Glossary

Wellness exam

A routine vet visit for a healthy-looking cat to check its body, update vaccines and parasite control, and catch problems early.

Also called: annual checkup, yearly vet visit, routine vet visit, senior wellness exam, well-cat visit

A wellness exam is a visit made when a cat is not ill. Cats instinctively hide pain and weakness, so illness is often well advanced by the time owners notice. Regular checks give a vet the chance to catch trouble early, when it is easier to manage.

Kittens go several times in their first months for vaccines, parasite checks and a first look at growth. Adult cats are usually seen once a year, and many vets suggest every six months for seniors, roughly cats from about ten years of age. During the visit the vet weighs the cat, rates its body condition score, checks the eyes, ears, mouth and teeth, listens to the heart and lungs, feels the belly and joints and asks about appetite, thirst, litter box habits and behavior. Vaccines, flea and worm control and the microchip record are reviewed.

For older cats, the vet may add blood tests, a urine test and blood pressure checks. Bring a list of questions, a record of your cat's weight and any changes you have seen, and a fresh stool or urine sample if requested. A cat that is calm in a carrier makes the visit easier for all. Ask your vet how often your cat should come in and which tests are worth doing at each age.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Core vaccines The vaccines vets recommend for every cat, as opposed to non-core vaccines chosen according to a cat's lifestyle and risk. Body condition score A hands-on rating of how lean or fat a cat is, on a scale such as 1 to 9, used by vets because weight alone can mislead. Blood panel A set of blood tests that counts cells and measures chemicals to show how a cat's organs are working. Blood pressure The force of blood against artery walls; high readings in cats usually come from another disease and can damage the eyes, brain, heart and kidneys. Periodontal disease Infection and inflammation of the gums and tissues that hold the teeth, the most common dental problem in cats. Microchip A rice-grain-sized implant under a cat's skin that carries a number a scanner can read, linking the cat to its owner's details in a registry.

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