To be more easily alerted to possible signs of disease early in the disease process:

Monitor food consumption: how much is being eaten, what type of food is being eaten (e.g.; does your cat leave the hard kibble and only eat the canned?), any difficulty eating or swallowing, any vomiting?

Monitor water consumption: drinking more than usual or less than usual?

Monitor urination and defecation: note color, amount, consistency, and frequency of stool; note color and amount of urine; any signs of pain while urinating or defecating, any inappropriate elimination (urinating or defecating outside of the litter box)?

Measure weight every 2 months: using a mail or baby scale, or the scale at your veterinarian’s office.

Check for signs: Groom, check and clip nails, look for any lumps, bumps, or non-healing sores; are there any abnormal odors, any change in the size of abdomen, or increased hair loss?

Monitor behavior: is there a change in sleep patterns, a tendency to be around people, easily startled, sleeping in an abnormal or unusual position?

Monitor activity and mobility: is there a difficulty with stairs, bumping into things, sudden collapses, seizures, any loss of balance, any lameness or change in gait?

Look for any changes in respiration: is there noticeable coughing, panting, or sneezing?

Provide home dental care: brush your cat’s teeth, regularly examine the inside of her mouth; is there excessive drooling, bad breath, are the gums yellow, light pink, or purplish?

Monitor environmental temperature and the temperature at which your cat seems most comfortable.

Schedule regular health check-ups with your cat’s veterinarian.