[Staff Favorites] Our Commitment to the Cat Health Journal and Tips for Using It

Hello, this is YOKO from Poponeko.

The "Cat Health Handbook" has finally been released. The natural beige cover with a cute cat sitting on it is adorable!

This health handbook is packed with love for cats. Our cat-loving staff tried it out first, so we asked them how they're using it.

Simple yet functional! The perfect size is a plus

The "Cat Health Handbook" is A6 size. Not too big, not too small. It's a convenient size for writing and carrying around.

It's the same size as a medical record book or maternal and child health handbook, so it won't get in the way even if you put it in your bag.

And what's especially great is the cover. Not only does it protect against dirt, but it also has pockets to store your examination tickets, insurance card, vaccination certificate, and receipts!

Many of our staff love taking photos, so they were happy that standard L-size photos fit right in ♪

Design that blends in with your interior even if left out

While many pet products have flashy primary colors, the calm, muted colors of this product might be a bit unusual.

We wanted it to be used daily, so we focused on a design that wouldn't feel out of place even if left on a table. At first glance, it looks like a stylish paperback book, doesn't it?

We also paid close attention to the paper quality, choosing one that's just thick enough to prevent bleed-through and smooth for writing with both ballpoint pens and pencils. The sturdy cover also makes it easy to write even when standing.

Customize it to match your own cat!

Coloring the cat on the cover to look just like "your cat" turns it into a one-of-a-kind notebook. It also looks cute from behind, and drawing a portrait of your cat is wonderful.

Even with multiple cats, it's easy to tell which notebook belongs to which cat. It makes the notebook feel even more precious.

This is an idea from a slightly overprotective staff member, haha.

You can make notes right away if something catches your eye

To ensure your cat lives a long life, it's important to have regular health checkups and notice even subtle changes in your cat.

First, observe your cat carefully. Even if not every day, it's good to quickly jot down notes if you think, "Huh? Something's off." This will also be helpful when explaining symptoms to the veterinarian.

The "Health Record" page has a generous 20 pages, so you can use it to jot down anything you notice.

Even staff members who typically give up on diaries after three days have managed to form a habit of noting things like toilet usage and meal conditions, simply by keeping the handbook in an easily visible spot. They also say they enjoy the monthly weight measurements.

The medical record is convenient!

After a check-up at the animal hospital, you can write down the symptoms in the "Medical Record" section. It comes with cat illustrations, making it convenient for later review.

Even when visiting a different animal hospital, it's easier to convey information than just explaining it verbally. If medical terms are confusing, ask the veterinarian and jot them down so you don't forget.

▲Medical Record Page

Also useful when asking someone to care for your cat

Keeping a record of your cat's daily life gives you peace of mind when asking someone else to care for your cat. That's why we focused on making it "easy for anyone to understand."

You can easily share your cat's birthday, weight, vaccination and flea/tick prevention records, regular vet, and favorite games.

One staff member who entrusts their cat to their parents a few times a month said they write down the approximate daily schedule in the "Notes" section. They found it surprisingly helpful to note "where the cat likes to be petted" and "where the cat gets angry if petted," haha.

It's a great idea to use the "Cat Health Handbook" to create a cat care manual!

▲Cat Profile Page

No more "When was that?"

As you live with your cat for a long time, you start to ask "When was that?" more often. It's easy to become vague about the dates of past surgeries or illnesses.

That's where the "5-Year Record Overview" page comes in handy. You can see five years of your cat's events at a glance on a two-page spread, which is incredibly convenient.

Of course, you can also record many fun memories, such as the day you became family. Actually, this page is my favorite. It gives me the pleasure of looking back on memories years later.

▲5-Year Record Overview Page

The extra pages are super practical!

"It would be nice to have a route map-like extra," was a suggestion from staff.

I also carry a notebook, and I realized that I tend to choose ones that include maps or route guides.

We thought about what kind of content cat owners would want and created extra pages packed with information. All of them are a must-see!

Key Points for Detecting Illness

For early detection of illness, daily self-checks and health record keeping are extremely important. However, cats tend to hide their poor health, so it can be difficult to notice sometimes.

To answer the request for "checkpoints," we collaborated with Dr. Korin from Londbell Animal Clinic to compile methods for identifying signs of cat discomfort.

Chaa-chan's illustration is cute too! If you ever notice something different, please refer to this page.

▲Key Points for Detecting Illness Page

What to do in case of escape or getting lost

The number one concern for cat owners is "escape/getting lost." While escape prevention is important, it's also crucial to be able to act quickly if an escape does happen.

We've condensed the results of our past research into 5 steps for finding an escaped or lost cat. You can quickly grasp the actions owners should take, so please keep them in mind.

Also, it seems many cat owners don't know that they need to "file a report" if their cat goes missing. It's convenient to have a list of places to file a lost pet report, such as the police station and health center, prepared in advance.

▲Response to Escape/Lost Pet Page

Disaster Preparedness Kit List & Pet-Friendly Evacuation Shelter List

We also created a "Disaster Preparedness Kit List" of essential items when evacuating with your cat. Gather the necessary items and let your cat try them out once.

When evacuating, don't forget your "Cat Health Handbook." If you keep your cat's information and your contact details together in one place, you won't panic in an emergency.

The Yomiuri Shimbun's "Bousai Nippon" also introduces pet health handbooks as a high-priority disaster preparedness item. Poponeko's harness is also featured, so be sure to check it out!

 Also, please research and make a note of evacuation shelters that allow pets~

▲Disaster Preparedness Kit List Page

Summary

The "Cat Health Handbook" makes it easy to record your cat's information, whether with text or illustrations. To help cats live longer, our staff collaborated on ideas, and cat specialists also provided their expertise.

We hope you spend wonderful times with this handbook, which is full of love for your cat.

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