5 Purrfect New Year’s Resolutions for Cat Owners

With the New Year upon us, it’s time to lock in your resolutions for 2017. Instead of focusing on myself this year I’m going to involve my cat in my plans for the future as well. Many of the usual resolutions, like losing weight or being more social, can be translated into a cat’s life as well.

Here are five New Year’s Resolutions for me and my cat:

1. Get moving: This is the first time I’ve involved fitness in a New Year’s Resolution, and it will do a lot of good for both of us. Saya is usually lazy because I’m stationary, so if I start trying to be more active in my everyday life I can get her to exercise as well. Getting your cat moving can be as easy as a laser pointer or a mouse toy. Saya loves to play with hair ties and chase those plastic balls that jingle.
2. Be social: As loving as my little girl is, she has a hard time when there are visitors at home. If she doesn’t know them very well she heads for the safety of any nook I can’t reach and stays hidden till long after the visitors have gone. It’s no fun for her to be afraid when people come over, but she isn’t used to company. From now on when there’s company I’m going to try to foster some positive interactions between the “strangers,” and Saya so she can start feeling better about visits.
3. See a doctor: No one likes doctor visits, not even animals. Frightening as they can be for cats, it’s important to have routine examinations with their vet to ensure they are happy and healthy and will continue to be for years to come. If there are issues with your feline friend’s health, it’s better to be aware of them early so steps can be taken quickly to treat them.
4. Teach tricks: Spend some time with your cat and teach them how to do something new like a high five, or to sit, or even a long-term “trick,” like walking on a leash. It’ll create a bonding experience between the two of you and your cat will know something new.
5. Enrich: Something I’ve always wanted to try with my cats is a food puzzle. It appeals to their hunting instincts and it seems like it could be a prideful moment to watch them solve it. Other enrichment toys are cat trees and scratching posts, which also appeal to your cat’s more primal instincts.

New Year’s Resolutions are important to make, but even more important to keep. Perhaps creating resolutions for your cat as well as yourself will help you keep them because it will help your cat in the long run.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions for 2017? How are you going to involve your feline? Let us know in the comments section!