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It's not easy to get regular exercise. But it's much easier to stick with it if you have an exercise partner. Unfortunately, most people have busy lives and lots of good excuses to avoid exercise. Dogs make excellent walking partners but absent a reliable human or a loyal dog, you can always turn to your sweet and devoted kitty to help you out.

Seriously. Cats have an impeccable sense of time. Your cat knows when you get up – or when she'd like you to get up. She knows when you should be feeding her, and she will clearly let you know if you've let that moment pass. She probably expects a particular greeting from you when you return home. She may be more in tune with your schedule than you realize. Use that to your advantage to help you maintain an exercise schedule.

You may not be able to convince your cat to trot alongside you on a leash and become your daily walking partner (though every cat is unique and yours just may do it) but you can still take your cat out with you on walks using a dog stroller or cat stroller. Why on earth would you do that? Because it's more fun to take a walk with your favorite pet than to walk alone, so you're more likely to do it. If you start a regular schedule of walking once or twice a day, and your cat really enjoys the experience, your cat will be your daily reminder and incentive to exercise.

Your cat won't get exercise in a pet stroller, of course, but she will get the opportunity to see and smell the great outdoors without the risk of getting lost, stolen or falling victim to any of the other perils that await wandering cats. But, the experience will give you exercise and thrill your cat's senses. Not a bad deal.

To get started, you need a quality dog stroller or cat stroller that is designed for jogging. Don't expect to just put your cat inside, zip it up and go for a nice walk. Chances are, your cat will have concerns about this strange new object and will object to being placed in it. She has to believe it's her idea. Open the pet stroller and leave it sitting out for a few days so your cat can properly mark it as her own property (as she has done with everything else in your house). Put a treat in it to encourage her to hop inside. Make it comfy so she'll nap in it. Once she has deemed the stroller worthy of being one of her “napping stations” or “observation decks,” try rolling it across the floor while she's inside. If she becomes alarmed, talk to her gently and assure her that this isn't a conspiracy to get her to the veterinarian. If she's still frightened, stop and try again later. If she seems ok with it, praise her and give her a nice petting or a treat – whatever makes her purr. The idea is for her to associate the stroller with pleasurable things.

Once she's cool with the idea that her new perch is mobile, move the stroller next to an open door and let her view and smell the outdoors. Gently roll her outside, talking to her, assuring her that she's ok. Make the first trip very short and sweet, just letting her experience the outdoors from the safety of the dog stroller. Praise her again when the trip is over and you're back inside.

Eventually, you can work your way up to a long, brisk daily walk or jog. If you do this at the same time each day, and make it fun for kitty, your cat may soon initiate the walk. When kitty hops into her stroller and gives you the “let's go” meow, she's helping you stay with the plan, like any good exercise partner should do.