Cat Wellness Care in Nashville

It's our goal to provide your pets with the best veterinary care so they live long, healthy lives.

Feline Wellness Exams & Preventive Care

Keeping up with regular wellness exams, vaccinations, parasite control, and dental care, among other types of preventative care, is an essential part of responsible cat ownership. Preventive care is an investment in your feline friend’s future, enabling them to live a happy, healthy, and long life.

At Belle Meade Animal Hospital, our veterinarians and staff aim to provide the best possible feline wellness care in Nashville, TN. Our extensive experience, advanced diagnostic tools, and in-house laboratory allow us to provide comprehensive preventative care and emergency treatments for kittens, adult cats, and senior cats. We are ready to become your trusted care partner and meet all the needs of you and your feline friend.

Kitten Care

Adult Cat Care

Senior Cat Care

How Often Does My Cat Need a Wellness Exam?
Signs Your Cat Needs Immediate Veterinary Care
Feline Care for Your New Kitten

Knowing when to schedule wellness exams for your cat is essential to avoiding health complications and maintaining their health and happiness. How often your cat will need a vet visit will depend on your pet’s age, health status, and lifestyle.

Kittens typically require more frequent visits due to their rapid growth and the need for initial vaccinations and regular weight checks. Expect to bring your kitten for a wellness check approximately every three to four weeks until they are fully vaccinated.

Healthy adult cats should get a wellness exam once a year. This annual check-up allows our veterinarians at Belle Meade Animal Hospital to assess your cat’s overall health, monitor any changes, and detect potential health issues early on. During these exams, we perform a comprehensive physical assessment, checking your cat’s weight, heart, and respiratory rate and examining their coat, eyes, ears, teeth, and gums. We also assess their joints and muscles to detect signs of discomfort or arthritis, especially in older cats nearing senior status.

Senior cats, typically those aged eleven and above, may require more frequent exams, often recommended every six months. As cats age, they become more prone to a range of health issues, including kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer. Regular check-ups allow us to monitor their health more closely and detect any signs of these diseases early, significantly improving the prognosis and allowing for more effective treatment plans.

Cats with chronic conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease, may also require more frequent wellness exams regardless of their age. The precise frequency of these exams will depend on the specifics of your cat’s condition. Our feline wellness care in Nashville, TN, is individualized to each cat, meaning we will carefully assess your pet’s overall health and recommend the appropriate treatment plan and schedule.

While our preventative care exams will typically catch and address any health issues affecting your cat, problems that require urgent attention may appear between regularly scheduled visits. Acting sooner rather than later when you suspect your cat may be having a health issue can substantially impact their well-being and life expectancy.

Cats are masters at hiding their discomfort, often masking signs of illness until the condition has advanced significantly. As a pet parent, you should try to know your cat’s normal behaviors and habits to identify any subtle changes quickly. Early intervention optimizes the chance for a successful treatment outcome, can be less costly, and can prevent conditions from worsening or causing further complications. It minimizes the discomfort and distress for your cat, allowing for a quicker recovery and return to normalcy.

You should not wait to make an appointment with our animal hospital if your cat is exhibiting any of the following problems:

Changes in eating or drinking habits: If your cat suddenly eats or drinks significantly more or less than usual, it could indicate a health issue, such as diabetes or kidney disease.
Unexplained weight loss or gain: While fluctuations in weight can be normal, a sudden and unexplained loss or gain can be a sign of serious health conditions.
Changes in behavior or activity Level: Cats are creatures of habit, so any sudden behavior or activity level changes should be noted. This could include sudden aggression, lethargy, or increased hiding.
Difficulty breathing: If your cat is panting, wheezing, or having trouble catching their breath, it could be a sign of a respiratory problem that needs immediate attention.
Changes in elimination habits: Frequent urination, constipation, diarrhea, or any changes in the color or consistency of their waste can be signs of a variety of health issues.
Signs of pain: Cats often hide their pain, but signs of constant discomfort could include excessive grooming, difficulty moving, or changes in posture.
Visible trauma: Any obvious signs of injury, such as wounds, limping, or difficulty moving, require immediate veterinary attention.

These signs are not exhaustive, and you know your cat best. If you notice any changes in your cat’s behavior, appearance, or habits that concern you, contact our team as soon as possible in your furry friend’s best interest. We are always ready to provide the feline wellness care in Nashville, TN, that your cat deserves.

Your kitten’s first visit to our animal hospital is an important step towards setting them on the path to a long, happy, and healthy life. Our veterinarians and staff are here to ensure your kitten gets off to a great start.

To make the most of your kitten’s first visit, there are a few things you should bring with you:

Medical records: If your kitten has received any previous veterinary care through a shelter or breeder, bring all the medical records you have. This includes vaccination records, deworming information, or other relevant health information.
Diet information: Details about your kitten’s diet can be crucial for our veterinarians in understanding their nutritional status. Please bring information about the brand of food your kitten is eating, how often they eat, and their hydration habits.
Sample of feces: A fresh stool sample (ideally less than 24 hours old) can be useful in checking for internal parasites.
Difficulty breathing: If your cat is panting, wheezing, or having trouble catching their breath, it could be a sign of a respiratory problem that needs immediate attention.
Your kitten’s transport carrier: For the safety and comfort of your kitten and our staff, please bring your kitten in a secure carrier. This will help your pet feel safe and reduce possible stress.
List of questions or concerns: If you have any specific concerns or questions about your kitten’s health or behavior, make a list and bring it with you. This is your opportunity to get professional advice about caring for your new family member.

Microchipping your kitten is an important part of protecting your cat and your peace of mind. A microchip is a small device, about the size of a grain of rice, implanted under your cat’s skin, typically between their shoulder blades. Each microchip carries a unique identification number registered in a national pet recovery database. A scanner can read this ID number at any veterinary clinic or animal shelter. This simple procedure, which is no more painful than a typical vaccination, offers a permanent and highly reliable method of identification should your feline friend ever go missing. Our team is happy to help microchip your kitten during their first visit.

Cat & Kitten Vaccination Schedule

Beyond a comprehensive physical examination, we can also determine the appropriate vaccination schedule for your kitten. Vaccinations play a vital role in safeguarding your kitten’s health, equipping their developing immune system with the defenses needed to combat a variety of potentially harmful diseases. The vaccination process typically starts when your kitten is around six to eight weeks old and continues every three to four weeks until they reach sixteen weeks of age. We recommend getting your kitten vaccinated for feline distemper (panleukopenia), feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, and rabies, among others.

Our feline wellness care in Nashville, TN, is designed to set your cat up for success. Whether you have a kitten ready for their visit or an adult cat that is overdue for a check-up, we encourage you to call (615) 247-6984 or contact us online to make an appointment today.

Real Stories from Real Owners

Excellent

Quakertown Veterinary Clinic

4.4

Based on 2194 reviews

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Felicity Kospiah

Quakertown Vet is the best clinic I have brought my felines to. I have had amazing care and interactions with Dr. Geller, Dr. Newton, Dr. Holloway, and Dr. Kichline. My senior feline had been experiencing health obstacles this past year and all these providers were genuinely invested and cared for him like he was their own. The front staff is always attentive. The techs are so kind and caring. Even if my senior feline was feeling feisty about getting his nails clipped, the techs had a positive attitude. None of the employees I have interacted with are money hungry.Dr. Geller provided my kitten with a vaccine and even spent extra time with him to make sure there was no adverse reaction. Dr. Holloway is the primary veterinarian for my felines due to her intelligence and her kindness to my felines. She genuinely cared for my senior feline and was invested in his treatment plan until the end. Dr. Kichline was the provider in the ED. She helped my senior cat cross over the rainbow bridge peacefully. She provided thoughtfulness and patience in the way that my senior wasn’t just another euthanasia to her.

nicole k

If I could give 1000 stars I would. Quakertown Vet was absolutely amazing. Unfortunately this morning we had to bring in our dog Ace, because he was actively dying and seemed to be in pain. I called and they were so compassionate with me when on the phone and helped me right away. We brought Ace in and from the second we walked in until the moment we left every single person there was kind, caring, and loving towards us and our amazing boy. As a pet owner this is one of the most difficult times of our lives, having to say goodbye to our fur baby.. They made this process feel so much easier on our hearts and our minds. After we said our goodbyes they gave us multiple paw prints, nose prints, a some of his fur to take home with us. I cannot express enough how thankful I am for Quakertown Vet and their support today. Especially after spending so much time on the phone with other vets in the area whose goal all seemed to be “money” Quakertown vet was the exact opposite! They cared about us and our boy, not our money. Thank you to each and every staff member we came in contact with today, you are all truly blessing to our family. And to our sweet boy Ace, we love you so much! Thank you for the best 11 years of our lives. You made our family whole 🤍 we will see you again on the other side bubba boy.

Karen McIlvaine

Can't say enough good things about this place from reception to Vet tech and Doctor. All the staff is so caring. Dr. Kichline went above and beyond, explained all in detail. I highly recommend this clinic. Five Stars across the board.

Diane Haney

I have always had a great experience at Quakertown Vet Clinic. I travel an hour each way to go there, especially to see Dr. Consigli but to me it is always worth the trip to get such good, compassionate care. I totally respect the opinions, advise and treatments received. I would go no where else with my pets. I would highly recommend this Clinic.