It's not common for blood pressure to be checked at an annual unless there is some reason to expect there may be an issue (e.g. a cat with kidney disease).

 

MowMow is a senior he goes every 6 months. Bp was only done during his surgery. No for regular check ups.

Neelix and Book are yearly. No BP during checkup.

I have no doubt if I asked, my vet would do it. It just never occurred to me to ask.

 

Our guys are just under a year. On a normal check up, they do a physical exam (feel around the belly, legs, ribs, etc.), take a look in the mouth/ears/eyes, usually take a temperature, weigh them. They usually request we bring a stool sample for a routine check which is included. Often they'll do a complimentary nail clip (as the visit costs $85) and discuss feeding, any recent changes, ask if there's anything I'd like advice or info on, and then they send me on my way!

We don't do blood pressure but the vet usually checks breathing and heart rate.

 

My vet checked BP today for the first time, and only because there was a suspected kidney or heart issue. Prior to that, I've not had BP checked for any cat.

 

I don't always do annual checkups, no, but my neighbor is a vet and I also worked for one myself for awhile. I go to her for most issues or questions and some things I am able to do myself, like immunizations (except rabies). I can do nails, ears, glands and most of the basics.
The only pets I need to bring in regularly are the ones with issues. My dog who has seizures and my birds. If I bring my cats in, it's usually for lab work, spay or neuter, etc. or I have a concern. I was bringing one of my cats in weekly due to some issues that have since cleared up thankfully.
My pets do see a vet more often that I see a doctor

Normal check ups though consist of a physical exam (touching and looking) temperature, weight. I've never had a BP done, unless there was a reason to. I usually also ask for lab work done too since my vet has a lab in the building.

 

My vet does a physical exam (feels belly, listens to heart and lungs, checks eyes, ears, mouth) and weight. They have us bring a stool sample to check for worms. We also fill out a questionnaire about their health...things like coat/skin, breath/teeth, vomiting, stool, etc. and they go over that and ask if we've had any problems or have concerns. They ask what we feed. They weigh them. Then vaccines. Never done BP, don't do temperature either.

Personally I wish blood work was a regular thing. Heck that's really the main reason I get a yearly physical.

 

Personally I wish blood work was a regular thing. Heck that's really the main reason I get a yearly physical.

All you have to do is ask to have it done. Personally I don't think there's any real value in it until they're older...8-10. But doing blood work yearly starting at that age, even twice a year as they get into their teens, is quite common and recommended by many vets.

 

Until age 10 my cats don't go to the vet except for rabies or issues. After that it's annual. Yesterday I took 10 yo Lacey in for her blood work and urine repeat testing from 6 months ago. Good news she has gained 1/2 pound! She was an angel. We didn't do a blood pressure check - they are more concerned about her bad heart but I have opted not to pursue cardio therapy treatments on her. The reasons are long and complicated and I won't go into them here.

 

My vet recommends every 6 months for an exam? The cat may be 3-6 years old. Does your vet recommend exams that often? Honestly other than the teeth, I can't imagine what they really would find in the exam that they do. I would think I would see problems with the cat that needed attention from living with her.