Yearly Health Check for an Adult Cat: Tests Worth Asking About

Many adult cats hide illness well, so a yearly check with a few lab tests can show problems that cannot be seen at home. A vet may suggest a blood count, kidney tests, a urine test and a blood sugar check. These tests can help find quiet changes in the blood, kidneys or sugar control before a cat looks unwell.

Why do cats need checks when they seem fine?

Cats are natural hiders. A cat that is in pain or feeling ill often sleeps more, eats a little less or tucks itself away, and these changes are easy to miss or put down to mood. By the time the signs are plain, a problem may have been growing for some time. A yearly visit is also a chance to compare weight, because a small steady loss is easy to miss when you see the cat every day.

Tell your vet if you notice any of these: drinking more water, passing more urine than before, weight going up or down, a change in appetite, or hiding more. A cat that strains in the litter tray, passes no urine or stops eating needs a vet at once.

What does the blood count tell you?

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) counts red cells, white cells and platelets, the small cells that help blood to clot. In a cat it may show anaemia, which means too few red cells, or signs of infection or inflammation. It is a broad first look, not a test for one named disease, and vets also commonly use it when a cat is pale, tired or has a fever.

Why are kidney and urine tests paired?

The Kidney Function Test (KFT) measures urea and creatinine, which are waste products that the kidneys remove from the blood. The Urine Routine looks at the urine itself: how strong it is, whether it holds protein, sugar or blood, and what shows under the microscope. Kidney problems in cats can build up slowly, and a cat that looks normal may still show early changes on a test. Blood and urine read together give a fuller picture than either one alone.

Getting urine from a cat is not always easy. Ask your vet or the lab how to collect it; a clean, dry container is the usual starting point.

Why check blood sugar?

The Glucose Random (RBS) shows the sugar in the blood at the moment the sample is taken. "Random" means it is not timed to a meal. A frightened cat can show a high reading for a short while, so a registered veterinarian reads the value with the cat's behaviour and may repeat it or add other tests. A high value together with thirst, hunger and weight loss may indicate diabetes, but only your vet can say. If the picture is still unclear, the vet may add another test.

How can I get more from the visit?

Stress can nudge some results, so a calm visit helps. Bring the cat in a secure carrier with a towel that smells of home, and tell your vet if your cat gets very anxious, so the sampling can be planned gently.

Choose the tests with your vet. A ready-made bundle such as the Basic Health Panel puts a blood count with liver and kidney checks into one booking, and urine and sugar can be added to it.

Keep each report in one folder and compare them from year to year. Ask your vet how often to repeat the tests, as there is no single schedule for every cat. A normal report describes one day, not the future, so a cat that shows new signs later should still see a vet promptly. Never give your cat medicine meant for people or other animals.

Read next

Cats are often sampled for several tests at once, and Blood Tubes Explained: EDTA, Serum, Citrate and Fluoride explains why the blood may go into tubes of different colours. To plan the right time for checks, see When Should You Test Your Dog or Cat? Signs and Situations.

Testing in Bhopal

A nervous cat copes better at home, and in Bhopal the lab collects samples free at your address. You can also reach the lab at C-200, C Sector, Shahpura, by call or WhatsApp on +91 88175 01118, where the staff confirm the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book. Cat owners in other districts can use a courier, a bus parcel or their own vet to send the samples.