We know that sharing your life with a cat comes with plenty of questions — about wellness, behavior, symptoms, surgeries, and the occasional “is that normal?” moment at 11 p.m. Below, we’ve answered some of the questions we hear most often from cat families across Rialto and the Inland Empire. If yours isn’t here, give us a call. We’re always happy to help.
General Veterinary Questions
How often should my cat see the veterinarian?
Most healthy adult cats benefit from a wellness exam at least once a year. Kittens, senior cats, and cats managing ongoing health conditions often need more frequent visits — typically two or more per year.
Annual exams help us catch problems early, when they’re easier (and often less expensive) to treat. During wellness visits, we evaluate your pet’s overall health, talk through your family’s lifestyle, review vaccines and parasite prevention, and answer any questions you’ve been saving up. For all cats, and especially our seniors — who age much faster than we do — yearly bloodwork (sometimes more for our seniors), parasite testing, and regular monitoring become especially important
How much does a veterinary exam cost?
Exam costs depend on the type of visit and your pet’s specific needs. Here’s what to expect at Rialto Animal Hospital:
- Wellness/annual exams = $78 (vaccines, parasite testing, and other services are additional)
- Sick or urgent care exams = $88 (treatment is additional)
How much do vaccines cost?
At Rialto Animal Hospital and Rialto Cat Hospital, we proudly use the PUREVAX® feline vaccine line whenever possible because it is adjuvant-free. Unlike traditional vaccines that contain additives linked to inflammation and a rare cancer called Feline Injection-Site Sarcoma (FISS), PUREVAX® uses advanced recombinant technology to provide effective protection with less inflammation, fewer injection-site reactions, and a lower risk of vaccine-associated sarcomas.
- Rabies = $39.90
- FVRCP (Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) = $29.50
- Leukemia = $39.50
Why are veterinary visits sometimes delayed?
Just like in human medicine, veterinary teams sometimes encounter situations that require immediate attention. Even when the lobby looks quiet, our medical team may be caring for hospitalized patients or handling a critical case behind the scenes.
We work hard to stay on schedule — but when we need to prioritize a cat in crisis, we know you’d want us to do the same for yours. Thank you for your patience.
Kitten Questions
When should kittens get vaccines?
Kittens typically begin their vaccine series around 6–8 weeks of age and continue every 3–4 weeks until they’re approximately 16–20 weeks old.
Kitten vaccines protect against feline distemper (panleukopenia), upper respiratory viruses, rabies, and feline leukemia (depending on lifestyle and risk). We tailor every vaccine plan to your kitten’s lifestyle and individual risk factors — and we use kitten visits to talk through nutrition, parasite prevention, behavior, litter box habits, and the wonderful, sometimes wild, world of early kitten parenthood.
When should I spay or neuter my cat?
Most cats are spayed or neutered around 6 months of age — before they reach sexual maturity. Early spay/neuter helps prevent unwanted litters, reduces the risk of certain cancers and infections (like pyometra in females), and can help curb behaviors like spraying, roaming, and yowling during heat cycles. During your kitten’s exam, our doctors will help you decide on the best timing.
Should my cat have one litter first?
No — there’s no medical benefit to allowing a cat to have a litter before being spayed. In fact, spaying before the first heat cycle can significantly reduce the risk of certain mammary tumors and uterine infections. Our team is happy to talk through the specifics for your cat.
Sick Cat Questions
Why is my cat not eating?
When a cat stops eating, things can escalate quickly — much faster than in dogs. If your cat hasn’t eaten in 24 hours, give us a call.
Loss of appetite in cats can be caused by dental disease, stress, gastrointestinal illness, kidney disease, infection, pain, respiratory issues, and more. Cats who go too long without eating are also at risk of hepatic lipidosis, a serious liver condition. The sooner we evaluate, the better.
Why is my cat throwing up?
Occasional hairballs are common, but frequent vomiting isn’t normal — even though many cat owners have come to think of it that way. Vomiting in cats can be caused by hairballs, dietary changes, food sensitivities, parasites, or even more concerning things such as infections, gastrointestinal disease, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, or foreign object ingestion.
Vomiting more than once a week, vomiting blood, refusal to eat, lethargy, or weight loss should be evaluated. When in doubt, call us. We’d rather talk it through than have you worry at home.
My cat is peeing outside the litter box — what should I do?
This is one of the most important behavior changes to take seriously. While it’s tempting to assume it’s a behavioral issue, urinating outside the litter box is often a sign of a medical problem — urinary tract infection, bladder stones, kidney disease, diabetes, or a serious condition called feline urinary obstruction.
Urinary obstruction is a life-threatening emergency, especially in male cats. If your cat is straining to urinate, producing little or no urine, vocalizing in the litter box, or repeatedly going in and out of the box without success, call us or an emergency hospital immediately.
For less urgent changes in litter box habits, schedule an appointment so we can rule out medical causes before considering behavioral or environmental factors.
My cat is coughing up hairballs — is that normal?
Occasional hairballs (every few weeks or so) can be normal, especially for long-haired cats or cats who groom frequently. But frequent hairballs — more than once or twice a month — can signal an underlying issue, such as gastrointestinal disease, allergies, or excessive grooming due to skin discomfort.
If hairballs are becoming a regular event in your household, it’s worth a conversation. There are dietary, grooming, and medical strategies that can help.
Dental Care Questions
Does my cat really need a dental cleaning?
Yes — and probably more than you might think. Dental disease is one of the most common (and most underdiagnosed) health problems in cats. By age three, the majority of cats show some signs of dental disease — and because cats are remarkably good at hiding mouth pain, most owners never notice.
Left untreated, dental disease can lead to chronic pain, tooth loss, difficulty eating, and complications affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys. Professional dental cleanings (performed under anesthesia) let us take dental X-rays, clean beneath the gumline where most disease lives, and treat painful conditions properly — so your cat can eat, groom, and live a longer life without the silent burden of oral pain.
At Rialto Animal Hospital (our sister hospital across the parking lot), every professional dental cleaning includes a comprehensive oral examination, full-mouth dental radiographs (X-rays), ultrasonic scaling, polishing, and individualized treatment recommendations to help keep your cat healthy, comfortable, and smiling for years to come.
How often should my cat get a dental cleaning?
It depends on your cat’s individual oral health, genetics, and home dental care. Many cats benefit from annual or semi-annual cleanings, while others can go a bit longer between visits. Cats with chronic dental conditions like stomatitis or tooth resorption often need more frequent care.
Our doctors evaluate dental health at every wellness exam and will help you determine the right schedule for your cat.
Should I be brushing my cat’s teeth?
If your cat will tolerate it, daily brushing with a cat-specific toothbrush and pet toothpaste is the gold standard of at-home dental care. (Never use human toothpaste; the fluoride is toxic to cats.)
That said, plenty of cats are firmly opposed to having their teeth brushed, and we get it. For those cats, dental treats, water additives, prescription dental diets, and oral gels can all help. Ask us at your cat’s next visit, and we’ll help you build a home dental care routine that works for both of you.
Urgent Care & Emergency Questions
What counts as a feline emergency?
Get help immediately if your cat is experiencing:
- Difficulty breathing
- Straining to urinate or inability to urinate (especially in male cats)
- Seizures
- Collapse or extreme weakness
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea
- Trauma or being hit by a car
- Toxin or plant ingestion (especially lilies)
- Significant bleeding
- Sudden paralysis, hind-leg weakness, or inability to walk
- Heatstroke
- Eye injuries
- Repeated vomiting after eating string, thread, or ribbon
If you’re not sure whether your cat needs urgent care, call us. We’ll help you figure out the safest next step.
Do you offer urgent care appointments?
Yes — we offer same-day urgent care during business hours, prioritized by medical need (similar to a human urgent care). Depending on your cat’s condition and our hospital’s capacity, we may recommend drop-off care at our sister hospital next door, Rialto Animal Hospital, a same-day evaluation, or referral to a 24-hour emergency hospital.
We do our best to accommodate every urgent case. When we can’t, we’ll never just turn you away — we’ll take your information, offer to call you back if a spot opens up, schedule the soonest available appointment, or help connect you with the right emergency resource.
Cat Care & Cat Behavior Questions
Why does my cat hide before vet visits?
Cats are extraordinarily perceptive. They notice when the carrier comes out of the closet, when your routine shifts, when you start using “that voice.” Many cats begin to anticipate the stress of a vet visit hours — or even days — before you leave the house.
This is part of why we built Rialto Cat Hospital the way we did. From the dog-free environment to the low-stress handling techniques to the calm pace of every appointment, every detail of our practice is designed to make the experience as gentle as possible. With time, many cats actually adjust to our hospital — and a few even seem to enjoy the visit (or at least tolerate it without holding a grudge).
How do I get my cat into the carrier without a fight?
Carrier struggles are one of the most common — and most preventable — sources of vet-visit stress. A few things that help:
- Leave the carrier out year-round. Cats associate the carrier with vet visits because it only appears when something stressful is about to happen. Keep it out as a familiar, comfortable space.
- Make it cozy. Put a soft blanket or familiar-smelling item inside. Some cats respond well to feline pheromone sprays like Feliway.
- Use treats and praise. Reward your cat for stepping near or into the carrier when it’s not vet-visit day.
- Choose the right carrier. Hard-sided carriers with a removable top are far easier to load a reluctant cat into than narrow front-loading carriers.
If carrier struggles are making vet visits difficult, we have more helpful tips HERE.
Is it stressful for my cat to come to a hospital that only sees cats?
The opposite, actually. Removing dogs from the equation removes a huge source of feline stress — the barking, the unfamiliar scents, the sense of being in shared space with a predator-shaped animal. Our entire facility is designed around feline comfort, from the quiet exam rooms to the calm pace of every visit.
For many cats, a feline-exclusive practice is the first vet experience they’ve ever genuinely tolerated.
What’s the difference between a Cat Friendly Practice and a regular vet?
A Cat Friendly Practice is a hospital that has been certified by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) for going above and beyond in providing care designed specifically for cats. Certified practices have demonstrated specific facility design choices, staff training in feline behavior and low-stress handling, and adherence to feline-specific medical protocols.
Rialto Cat Hospital is certified at the Gold level, the highest tier of Cat Friendly Practice certification — meaning we’ve made the deepest commitment to feline-centered care. You can learn more on our What Sets Us Apart page.
Is it normal for older cats to lose weight?
No — unexpected weight loss in older cats should always be evaluated. Common causes include hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, dental disease, gastrointestinal disease, and cancer. Early diagnosis often leads to better outcomes, so don’t wait if you’ve noticed your senior cat slimming down.
Preventive Care Questions
Does my indoor cat really need vaccines?
Yes. Even cats who never leave the house can still be exposed to disease through an unexpected escape, a visiting pet, an open window, or even germs that hitch a ride home on our shoes or clothing. We tailor vaccine recommendations to your cat’s lifestyle and risk factors so they get exactly what they need (and nothing they don’t).
Does my cat need flea prevention if I don’t see fleas?
Yes. Southern California’s climate lets fleas thrive year-round, and indoor cats are not as protected as many owners assume — fleas can hitch rides on dogs, other pets, and even people. Cats with flea allergies can have severe reactions to just a few bites, and fleas can also transmit other parasites. Consistent monthly prevention is the safest and most effective approach.
Should my cat have yearly bloodwork?
Yes. Routine bloodwork helps us detect disease early — often before symptoms appear, which matters even more for cats than dogs, since cats hide illness so effectively. Annual or semiannual testing is especially important for senior cats, cats on long-term medications, cats with chronic conditions, and cats preparing for anesthesia.
Surgery Questions
Is anesthesia safe for my cat?
Modern veterinary anesthesia is very safe — especially when paired with proper monitoring and pre-anesthetic screening. At Rialto Cat Hospital and Rialto Animal Hospital, we use anesthetic protocols specifically tailored to feline patients, recommend pre-anesthetic testing, and rely on trained team members and advanced monitoring equipment throughout every procedure.
As with human medicine, no anesthesia is entirely risk-free. But our team works hard to minimize risk and provide attentive, conscientious care from start to finish.
What is pre-anesthetic lab testing, and why is it important?
Pre-anesthetic lab testing is bloodwork performed before anesthesia or surgery to evaluate your cat’s internal health. These tests look at organ function, blood counts, hydration, and clotting ability — giving our doctors a clearer picture before we proceed.
The result: safer medication choices, fewer surprises, and better recovery. When possible, we run these tests at a reference lab a few days before surgery; sometimes we’ll run them in-clinic on the day of the procedure.
Visit & Policy Questions
What are your hours?
Our business days and hours vary. Please call ahead. Typical days and hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, from 7am – 6 pm. We’re closed Wednesday, Saturdays, Sundays, and major holidays.
We are not a 24-hour facility. For after-hours emergencies, please visit our Emergencies page for resources and contacts.
Do I need an appointment?
Appointments are strongly encouraged — they help us plan for your cat’s care, manage hospital flow, and minimize wait times. We accept walk-ins when possible, but walk-in patients may wait depending on doctor availability and the medical needs of cats already in the hospital.
If your cat is sick or you’re unsure whether they need urgent care, give us a call so we can help figure out the best next step.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, ScratchPay, and CareCredit. We also accept “Pay Your Provider” pet insurance payments when available through participating plans.
Payment is due at the time services are provided. For clients exploring financing, CareCredit and ScratchPay applications are handled directly through those providers — we’re happy to help you get started.
What should I bring to my cat’s first appointment?
Please bring (or send ahead of time):
- Previous veterinary records
- Vaccine history
- A list of current medications
- Diet information
- Any recent lab results
- Any questions or concerns you’d like to discuss
If you can email records ahead of your visit, our team can review them before you arrive — and that means more time at your appointment focused on your cat.
Please also remember to bring your cat in a secure carrier. (More on carrier strategy in our cat behavior section above.)
Do you board cats?
Yes — we offer feline-exclusive boarding in a calm, comfortable environment built around cat comfort. From window-view condos to soothing music to private litter areas and Feliway pheromone diffusers, our boarding suites are designed to make your cat’s stay as stress-free as possible. Learn more on our Cat Boarding page.
Do you offer hospital tours?
Yes! We love showing prospective clients around — seeing our space, meeting our team, and getting a feel for where your cat will receive care can make a big difference, especially for first-time visitors. Just call ahead, and we’ll schedule a time that works with patient care and hospital flow.
Still Have Questions?
Every cat is different, and online information can only get you so far. If you have questions about your cat, our team is here to help.
Call us at (909) 546-3321 or request an appointment online. Whether your cat needs wellness care, urgent care, surgery, dentistry, or just a thoughtful conversation about their health, we’d love to be the team you trust.