Taking your cat or kitten to the vet

Most cat vet visits start the same way: you’ve noticed bad breath, a change in appetite, a new lump, a bout of scratching, or you’re simply trying to keep a kitten’s first year on track. What you do next matters, because cats are skilled at masking discomfort until a small problem has grown roots.

A calm, regular routine with a trusted vet catches common issues early—dental disease, parasites, weight creep, kidney concerns—while your cat still looks “fine”. It also makes the carrier, the car trip, and the clinic feel less like an ambush and more like a familiar part of life.

Preparing for the visit

Preparation starts days before the appointment, not at the front door. Make the carrier part of the furniture: open, stable, and lined with familiar bedding that smells like home. The aim is simple—reduce surprises.

Before you leave, pack the essentials:

• Your cat’s vaccination and medical history (or any paperwork from shelters/rescues).
• A list of current medications and supplements (with doses).
• A short note of what you’ve noticed (when it started, what changed, photos or videos if useful).
• A small towel or light cover for the carrier (it can help soften movement, noise, and visual stimulation).

If your cat becomes highly stressed at the vet, ask the clinic ahead of time about options to reduce fear and handling stress, including training strategies and—when appropriate—pre-visit medication.

Choosing the right vet

You’re looking for a clinic that suits your cat’s needs and your reality. Distance matters in an emergency, but so does continuity—seeing the same team builds a clearer medical story over time.

When you’re deciding, it helps to check:

• Cat handling approach: quiet waiting areas, gentle restraint, and a willingness to slow down when needed.
• Preventive care: vaccination planning based on lifestyle and risk, parasite control advice, dental assessment.
• Diagnostics and treatment: in-house pathology, imaging access, dentistry capability (including dental x-rays under anaesthesia when indicated).
• After-hours plan: whether they offer emergency care or refer to a nearby emergency hospital.

Handling and transport: keeping it safe (and quieter)

Cats should travel in a secure, escape-proof, well-ventilated carrier that’s restrained in the vehicle—not on your lap, not loose in the cabin, and never in the boot. This protects your cat and reduces driver distraction if something startles them. ¹

Small details make a difference on the day:

• Secure the carrier with a seatbelt or another restraint so it can’t slide. ¹
• Keep the car cool and shaded; avoid direct sun on the carrier.
• Cover the carrier lightly to reduce visual stress while keeping airflow clear.
• Carry the carrier level, close to your body, and avoid swinging.

What to expect during the exam

A standard consult is a full-body health check, plus a conversation. Your vet is piecing together small clues: what your cat eats, drinks, weighs, how their coat looks, how their heart and lungs sound, whether their abdomen feels comfortable, and what their mouth and gums are doing.

Common parts of the exam include:

• Eyes, ears, skin and coat (including signs of allergy, mites, fleas, infection, or pain).
• Teeth and gums (looking for tartar, gingivitis, broken teeth, oral pain, and signs that a proper dental assessment under anaesthesia may be needed). ²
• Heart and lungs.
• Abdomen, hydration, lymph nodes, joints, and overall body condition.
• Weight and body condition score (because subtle weight change is often an early warning).

Depending on age and symptoms, the vet may recommend testing (such as blood and urine tests) or imaging. If a procedure is advised, ask what information it will add, what the alternatives are, and what “watchful waiting” would look like in practical terms.

Dental care: why the mouth matters

Dental disease is common in adult cats, and it often progresses under the gumline where you can’t see it. Bad breath, dribbling, pawing at the mouth, dropping food, or chewing on one side can all be clues—though some cats show very little outward sign. ²

Home care helps, but it has limits. Brushing with a cat-safe toothpaste is the gold standard at home (even a few times a week is meaningful if daily isn’t realistic). Never use human toothpaste. ²

When your vet recommends a dental procedure, it’s usually because a proper assessment, cleaning, and treatment needs to happen under anaesthesia—often with dental x-rays to see what’s happening below the gumline. ²

Common health concerns in cats and kittens

Some problems turn up again and again in general practice. They aren’t dramatic at first, but they can quietly reshape a cat’s comfort and health.

• Parasites: fleas, intestinal worms, and other parasites can cause itch, skin disease, weight loss, and anaemia. Your vet can tailor prevention to your cat’s age, environment, and hunting habits.
• Dental disease: often develops gradually and can cause chronic pain and reduced appetite. ²
• Weight gain: common in indoor cats and after desexing; gradual changes are easy to miss without regular weigh-ins.
• Stress-related problems: changes in toileting, scratching, hiding, or aggression can be linked to environment, pain, or both.

Vaccinations and preventive care (Australia)

Vaccination should match your cat’s real exposure risk. In Australia, vets commonly use “core” vaccines for panleukopenia (FPV), herpesvirus (FHV-1) and calicivirus (FCV), often given as an F3 combination. International guidelines describe these as core for cats, with kitten doses given in a series and a booster about 12 months later; after that, many cats can move to longer booster intervals, depending on risk and the vaccine used. ^{3, 4}

Some vaccines are considered “non-core” and are recommended based on lifestyle and local disease risk. For example, FeLV vaccination is often advised for young cats and for cats with outdoor access or household contact with outdoor cats, while FIV vaccination is only relevant in specific risk situations. Your vet will weigh benefits and downsides for your individual cat. ⁵

A quick Australia-specific note: Australia is free of rabies (though related lyssaviruses occur in bats), so routine rabies vaccination for pet cats isn’t part of standard domestic preventive care here. ⁶

Follow-up care and treatment options

After the appointment, the most important thing is clarity. If medication is prescribed, confirm the dose, timing, and what side effects would be a reason to call back. If diet changes are recommended, ask what success looks like and when to recheck.

For chronic conditions (such as arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, or skin allergies), follow-up is usually a pattern rather than a single visit: regular monitoring, adjustments based on response, and a focus on comfort at home.

Final thoughts

Routine vet care isn’t only for emergencies. It’s where small shifts—subtle weight loss, early dental pain, parasite exposure, a creeping change in drinking—get spotted before they harden into something harder to treat.

Keep the carrier familiar, transport safely, and treat preventive care as a quiet habit. Your cat won’t announce that it helped, but their steadier appetite, cleaner coat, and easier movement will often speak for them.

References

1. Agriculture Victoria — Code of Practice for the Private Keeping of Cats (Transport minimum standards)
2. RSPCA Pet Insurance — Guide to cat dental care
3. WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group — Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats (revaccination guidance)
4. WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group — Feline vaccination tables (core vaccines and schedules)
5. RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase — What vaccinations should my cat receive?
6. Australian Government Department of Health — Rabies (Australia is rabies-free; bat lyssavirus note)