Tag events the same day they happen; delayed tagging erases causality.
Describe behaviors you can count or time: hiding duration, night waking episodes, food refusal spans.
If GI or respiratory signs appear alongside behavior shifts, log both—don’t collapse into “cranky”.
Short stressful chapters often normalize; sustained multi-symptom drift deserves escalation guidance from a vet.
Tag stress first, then observable verbs
- Tags: boarding, move, bath, new pet, renovation, post-neuter…
- Behaviors: hiding, night waking, refusal to eat… each with frequency or duration
- Same-day vomiting/diarrhea/cough—avoid blaming “personality” alone
Goal: decide whether it’s a short environmental blip or systemic drift.