Understanding the lifestyle of the cat is important for making thorough and accurate preventive healthcare and medical recommendations. The traditional classification of a cat as “indoor” or “outdoor” is oversimplified as there may be additional risk factors that warrant consideration.¹⁶ Determining whether the cat is primarily indoor or has any outdoor access is, nevertheless, a starting point. Further questioning may reveal details including whether outdoor access is through an enclosure or leash walking versus free roaming, and if there is exposure to other cats—be they housemates, visiting cats, or foster cats from a shelter—and whether the cat attends boarding facilities or cat shows. For primarily indoor cats, environmental needs are likewise evaluated. Noting human–cat interaction is also important to determine zoonotic risks.¹⁷ For example, a young adult cat hunting outdoors may need different preventive healthcare from a mature adult indoor cat living in a retirement home and interacting with residents. For further information, readers are referred to the 2019 AAFP Feline Zoonoses Guidelines¹⁷ and the 2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines.¹⁸ The role and relationship of the cat with respect to the client (i.e., the human–cat bond and the care philosophy of the owner) is also essential to understand.