Your cat isn't able to tell you (verbally) how he's feeling... so you must get to know what your cat's normal behavior usually is. A healthy cat maintains normal body weight, level of activity, and social behavior. A significant change in any of these should be taken as a warning sign.

You should be prepared to handle routine costs from year to year incurred by yearly physical exams, occasional fecal and urine samples, and vaccinations. However, accidents and major illnesses can happen. Pet health care insurance is one way people use to control these costs. Or, you might be able to negotiate a monthly payment toward a large bill. A few veterinarians also consider lower prices or special payment plans for those with a low income. It's usually worth it to ask around.

Keep in mind that a veterinary clinic is also a business, and (especially compared to human physicians) most veterinarians don't have a high income, themselves. They also have many of the same expenses as a human doctor (such as office staff, rent, and equipment) plus the additional expenses of running their own pharmacy. Most of us who hold our cats to be as dear as family realize that health care for our kitties is worth the cost. It's best to try to prepare for emergencies.

Getting some books on cat care is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with many things regarding cat health and cat behavior. However, these books should never substitute for having a veterinarian for your cat. There are some excellent books out there worth checking out. I have quite the library, myself. These books are very useful when you suspect there might be something wrong with your cat, and you want to get an idea of what to expect once your veterinarian performs an official examination. Having somewhat of an idea of what could be the matter helps calm the nerves, certainly. Not to mention that cat books are interesting to read.