Frequently Asked Questions

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Clients usually contact me for four primary reasons: inter-cat tension or conflict, 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.

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.

I focused my consulting towards cats because they are often misunderstood and forgotten, and I believe I can make a bigger difference in their lives. I also think there are MANY dog trainers out there to choose from, and an abundance of resources available for all sorts of canine behaviour questions. I caution dog parents that many trainers and resources range from ineffective to downright harmful,  so choosing a training professional can be a challenging but critical decision. Here is an article with info on how to choose a dog trainer: companionanimalpsychology.com. 

I have dog training credentials (KPA CTP) and experience, so I can certainly help with problems within a multi-species household (ie: dogs and cats not getting along). Send me an email with the details of your situation and I'll let you know if I can help. If I'm not able to assist you, I will direct you to an experienced trainer who can. 

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, and small mammals, and 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'm not confident, I will help you find someone who is more familiar with your species or concerns.