Monthly vet appts for kittens - is this a thing now?

Castleking · 2021-10-23T13:06:10+00:00

Hi all We recently got a kitten, and took her for her 2nd vaccination appointment yesterday. The vet suggested we make an appt for a months time, as they like to give kittens a monthly health check. Is this standard now? We last had cats about 15 years ago, and only ever took them to the vets for vaccinations or if they were sick. Anyone else with a kitten who is taking the To the vets for a monthly health check?

dementedpixie · 23/10/2021 14:11

Nope, not normal in my experience

SpindelWhorl · 23/10/2021 14:12

Never heard of it.

Original poster

Castleking · 23/10/2021 14:25

Hmm, thanks @dementedpixie.

We have gone back to the vets we used to use all those years ago, but it has evolved - now has two branches, massive shop & grooming parlour. Staff are lovely but do keep mentioning the ‘wellness plans’ they offer (12 month contract/monthly direct debit). Taken me all a bit by surprise.

OP posts:

TurnUpTurnip · 23/10/2021 14:28

No I just wouldn’t go... did they possibly like to see her a month after then don’t need to after that rather than every month?

Original poster

Castleking · 23/10/2021 14:30

Thanks @SpindelWhorl

I made an appt for next month, but I’m going to cancel it. I’ve been thinking about it today & realise I don’t really know why we would be going. Must of seen me coming!

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 23/10/2021 14:31

@Castleking

Hmm, thanks *@dementedpixie*.

We have gone back to the vets we used to use all those years ago, but it has evolved - now has two branches, massive shop & grooming parlour. Staff are lovely but do keep mentioning the ‘wellness plans’ they offer (12 month contract/monthly direct debit). Taken me all a bit by surprise.

I have a vet plan for mine that covers regular flea/worm treatments and annual vaccinations - I pay by monthly direct debit. They don't attend the vet unless they need to though and I order and collect the flea/wormer without the cats being there

Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername · 23/10/2021 14:35

It's all about money now unfortunately. My kitten was spayed this week and had his microchip put in. First thing the vet said after checking him over, was that he had thus that and the other, and the castration would possibly be more money than quoted.

Original poster

Castleking · 23/10/2021 14:44

@TurnUpTurnip as I understood it, it would be a monthly health check, I think for the first year. Apart from the expense, I really don’t want a monthly vet trip for no good reason.

@dementedpixie they offer 2 plans, one for £40+ per month which covers treatment for illness & injury & one for £15 per month which covers annual vaccinations, 6 month health check, parasite control for a year & two nail clips. Was not planning on having her nails clipped or taking her for 6 month health checks, so not sure if it’s really worth it for me.

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Deadringer · 23/10/2021 14:46

dementedpixie can i ask if your vet plan is with your vet or is it a policy with a pet plan company, and do you have insurance as well? We recently rehomed a cat and i am beginning to think its going to cost us a fortune!

dementedpixie · 23/10/2021 14:48

It's a policy with the vet that covers parasite treatments and annual vaccines and then i have insurance too with Bought by Many and that covers injuries and illnesses

Notaroadrunner · 23/10/2021 14:49

No need. We bring ours for a yearly check up for vaccinations. Other than that they only ever went if they were sick. We have a kitten now and he's had 2 vaccination visits and another for being neutered. No way would I be paying for a monthly visit.

dementedpixie · 23/10/2021 14:49

You can also just pay as you go with the vet rather than having the pet plan

Original poster

Castleking · 23/10/2021 14:56

@Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername - yep, I think you are right - all about the money.

@Deadringer the vet plan I mentioned is with the vet & I haven’t signed up to either of the plans they offer. I did get our kitten insured already, policy with pet plan £13 per month for lifetime cover policy.

OP posts:

Deadringer · 23/10/2021 15:01

Thanks, i think i will get insurance and pay as i go with the vet. Just had a quick google and our local vet doesn't seem to offer any kind of plan anyway.

careerchangeperhaps · 23/10/2021 15:03

@Castleking We use the Healthy Pet Club plan which is definitely worth it. The cost of vaccinations in their first year are high (and the boosters aren't cheap) and this plan more than paid for itself for these, let alone the flea and worm treatments. The checkups were very 6 months when my cats were kittens and are useful to keep an eye on weight etc.

Fluffycloudland77 · 23/10/2021 16:26

I wouldn’t bother, I’d complete the vaccinations and see them when needed/yearly vacs.

Mine was in with frequent fight wounds anyway so they saw plenty of him.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/10/2021 19:03

They're cats made of blood, flesh, fluff and an over arching sense of entitlement, not rice paper in a rainstorm.

Annual checks are all that's necessary outside their having symptoms of something more.

Chunkymenrock · 23/10/2021 19:23

Fgs, when does the vet bashing ever stop? OP, ex vet nurse here. Usually there are 2 more checks, each a month apart after the 2nd vaccine, to weigh the growing kitten and give the next flea and worm treatment, which are important. It's impossible to take everything in at the vaccine appointments and these weight checks are an opportunity to check growth, chat through nutrition, imminent neutering, behavioural worries etc. They will usually have been paid for as part of the initial kitten package and often done by a qualified nurse. After neutering, the next visit is then likely to be the first booster a year after the 2nd kitten vaccine, and then annual visits for boosters as the kitten will be fully grown by then.

Deadringer · 23/10/2021 19:58

Vet bashing? Where?

Chunkymenrock · 23/10/2021 20:24

@Deadringer

Vet bashing? Where?

"It's all about the money..." mentioned twice.

Lynne1Cat · 23/10/2021 20:25

I've always had cats (41 years of owning them), and none ever had vaccinations (none were ever ill because of it either). All were speyed/neutered and microchipped. Some vets are just in it for the money, I reckon. My 17 year old cat had to have an eye removed in August, after a nasty infection caused by a neighbour's cat scratching him. 3 lots of antibiotics, then the operation = £1300.

Lonecatwithkitten · 23/10/2021 21:54

@Lynne1Cat

I've always had cats (41 years of owning them), and none ever had vaccinations (none were ever ill because of it either). All were speyed/neutered and microchipped. Some vets are just in it for the money, I reckon. My 17 year old cat had to have an eye removed in August, after a nasty infection caused by a neighbour's cat scratching him. 3 lots of antibiotics, then the operation = £1300.

Hardly likely as the average salary of all Uk vets is £42K for someone who paid 5 years of university fees and most work at least a 40hpur week with unpaid overtime and regularly not getting lunch breaks.

Madwife123 · 23/10/2021 22:01

I’ve never had a kitten check up other than the 2 alongside the vaccines and my vet is well known for adding on ‘extras’.

Had a kitten neutered this year which consisted of pre-op check up and bloods, neutering appointment with IV fluids given throughout, sent home with antibiotics and pain killers, post-op check up. Total £238

Different vet 2 years ago for neutering was drop cat off on the day and pick up later. Nothing else. Total £42

Decorhate · 23/10/2021 22:05

My cats are 13. Last time they were at the vets was when they were spayed/neutered as kittens. But they are moggies & I assume pedigree cats are more in need of regular visits.

Anotherhill · 23/10/2021 22:12

Mad wife - both same sex?
Do you not appreciate that maybe the more expensive service is the safer service? Were the preop bloods optional?