cat owners, vet question

[zarapipe]

We have a male cat who is 1. He goes today for his well check and vaccines. The said he is also due for blood work and intestinal parasites check. Are these things I should get done for a young healthy check? Our vet is $$$$ so if the aren't critical I would like to skip. He already is in intestinal parasite and heartworm meds and those are good till November.

[Deleted]

My cat got a dewormer because we admitted he goes outside. No other tests. No blood work, ever (well, he probably had some before we got him, he had a neck growth removed).

We don't want to spend big bucks on the cat. We switched vets because the previous one was a big pusher of kitty dental work. He gets shots and a look-over, and that's it unless something actually seems to be wrong.

[savan]

This is where I admit that I do not take my cats to the vet for yearly visits. They do not go outside ever. I have no issues getting an updated rabies shot when we do have to take them in for a sick visit, but our odds of intestinal parasites or other communicable diseases are extremely low and I'm not paying for a regular check.

[jewel]

Yeah, I don't ever take my cats to the vet unless they're sick. They're 100% indoor.

This also seems like a good place to admit that I thought, for a very long time (like, seriously, into adulthood), that a feline "distemper" shot somehow helped keep cats domesticated. Like, kept their wild temper in check. OMG.

[fashionx]

I would skip. I'm also in the no vet visits unless they're sick camp for our cats.

One time I took 1 cat in for something and a month later got a postcard from the office saying, "its been 4 years since we've seen Callie." (2nd cat)

And I thought the same about the "distemper" shot too.. I didn't grow up with having cats so my first experience with it was as an adult. Lol

Sent from my Moto X using Proboards.

[starburst]

I take my cat every year for a check-up and rabies shot. I don't think bloodwork is necessary for such a young cat if he seems otherwise healthy. And if he's indoors only and isn't having poop issues, then I'd decline the intestinal parasite check, too.

[gibbinator]

We've never got routine blood work (or any blood work period ) or deworming on our cats. We get vaccines and a general check up over once a year which sometimes involves worm medicine if they're suspected (they're outdoor cats so it's not unexpected).

[nextbigthing]

Is he a indoor only cat or does he go outside?

If indoor only, no parasite check.

The blood work at 1 isn't a bad idea just so they have a baseline to compare to if something comes up later, but IMO it's not necessary

[zarapipe]

Aug 19, 2015 19:56:49 GMT -5 nextbigthing said:

Is he a indoor only cat or does he go outside?

If indoor only, no parasite check.

The blood work at 1 isn't a bad idea just so they have a baseline to compare to if something comes up later, but IMO it's not necessary

He is indoor and outdoor. He isn't a hunter but we decided to forgo blood and intestinal check But I did get a de wormer to give him every 3m. Boy cat visits are so much cheaper than dogs.