Dr. James O'Connor 
Many cat diseases show no obvious clinical symptoms in their early stages (kidney failure, thrombosis, etc.), and by the time they manifest, they can be severe and even life-threatening!
So, regular check-ups are really necessary!
But what kind of check-ups do cats of different ages need? What are the differences?
In this issue, we will cover the three stages of cat life: **Kitten/New Cat**, **Adult Cat**, and **Senior Cat**.
(*This issue is a bit dense, so feel free to save it and refer back when needed.*)
## **1. Kitten/New Cat**
### Core Idea
Whether it's a kitten or an adult cat, their previous living environments are often complex, and they may have been in contact with other cats (catteries or stray cats), so screening for infectious diseases should be prioritized.
### Key Diseases to Screen For
**Feline Panleukopenia**
- Colloidal gold test panel, or send out for PCR
- Feline panleukopenia is an acute and highly contagious disease. The mortality rate for unvaccinated kittens can reach 50-90%. However, with a 7-14 day incubation period, it is particularly important to screen a new cat.
**Ear Mites**
- Ear Canal Secretions Test (Microscopic examination, auxiliary otoscopic examination)
- The most common ear canal parasites in cats can be transmitted through close contact. Poor sanitation, group living, caging, or stray history often lead to ear canal problems that need to be checked to determine if they are caused by ear mites, Malassezia, or other infections.
**Ringworm**
- Skin Examination (scraping and microscopic examination, auxiliary Wood's lamp examination)
- For kittens or cats with weak immunity, skin issues mainly revolve around ringworm, which has a high spread risk and can infect humans or other animals.
**Parasites**
- Fecal Test (collect feces via enema, microscopic examination)
- Internal parasites are usually not visible to the naked eye, but if infected, they can cause chronic diarrhea, malnutrition, and lowered immunity, making the cat more susceptible to other diseases.
**Injuries**
- Physical Examination/Palpation
- If adopting an adult stray cat, check for injuries or malnutrition.
### Recommended Tests
1. Physical Examination
2. Complete Blood Count (CBC) (for anemia, coagulation issues, inflammation)
3. Feline Panleukopenia Test
4. Skin Examination
5. Ear Examination
6. Fecal Test
Optional:
1. Biochemical Panel (for adult stray cats)
2. FeLV/FIV Screening (rapid test panel for cats with a history of straying)
3. Feline Herpesvirus & Calicivirus Screening (for cats with a history of group living)
## **2. Adult Cat**
### Core Idea
Mainly to prevent problems before they occur, regular screenings for genetically risky diseases; early prevention of diseases that show no initial symptoms; evaluating the scientific accuracy of feeding methods, and identifying and avoiding issues like obesity and dental calculus.
For cats aged 1-8 years, it's recommended they have a check-up every 1-2 years.
### Key Diseases to Screen For
**Genetic Risk Diseases**
- X-ray, ultrasound, echocardiography, etc.
- Some diseases show no initial clinical symptoms or progress slowly, becoming apparent only when the cat is older (e.g., polycystic kidney disease, osteochondrodysplasia, HCM). Hence, regular screenings are necessary.
**Obesity**
- Physical Examination
- Obesity increases the risks of diabetes, arthritis, cystitis, hepatic lipidosis, and more. Many pet owners don't realize "they're overfeeding their cat," and a vet needs to evaluate the cat's body condition.
**Stones and Cystitis**
- Urinalysis, X-ray, ultrasound, etc.
- Obesity, reluctance to drink water, and tendencies for stress increase the risk of bladder stones, urethral stones, and idiopathic cystitis in cats, which need urinary health screenings.
### Recommended Tests
1. Physical Examination (obesity evaluation, cardiopulmonary auscultation, oral evaluation)
2. Complete Blood Count (CBC)
3. Biochemical Panel
4. Urinalysis
5. X-ray
6. Ultrasound
7. Skin and Ear Examination
Optional:
1. Echocardiography
2. SDMA
## **3. Senior Cat**
### Core Idea
As the cat’s organs and functions start to deteriorate, they may be diagnosed with chronic diseases (diabetes) or have had urinary or endocrine diseases, so regular screenings are necessary to accurately understand the progress and changes in their condition.
For cats over 8 years old, it's best to have a check-up every 6-8 months. (Start socialization training early!)
### Key Diseases to Screen For
**Cancer**
- Physical Examination, CBC, ultrasound, X-ray (primarily for tumor screening)
- Tumors and cancer are the leading causes of death in cats (accounting for 35.7% of all deaths, with an 80% cancer mortality rate), with a median age of survival at 11.4 years. Hence, early screening through check-ups is necessary.
**Chronic Kidney Disease, Stones, and Urinary Blockage**
- Urinalysis, ultrasound, SDMA, etc.
- The only identified risk factor for chronic kidney disease in cats is age. With age, the risk increases; hence regular screenings are needed to determine the disease progress.
**Cardiovascular Disease**
- Auscultation + Physical Examination + X-ray + Echocardiography
- Primarily to screen for heart disease and prevent thrombosis. Even healthy senior cats can have heart murmurs (about 60% in cats over 9 years old), so adding more examination items and combining other results for diagnosis is recommended for senior cats.
**Diabetes, Hyperthyroidism, Pancreatitis, etc.**
- CBC (Blood Glucose), Blood Pressure, T4, Urinalysis, etc.
- Obese cats and cats over seven years old have an increased risk of diabetes. Chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes are common in senior cats and may coexist or lead to secondary conditions, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Thus, early screening is essential.
**Oral Diseases**
- Oral Visual Inspection + Dental Radiographs (dental X-ray)
- Senior cats may have mild gingival recession (≤1 mm), surface wear on their teeth, or suffer from periodontal disease, oral masses, tooth fractures, tooth resorption, etc.
**Fractures and Arthritis**
- Physical Examination, X-ray Examination
- Senior cats may experience muscle atrophy, decreased strength, calcium loss, degenerative arthritis, and be prone to fractures, sometimes suffering from chronic pain that severely affects their quality of life.
### Recommended Tests
1. Physical Examination (cardiopulmonary, oral, lymph nodes, tumor)
2. CBC and Biochemical Panel
3. Blood Pressure
4. Urinalysis
5. X-ray
6. Ultrasound
7. Skin and Ear Examination
8. Echocardiography
Optional:
1. SDMA
2. T4
## **4. Special Period Check-ups**
### After Vaccination (4 months old)
- 21 days after the third FVRCP vaccine, an antibody test is recommended to ensure the vaccine is effective and that the cat has acquired immunity.
### Pre-spay/Neuter Check-up (4-10 months old)
- Besides the routine physical, CBC, and biochemical panel, if possible, include an echocardiogram to assess heart health for better anesthesia planning.
### For Breeding Plans (from 6-8 months old)
- First, we recommend spaying/neutering at the appropriate age!
- If breeding is necessary (sigh...), conduct the following in advance for both parents: disease gene test (e.g., polycystic kidney disease, HCM, osteochondrodysplasia), blood type test, ultrasound examination, antibody test, fecal test (for parasites), and physical examination (for issues like pelvic narrowing, breast disease, obesity).
