My cat appears healthy and rarely, if ever, goes outdoors. Is an annual check-up and/or vaccinations really required?
Ignoring the issue of vaccinations for a moment, an annual physical examination is recommended for every pet, regardless of whether they venture outdoors. The early stages of dental disease, kidney disease, eye problems, heart problems, etc., may not be observable to even the most conscientious pet owner, but may be detected by your Veterinarian. Through physical examination alone and/or in combination with blood tests which assess organ function, the opportunity to diagnose and initiate preventive measures or treatment in the early stages of any condition is ideal. Vaccinating an indoor pet against at least the upper respiratory viruses makes good sense. Not only is there the potential for a human to transmit these viruses to your pet but, should your pet someday require hospitalization or surgery, he/she will be protected against exposure from these airborne viruses.
