.
- Confirmed next action: appointment date, any earlier callback instruction and who will bring the cat. After the visit, add the next exam or recheck date before filing the note away.
A useful question at checkout: “What should make me call sooner than this date?” Keep that answer beside the appointment reminder. Ask the team to clarify unfamiliar instructions; do not fill gaps with guesses.
For food-selection questions, use our senior-food checklist. A birthday can prompt a discussion, but does not choose a diet or a medical test for your cat.
Make the trip part of the booking plan
FelineVMA recommends building familiarity with the carrier before travel. Leave it in a room your cat uses, add familiar bedding and allow time for gradual practice. A carrier with a removable top can let the veterinary team examine a cat in the base.[3]
- Before the appointment: tell the clinic about previous difficult trips. Ask whether a prescribed pre-visit medicine or motion-sickness plan is appropriate.[3]
- Food and treats: ask whether food rewards are allowed and whether there are any feeding or medication instructions for this particular visit. Follow the clinic’s directions; do not invent a fasting schedule.[3]
- On the way: support the carrier underneath, keep it level and secure, and keep it closed during travel. Each cat should have its own carrier.[3]
If transport is the reason care keeps being postponed, say so when you call. Ask what help or alternatives the practice can offer. Carrier practice should not delay an urgent assessment.
When to call before the planned checkup
Contact your veterinary team about new changes in appetite, weight, drinking, litter-box habits, movement, grooming or behavior. Cornell warns that changes in an older cat can indicate a problem rather than normal aging.[2] Describe what you observe and let the clinic advise on timing.
If your cat stops eating, call promptly. Cornell notes that sustained appetite loss can seriously affect an adult cat in as little as 24 hours; that is not a safe waiting allowance.[6] Do not keep offering new treats as a substitute for asking about the loss of appetite.
Seek immediate veterinary help for the emergency signs listed above. Bring records if readily available, but do not delay departure to finish a note.[4] Our pet emergency checklist can help you organize information in advance.
Common questions
Does an indoor cat still need a yearly checkup?
Yes. The AAHA/AAFP guidelines recommend at least annual examinations for all cats. Indoor living does not replace a physical examination; your veterinarian may recommend more frequent visits.
How often should a senior cat see the vet?
The AAHA/AAFP guidelines recommend at least every six months for senior cats, with more frequent visits when individual needs or chronic conditions warrant them. Ask your clinic to set the next date.
Can I wait until the next vaccine is due?
Use separate reminders for examinations and vaccines. Vaccine timing depends on the individual cat and the vaccine; a later vaccine date does not establish when the next examination should happen.
What if getting my cat into the carrier is difficult?
Tell the clinic while booking. Ask for a carrier and travel plan, including whether prescribed pre-visit medicine is appropriate. Do not postpone urgent care while practicing carrier training.
Sources
- 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines — American Animal Hospital Association and American Association of Feline Practitioners. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Loving Care for Older Cats — Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Visiting Your Veterinarian (2024 brochure) — Feline Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Emergency and Critical Care — Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Feline Vaccines: Benefits and Risks (updated July 2022) — Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed October 14, 2026.
- Anorexia — Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed October 14, 2026.