You know more about your cat's behavior than anyone else and your veterinary team needs to know what you know. The weekly exam is necessary to make sure subtle signs of distress or illness are recognized before becoming major medical concerns. Record any changes you notice in a journal and refer to your notes when you phone or visit the veterinary clinic. It's easy to forget something when worried about your cat's health. The purpose of comprehensive journaling is to empower pet owners to become active participants in their cat's preventive health care and to ensure that subtle changes don't go unnoticed between veterinary visits.