Frequently Asked Questions

---

Clients usually contact me for four primary reasons: aggressive behaviours (towards people or other animals), house soiling issues, help with enrichment or training, and fear or anxiety in their cats. In the appointment, I begin by helping clients assess their homes for potential stressors, as these often contribute to unwanted behaviours and modifying the environment can resolve many issues. We then discuss management and prevention strategies to mitigate these behaviours, and incorporate enrichment and training into the cat's daily routine to teach them desired, alternative behaviours that will enhance their well-being and promote stronger bonds between cat and caregiver.

To support the dogs who need it most, Radiant Cats offers behaviour consultations and training for canine behaviour cases on a veterinary referral basis only. I do not offer general dog training or behaviour consulting without a veterinary referral. (Note: the veterinary referral form for dogs is under construction, please email radiantcatsbehaviour@gmail.com to connect for the referral)

Radiant Cats is specifically focused on cats because they are frequently misunderstood, and there are far fewer resources available to help their caregivers. There is a huge need for trustworthy, feline-friendly behaviour advice! I also love training cats and sharing fun cat facts with their guardians.

When it comes to dogs, there are many trainers to choose from, but the options become more limited when families are looking for positive-reinforcement, welfare-centred support for dogs experiencing behavioural challenges. These cases require a thoughtful, individualized approach. The dog's behaviour can become more difficult to manage when concerns are not addressed appropriately or when training methods rely on conflict, intimidation, or fear.

Seeing all cats and veterinary-referred dogs allows Radiant Cats to stay true to its original mission: providing caregivers with expert, evidence-informed behaviour and training support where it is most needed. In Edmonton, there is a significant lack of feline behaviour professionals, and also relatively few professionals available to support complex canine behaviour cases in collaboration with veterinary teams.

If your veterinarian believes your dog would benefit from behaviour support, they can refer you to Radiant Cats for a consultation.

Choosing a training professional can be a challenging but critical decision. For those who are searching for a general dog trainer, here is an article with information about what to look for: companionanimalpsychology.com. 

You can also search for a trainer using these directories:

• Karen Pryor Academy Find a Trainer
• Fear Free Directory
• Alberta Force Free Alliance

You can ask, but I will tell you to contact your veterinarian for all non-behaviour questions. If a behaviour concern stems from a medical diagnosis, or if your veterinarian has diagnosed your cat with a behaviour disorder, I would love to work with you and your veterinarian to create and carry out a treatment plan. You can reach out to me directly through my For Cat Guardians page, or you can request a veterinary referral. Your veterinarian can send the referral through my For Veterinarians page.

No, but I can understand the confusion! There are a million certifications and titles out there, and it's challenging to know what they all mean. The title of "behaviourist" is only for Veterinary Behaviourists (DACVB) and Certified Applied Animal Behaviourists (CAAB). 

For the same reason, I do not call myself a "behaviour specialist". As a Registered Vet Tech (RVT), I must complete a rigorous skills assessment and board examination before I can earn the title of Specialist. I plan to write my board exams in 2028 to become a Vet Tech Specialist in Behaviour (VTS-B), but until then, I'm simply a cat behaviour expert or consultant (which are not protected titles). 

I focused my consulting towards cats because I feel like they are often misunderstood and forgotten. I have experience handling, caring for, or providing veterinary care for a variety of animals like horses, birds, reptiles, rabbits and other small mammals. I would never say no to learning how to help any animal. If you have other pets that you want to ask me about, feel free to send me an email with the species and your question, and if I'm confident I can help you we can discuss setting up a consultation. If I am not able to support you, I will direct you to someone who is more familiar with your species or specific concerns.