Prevention as Grace: A Practical Health Schedule and Early-Warning Checklist for Indoor Cats

Prevention as Grace: A Practical Health Schedule and Early-Warning Checklist for Indoor Cats

Health is a habit, not a headline. Quiet vigilance—weights logged, water watched, sun moderated—keeps small problems from staging a coup. Here is a clean, clinic-aligned plan you can run at home.

1) Home Metrics (Monthly)

  • Weight & Body Condition Score (BCS): small drifts matter; record to a simple chart.

  • Hydration: monitor fountain use and litter clump count; sudden rises flag kidneys or diabetes—call your vet.

  • Coat & nails: mats signal stiffness; trim claws every 2–4 weeks with quick-stop at hand.

  • Teeth: once-weekly mouth peek; note breath changes and redness along the gum line.

2) Veterinary Rhythm

  • Annual wellness exam for adults; every 6 months for seniors (10+ years) or chronic conditions.

  • Core vaccinations per your vet’s regional guidance; boosters as advised.

  • Screenings:

    • Adults: fecal test annually; dental assessment each visit.

    • Seniors: add bloodwork + urinalysis (kidney, thyroid, glucose).

  • Parasite control: indoor life helps, but fleas/mosquitoes hitch rides—follow local recommendations.

3) Nutrition with Boring Consistency

  • Choose complete diets from reputable brands; rotate proteins slowly to reduce fussiness and nutrient blind spots.

  • Portion honesty: use a kitchen scale; treat calories count.

  • Water strategy: fountains + extra bowls away from food; warm wet food to increase aroma and intake.

4) Movement & Mind

  • Prey-sequence play twice daily; puzzle feeders for daytime calm.

  • Window theater with bird TV (no open screens); scent quests with silvervine pouches 1–2×/week.

5) Red Flags—Call the Vet Early

  • Drinking or urinating more, weight loss despite appetite, straining in the box, repeated vomiting, new hiding, night calling, constipation.

  • Pain whispers: sudden grooming changes, a jump refused, a growl when touched—document and seek help.

6) Senior Comforts

  • Low-entry litter boxes with high sides; heated perches capped at 38–40 °C.

  • Ramps/steps to favorite heights; firm, non-slip surfaces.

  • Short, gentle play arcs and softer grooming tools.

7) Emergency Binder (One Afternoon to Build)

  • Microchip number, vet contacts, meds list, recent labs; carrier staged with a soft towel.

  • A 72-hour kit: food, water, litter, enzyme cleaner, spare tags, copies of records.

Prevention is courtesy paid forward—small acts repeated on time, with notes tidy and carriers within reach.

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