Last Updated: 03/11/2025
New Years Resolutions for Cats
The start of a new year is a time to pause and reflect and plan. Check out 5 ways you can adopt a healthier lifestyle for you and your cat this coming year.
Author: Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 3 minutes - short read
The start of a new year is a great time to pause and reflect on the year that was, and plan for the year ahead. Prioritising your health and well-being, and that of your pet, is a great way to kick off 2024.
Our vets have outlined 5 ways of adopting a healthier lifestyle for you and your cat this coming year. Not only will these changes have a positive impact on your long-term health, but they will give you more opportunities to bond with your pet.
Get active!
Teaching your cat to walk on a lead is a great way to encourage exercise and provide environmental enrichment. To keep your cat safe, ensure that you always use a harness and lead as your cat may slip out of a collar.
If your cat is particularly relaxed with going out and about, you may enjoy taking them for walks in a Pet Backpack so they can enjoy the sights and sounds, while you get some exercise.
For cats who don't enjoy the outdoors, the best way to encourage exercise is through play. There is a great range of interactive toys to get them and you moving!
Looking for more information? Read our veterinary written article How To Teach Your Cat To Walk On a Lead and RSPCA Tips On How To Safely Use A Cat Backpack
Regular health checks
Regular health checks, for us and our pets, are recommended by medical professionals to ensure optimal health and to identify any early signs of illness or medical concerns. Identifying health issues early can increase the chance of effective treatment and positively impact the health of the patient.
Regular vaccinations and preventatives ensure your cat is protected against deadly diseases and parasites. Vaccinations protect against diseases such as feline herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia. Preventatives protect cats against deadly parasites including heartworm, fleas and intestinal worms. Ticks, including the deadly paralysis tick are present in many areas of Australia so protection against ticks is also recommended. Combination products such as Nexgard Spectra, Bravecto Plus and Revolution Plus protect against most common parasites.
Looking for information on the best preventatives for your cat? Read our veterinary written article Flea, Tick and Worm Prevention in Cats.
Dental health
As part of your cat's regular health examination, your veterinarian will check for any signs of dental disease. Many pet parents may be surprised to learn that around 80% of cats over the age of three years have some degree of dental disease. Dental disease not only causes pain for your cat, but chronic inflammation around the teeth and gums as well as the presence of bacteria, can lead to more serious health consequences for your pet including damage to the heart, kidneys, and liver.
The good news is dental disease is completely preventable! Starting dental prevention is one of the easiest ways to improve your cat's long term health. Preventatives such as regular tooth brushing, therapeutic dental diets, dental treats, water additives as well as chews and powders, can all decrease plaque build-up and protect your cat against dental disease.
Battle the bulge
As much as we've all enjoyed the holiday feeding frenzy, the New Year reminds us of the importance of a healthy waistline and dare we say it, portion control. Many people can be carrying a few extra kilo's due to Christmas festivities, and this may be no different for our furry companions.
While it may be tempting to just scoop "about... this much?" kibble as well as a few titbits here and there, this can quickly lead to overfeeding. So how do you know how many calories you should be feeding your cat each day? Thankfully, most pet food packaging contains clear feeding guidelines for you to follow based on your pet's weight and body condition.
If you and your cat are embarking on a New Year weight loss challenge, then feeding a diet formulated for Weight Loss may help them shed a few extra holiday kilo's. Veterinary Prescription Weight Loss Diets are particularly effective but remember to always check with your veterinarian before starting your cat on a Prescription Diet to ensure this is suitable for your pet.
Top recommended weight loss products
Swap screen time for playtime
There is no doubt that screen time, whether on a phone, laptop, or tablet, is an integral part of modern society. While we all enjoy lazying in front of a screen from time to time, too much screen time can have a negative effect on our health and relationships. Excessive screen time has been linked to side effects such as headaches, back and neck problems, obesity, depression, and anxiety. Screen time makes us less 'present' and can affect relationships around us, even our pets.
Why not try a digital detox for an hour or so, and spend some quality time playing with your cat? Chances are you and your cat will really enjoy the time together, without your pesky phone getting in the way!
For more information read our veterinary written article Games Your Can Play With Your Cat .
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Mon Nov 3 2025
Edited by Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr Belinda graduated from The University of Queensland in 2009 and has worked as a Small Animal Veterinarian for over 10 years in South East Queensland. She also has experience as a telehealh consultant, providing veterinary advice for online customers.She has a special interest in animal behaviour, preventative health, the human-animal bond and internal medicine. Outside of work hours she is closely affiliated with a kitten rescue and is also a devoted carer of orphaned rescue kittens.
