- OG Anunoby has partnered with Royal Canin and VCA Animal Hospitals to promote routine vet visits ahead of National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day on August 22.
- The campaign addresses veterinary clinical data showing cats make up only 20% of clinic visits compared to 80% for dogs.
- Feline vet visits drop 26% when cats enter young adulthood (ages 1–3), a life stage when dental disease, gingivitis, and weight gain typically emerge.
- The initiative expands Anunoby's previous work with both brands, building on their earlier "OG's Starting Five" shelter cat adoption program.
OG Anunoby, star forward for the New York Knicks, has partnered with Royal Canin and VCA Animal Hospitals to champion feline preventive healthcare. The nationwide campaign encourages pet owners to schedule annual checkups ahead of National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day on August 22.
The initiative highlights a major care gap identified by Mars Petcare and Mars Veterinary Health. Looking at data from over three million pet visits in 2025, veterinarians found that dogs accounted for nearly 80% of clinic appointments, while cats made up only 20%.
Feline vet visits also decline by 26% once cats transition into young adulthood (ages 1 to 3). During this period, nearly 30% of young cats develop dental calculus, and 10% struggle with gingivitis or unhealthy weight gain.
Because cats naturally hide discomfort, Anunoby stresses that proactive veterinary exams are essential for early diagnosis.
This campaign expands Anunoby’s ongoing relationship with both brands, following their “OG’s Starting Five” initiative that funded nutrition and medical care for shelter cats. Royal Canin has regularly teamed up with celebrity pet lovers, such as actor Scott Eastwood, to champion pet wellness.
The new campaign also adds to a busy commercial run for Anunoby who serves as a featured brand ambassador for Skechers. Recently, he teamed up with Essentia Water to launch a Times Square basketball activation.
He joins a wider movement of athletes and entertainers stepping into pet wellness. For example, Ashton Jeanty teamed up with PetIQ for a major athlete partnership to expand accessible clinic care, while Josh Hutcherson reunited with Hill’s Pet Nutrition for Clear The Shelters to boost nationwide pet adoptions.
Takeaways
This partnership marks an effective blend of sports culture and targeted veterinary public health. By aligning with a high-profile NBA defensive anchor known for discipline and routine, Royal Canin and VCA Animal Hospitals frame feline checkups as an essential wellness regimen rather than a sporadic errand.
The move helps normalize cat healthcare among a wider demographic and shows how cause-driven sports endorsements can directly tackle specific public education gaps.
How might athlete endorsements in the pet health category change how younger pet owners prioritize preventive veterinary care? Could more lifestyle and wellness brands tap professional athletes for cause-led pet health initiatives?
