Is there ever a reason cats will need more than one annual wellness check?

Yes. Good question. When a cat is a kitten, there are going to be a series of developmental exams—usually starting at eight weeks, then 12 weeks, then 16 weeks. They often correspond with vaccines that need to be done at that time. Then as they grow into adults, we'll see them every single year. Sometimes when they're a senior, we may be following some blood work or some problem, and they might need that to be more frequent than once a year.

If there's a disease process going on, the doctor will recommend seeing your pet again. Again, we recommend exams every six months for a cat that's eight or older, but let's say the cat has a kidney problem, then we might want to see them every three or four months.

Yes, when cats are young and in their kitten stages, they need more frequent exams and vaccinations. As they get older and reach their senior years, it is a good idea to have wellness checks every six months since their health can change more rapidly.