Here at Cat Clinic of Fernandina, our wellness examination and vaccination protocol is slightly different than what you may be used to. We are very interested in preventative care. We have found that early detection of diseases makes for better treatment outcomes. Since every year of your cat's life is equivalent to about seven human years, we do not believe that yearly exams are frequent enough for early disease detection. We have seen that biannual wellness exams allow us to provide the best possible health care to your pet.

Below is a chart showing the difference between a cat's aging process the human age equivalent.

    CAT'S AGE                                                 HUMAN AGE EQUIVALENT   

        6 months............................................................................ 10 years

        8 months ........................................................................... 13 years

        10 months .......................................................................... 14 years

         1 year  .............................................................................. 15 years

        18 months .......................................................................... 20 years

         2 years  ............................................................................ 24 years

         4 years ............................................................................. 32 years

         6 years ............................................................................. 40 years

         7 years ..............................................................................44 years

         8 years ..............................................................................48 years

        10 years ..............................................................................56 years

             14 years ..............................................................................72 years    

        16 years ..............................................................................80 years

        18 years ..............................................................................88 years

        20 years ..............................................................................96 years

        21 years ............................................................................100 years

As you can see, a seven year old cat is well into his 'forties'. That is why the American Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Animal Hospital Association now recommend twice yearly physical exams plus appropriate blood work on all cats who are 5 years old or above.

The Cat Clinic of Fernandina recommends recommends a physical exam every 6 months with one of those exams including our General Senior Profile. This work-up is a comprehensive set of tests that gives us knowledge regarding the function of your feline family member's heart, lungs, thyroid, liver, and kidneys.

With this program, many health problems which are not readily detected in other ways can be caught early on and appropriate steps taken to ensure continued well-being and a longer life for your cat.