Cat Health · August 2026
National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day: Why Your Cat's Annual Checkup Matters
August 22 is National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day — a reminder that exists because cats, more than any other common pet, quietly go without one.
Updated: August 20, 2026
Cat Health
7 min read
Quick answer: National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day falls on August 22 each year. It exists because cats see the vet far less often than dogs — roughly 44% of cat owners take their cat in annually, and cats instinctively hide signs of illness, so problems often go unnoticed until they're advanced. Most healthy adult cats need one wellness exam a year; cats 10 and older need two.
Key takeaways
✓Cats are seen by vets at less than a third the rate of dogs, per industry tracking data.
✓Cats hide pain and illness as a survival instinct — "seeming fine" isn't the same as being fine.
✓Most of the stress of a vet visit happens before the car even starts moving — and most of it is preventable.
✓Vet guidelines call for one wellness exam a year for kittens through mature adults, two a year for cats 10+.
✓Carrier training, done in a calm week rather than five stressful minutes before you leave, makes the single biggest difference.
If your cat has never had a carrier-induced meltdown, count yourself lucky — because for a lot of owners, that memory alone is reason enough to put off the next visit for another year. National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day isn't a made-up guilt trip. It's a response to a real, measurable gap: cats are quietly one of the most under-medicalized pets in the country, and the reasons why are almost all fixable.
Why This Day Exists
The numbers behind National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day are the whole reason it's worth marking on a calendar. Only about 44% of cat owners take their cat to the vet in a given year, and a recent CATalyst Council industry report found that cats "contribute less than a third of the visits that dogs do," with only about a third of household cats seen by a vet each year.
That gap isn't because cats need less care than dogs — it's largely because cats are harder to get through the door. A dog that hears "want to go for a ride?" usually meets you at the leash. A cat that sees the carrier come out of the closet often disappears under the bed. The day exists to close that gap, one appointment at a time.
Why Cats Get Skipped More Than Dogs
Beyond the carrier problem, there's a biological one: cats are built to hide when something's wrong. According to Texas A&M's College of Veterinary Medicine, this comes down to survival instinct — in the wild, a visibly sick or injured animal is a target, so masking symptoms is protective. Your cat carries that same instinct on your couch, even though nothing in your living room is hunting them.
That's why "my cat seems totally fine" is one of the least reliable reasons to skip a checkup a vet will ever hear.
MythMy cat is eating, playing, and acting normal, so there's nothing to check.
FactCats mask early signs of illness on purpose. A vet exam can catch weight loss, dental disease, or vital-sign changes weeks or months before behavior visibly changes.
MythIndoor cats don't need regular vet visits since they're not exposed to much.
FactIndoor cats still age, develop dental and kidney issues, and gain or lose weight gradually — all things a wellness exam is built to catch early, exposure or not.
MythThe stress of the visit does more harm than good.
FactMost of that stress comes from an unfamiliar carrier and an unpracticed car ride — both are addressable, and the payoff is catching problems while they're still cheap and treatable.
Before the Visit: Make the Carrier a Safe Place
Per the American Animal Hospital Association, most of a cat's vet-day stress is set weeks before the appointment, not the morning of. The fix is to make the carrier and the car ride boring and familiar long before either one matters.
A carrier left out and treat-filled year-round reads as a hiding spot, not a trap.
1
Leave the carrier out, always
Keep it accessible with a blanket, treats, or catnip inside so it becomes a normal napping spot instead of something that only appears before bad news.
2
Feed meals near or inside it
Occasionally placing food or treats inside builds a positive association with the space itself, not just the destination.
3
Practice short car rides
A five-minute drive around the block, followed by treats and praise, teaches your cat that the car doesn't always end somewhere scary.
4
Consider a "happy visit"
Some clinics will let you bring your cat in briefly just to get treats and meet the staff, with no exam involved — ask your vet's office if this is an option.
💡 On the day itself
Line the carrier with a blanket or worn T-shirt that smells like home, and ask your vet whether a feline pheromone spray or a calming aid makes sense for your cat — per AAHA, both are common, low-risk tools for anxious travelers.
During and After the Appointment
Once you're at the clinic, a few small choices make a real difference in how your cat experiences the visit. Ask to wait in your car rather than a busy lobby if the clinic allows it — fewer strange animals and less noise means less buildup before your cat is even examined. Keep them in the carrier, door closed, until it's actually time for the exam.
Bring treats your cat genuinely loves and offer them during the exam if your vet is comfortable with it — sharing them with the vet or tech lets your cat build a small amount of trust with the person handling them, per AAHA's guidance. If your cat has been unusually anxious, withdrawn, or off their food, say so out loud — owners are often the only ones who'd notice a change that subtle.
Afterward, close the loop with something your cat enjoys — a favorite treat or a few extra minutes of play — so the last thing they associate with the day is you, not the exam table.
How Often Does My Cat Actually Need to Go?
The AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines give a straightforward answer: healthy cats from kittenhood through their mature-adult years need a minimum of one wellness exam a year. Once a cat turns 10, that recommendation doubles to twice a year, since age-related conditions tend to move faster and are easier to manage when caught early.
| Life stage |
Recommended exam frequency |
| Kitten (under 1 year) |
Multiple visits in year one for vaccines and growth checks, then annual |
| Young & mature adult (1–9 years) |
At least once a year |
| Senior (10+ years) |
Every 6 months |
If it's been longer than a year since your cat's last exam, National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is as good a nudge as any to book the appointment — not because one day is magic, but because a specific date on the calendar is a lot easier to act on than "someday."
Shop This Post
A few real, currently in-stock products that make vet-day prep — and the ride there — easier.
Start here
Foldable Pet Dog Cat Puppy Handbag Carrier Cage
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A soft-sided, breathable carrier built to fold flat for storage between visits — leave it open at home for a few weeks before an appointment so it reads as a familiar spot, not a surprise.
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For carrier training
Farm To Pet Beef Crumbles Cat Treats
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Small, high-protein crumbles that work well for building a positive carrier association — a few scattered inside during practice sessions goes a long way.
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Post-visit reward
Love, Nala Chicken With Carrot & Pumpkin Paté
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A wet-food paté worth saving for after the appointment — ending the day with something your cat genuinely looks forward to helps the whole experience end on a good note.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly is National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day?
August 22 every year — it sits alongside other pet-health awareness days as a reminder specifically aimed at closing the feline checkup gap.
My cat hates the vet. Should I even bother with yearly visits?
Yes — but it's worth investing in carrier and car training first (see the steps above). Most of what makes a cat "hate the vet" is the unfamiliar carrier and car ride, not the exam itself, and both are trainable with a few weeks of low-pressure practice.
How do I know if my cat needs more than an annual exam?
Cats 10 and older are generally recommended for twice-yearly exams under AAHA/AAFP guidelines. Any cat showing a change in appetite, litter box habits, energy, or weight should be seen sooner, regardless of age.
Is it true that indoor-only cats need less veterinary care?
No — indoor cats still age, develop dental disease, and are susceptible to weight and kidney changes. Exposure to the outdoors affects certain risks, but not the basic case for a yearly wellness exam.
What's the single best thing I can do before the appointment?
Leave the carrier out at home, unassociated with travel, for at least a couple of weeks beforehand. It's the one change vets consistently point to as making the biggest difference.
If You Only Do a Few Things
1
Book the appointment. If it's been over a year, National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is a good excuse to stop putting it off.
2
Leave the carrier out, always. A carrier that's only seen on vet days will always feel like a trap.
3
Don't trust "seems fine." Cats are built to hide illness — a wellness exam catches what daily observation can't.
4
Know your cat's schedule. Annual for kittens through mature adults, every 6 months once they turn 10.
5
End on a good note. A favorite treat or a few extra minutes of play after the visit goes a long way toward next time being easier.
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