How often should cats visit the vet in the UK?

Adult cats should have annual health checks and vaccinations. Kittens need vaccines at 9 and 12 weeks. Cats over 10 years benefit from 6-monthly checks including blood pressure and kidney monitoring.

What are the most common cat health problems in the UK?

Dental disease (present in most cats over 3 years), chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), obesity, and respiratory infections.

When should I take my cat to the vet urgently?

Emergencies include straining to urinate without producing urine (blocked bladder in males), open-mouth breathing, not eating for 24+ hours, seizures, and trauma. Cats hide illness — behavioural changes warrant prompt checks.

UK cats

Cat Health

Feline diseases, vaccinations, behaviour and emergency signs — cat health guidance reviewed against UK sources for UK owners.

Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ publishes 58 plain-English cat health guides for UK owners covering vaccinations, urinary emergencies, dental care, nutrition and behaviour. Every guide opens with a direct answer and is reviewed against UK veterinary guidance from the PDSA, RSPCA and BVA — information only, not a substitute for seeing your vet.

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What preventive care do UK cats need?

Core vaccinations (parvovirus, calicivirus, herpesvirus), flea and worm treatment, dental monitoring, neutering from 4 months, and microchipping. The Cat Group recommends annual health assessments even for indoor cats.

All 58 cat guides

Cat Health

UK reference sources

We check our guides against publicly available advice from these organisations. Links are for further reading — they do not mean these bodies endorse PETHEALTH+.

Worried about your cat?

Our free symptom checker gives plain-English triage guidance based on UK veterinary rules — it does not replace a vet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should cats visit the vet in the UK?: Adult cats should have annual health checks and vaccinations. Kittens need vaccines at 9 and 12 weeks. Cats over 10 years benefit from 6-monthly checks including blood pressure and kidney monitoring.
What are the most common cat health problems in the UK?: Dental disease (present in most cats over 3 years), chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), obesity, and respiratory infections.
When should I take my cat to the vet urgently?: Emergencies include straining to urinate without producing urine (blocked bladder in males), open-mouth breathing, not eating for 24+ hours, seizures, and trauma. Cats hide illness — behavioural changes warrant prompt checks.