Cats are masters at hiding discomfort. That’s a survival instinct passed down from their wild ancestors, but it makes life tricky for the humans trying to keep them healthy. A cat with a sore tooth or an aching joint will often eat, sleep, and purr like nothing’s wrong. This is exactly why routine exams matter so much in cat care — they give a trained eye the chance to catch what your cat is quietly working to conceal.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens during those fifteen or twenty minutes on the exam table, here’s a look at five key things your vet is checking and why each one matters.

1. Body Weight and Condition

Before anything else, most exams start with a weigh-in. Small changes in weight can be early signs of bigger issues — sudden weight loss might point to hyperthyroidism, dental pain, or diabetes, while weight gain can signal a slowing metabolism or the start of obesity-related problems.

Your vet will also feel along your cat’s ribs, spine, and belly to assess body condition. This hands-on check tells them whether your cat is carrying too much or too little muscle and fat, information a scale alone can’t fully provide. It’s one of the simplest checks in the exam, but it often reveals the first clue that something deserves a closer look.

2. Teeth, Gums, and Mouth

Dental disease is one of the most common health issues in cats, and it’s also one of the easiest for owners to miss. Cats rarely stop eating just because their mouth hurts, so a swollen gum or a cracked tooth can go unnoticed at home for months.

During the exam, your vet will lift your cat’s lips to check for tartar buildup, inflamed gums, resorptive lesions, and broken teeth. They’ll also take note of any unusual breath odor, which can be a sign of underlying dental or digestive trouble. Catching these issues early usually means simpler, less invasive treatment down the road.

3. Heart and Lungs

Using a stethoscope, your vet will listen closely to your cat’s heartbeat and breathing. They’re listening for murmurs, irregular rhythms, or abnormal lung sounds that could indicate heart disease or respiratory issues.

This part of the exam is especially important because cats are prone to developing heart conditions that produce few, if any, obvious symptoms until the disease has progressed. A murmur detected during a routine visit can prompt further testing well before your cat shows any visible signs of struggle, giving you and your vet more options for managing the condition early.

4. Eyes, Ears, and Skin

Next, your vet will examine your cat’s eyes for cloudiness, discharge, or signs of inflammation, all of which can point toward infections, injuries, or underlying systemic disease. A quick look inside the ears checks for wax buildup, redness, or the telltale debris associated with ear mites.

Running hands through your cat’s coat, your vet is feeling for lumps, bumps, flaky skin, or signs of parasites like fleas and ticks. Skin and coat condition can also serve as a window into your cat’s internal health, since dull fur or excessive shedding sometimes points to nutritional gaps or hormonal imbalances rather than a purely external cause.

5. Abdomen and Joints

Gently pressing on your cat’s belly, your vet is checking for pain, unusual masses, or organ enlargement that could suggest anything from digestive upset to kidney or liver concerns. This part of the exam requires a gentle touch and a keen sense of what’s normal for a cat of your pet’s age and size.

Your vet will also flex and extend your cat’s legs and spine, checking joint mobility and watching for any signs of discomfort. This is particularly valuable for senior cats, since arthritis is common in older felines but frequently overlooked, as cats tend to slow down gradually rather than show obvious limping.

Why Routine Exams Matter

None of these checks take long, but together they build a complete picture of your cat’s health. Because cats are so skilled at masking pain and illness, these visits often catch problems well before they become emergencies. Sticking to a regular exam schedule, generally once a year for younger cats and twice a year for seniors, gives your vet the best chance to spot changes early and keep your companion feeling their best for years to come.