Senior Cat Vet Visit Checklist: Records, Videos, and Questions to Bring

Start with the main concern

State your primary visit reason in one neutral sentence. Describe what happened, when it began, and the setting rather than guessing a diagnosis. For example, note the date you first saw your cat hesitate before stepping off the sofa and when you contacted the clinic. Do not wait to collect repeated examples before asking about a new concern. Factual, dated descriptions keep observations concrete and prevent important context from being lost during the visit.

Bring the current routine and labels

Sharing existing records and observations of usual food, water, and litter habits is supported by FelineVMA's guide on your role in veterinary visits. Copy exact food names from packaging and describe your cat's actual feeding routine. Bring current medication and supplement labels alongside the latest written clinic instructions; flag any differences for clarification. Ask your clinic for any appointment-day food or medication instructions and follow its guidance.

Label the records and videos

Organizing home notes and veterinary documents draws on AAHA's senior care kit guidance, which supports keeping normal routines, contact details, and dated records. If your cat shows an intermittent physical sign at home—such as stair hesitation or stiffness—a short, dated video captures what may not appear in an exam room. Never provoke or distress your cat to film a symptom; record only natural, unprompted behavior. Note the date, time, and room so your veterinarian has clear context.

Ask how the clinic wants files

Contact your clinic before the appointment to ask which files it wants, how to send them, and when they are needed. Keep the requested files together with clear names and dates. If you plan to show a clip on your phone, make it easy to find without searching through your whole photo library during the visit.

Choose the questions that matter most

Write down two or three priority questions so you can start with the concerns that matter most. Ask about observations, what to record at home, and how to share updates. Before leaving, ask for clarification of any unclear instruction and write down the follow-up and contact plan.

Open the printable visit packet

The first sheet holds your main concern, dated observations, current labels and routine, attached records, and priority questions. The second gives you space to write answers and the clinic’s actual follow-up instructions during the visit. Complete what you know and leave unknown details blank; a partial packet is still useful.

An example of a short visit brief

The following example illustrates neutral documentation. All names, dates, and details are fictional examples.

• Main Reason for Visit: Review of hesitation noticed before jumping down from the sofa.
• Observations & Timeline:
• [Example Date: October 2, 2026] – Living room. Paused several seconds at sofa cushion edge before stepping down to rug.
• Attached File: Unprompted video of sofa hesitation, labeled with [Example Date: October 4, 2026] and the room. Delivery method to be confirmed with the clinic.
• Priority Questions:
• What specific changes in movement or rest should we watch for during his daily routine at home?
• If jumping hesitation continues, what information would be most helpful to track for our next check-in?
• Clinic Instructions & Follow-up: Leave these fields blank until the visit; record the veterinarian's actual directions there.