The short answer? Because cats need help adjusting to our lives—and we need help understanding theirs.

After over a decade in animal rescue, I’ve seen cats discarded at 2–3 times the rate of dogs. They’re abandoned, surrendered to shelters, or even euthanized—often labeled a “problem.”

Behavior concerns like house soiling, spraying, aggression, or extreme fear are the most common causes.

Yet these behaviors are rarely unfixable. A modest investment in expert help—just a few hundred dollars—can dramatically shift outcomes. With guidance and follow-through, many of these cats go from being at risk to being well-loved family members.

In fact, this kind of support often saves their lives.

Cats Deserve Support Too

It’s not yet common for cats to receive behavior training or professional support. Many people still view this as a luxury—something reserved for dogs.

But let’s shift that thinking.

Even low-income dog owners often find the $200 for basic training. Why don’t we do the same for cats?

The belief that “cats can’t be trained” or that they “take care of themselves” simply isn’t true—not for domesticated cats. These are outdated myths that harm real animals.

If you adopted, purchased, or rescued a cat, you’ve made a commitment. Investing in their well-being—through behavior support—isn’t extravagant. It’s responsible, loving, and often life-saving.

Step 1: Collecting Details

Our first step is a history session. This can be a virtual call or an in-home visit. We’ll walk through your cat’s environment, and you’ll have the chance to share concerns, videos, or examples of problem behaviors.

Step 2: Impressions & Initial Changes

I’ll give you my early impressions and help you understand what’s happening—from your cat’s perspective. I’ll also offer immediate changes to ease the biggest concerns as quickly as possible.

Step 3: Custom Behavior Plan

I’ll create a tailored plan. It may involve:

• A vet visit

• Environmental adjustments

• Diet tweaks

• Gradual reintroductions (for aggression cases)

You’ll receive clear steps to follow at your pace.

Step 4: Follow-Ups

After the plan is delivered, I’ll check in via text or email. You’re welcome to message me any time.

We’ll schedule additional follow-ups (virtual or in-person) as needed to track progress, troubleshoot issues, or update the plan.

It’s important to understand the difference between an animal behaviorist and a behavior consultant. The terms often get confused—even by professionals.

Many animal training and behavior consultants refer to themselves as “behaviorists” when they are not. I also used the term incorrectly early in my career.

So What Is a True Behaviorist?

A true animal behaviorist typically holds advanced degrees—like a doctorate or master’s—often in veterinary science or zoology with an emphasis in behavior. These professionals:

• May be veterinarians (DVMs) who specialize in behavior

• May hold a master’s or PhD in animal behavior

• Often study multiple species in depth

• Sometimes have the authority to prescribe medication

Behaviorists often work in clinics, universities, or as part of a veterinary practice. They may offer in-person or virtual consults, but in-home visits are rare. Appointments tend to be brief—around 30 minutes—and costly, usually $300–$400. You may also wait up to six weeks for an opening.

There are absolutely times when working with a board-certified behaviorist is the right choice.

What About Behavior Consultants?

Animal behavior consultants (or trainers) usually hold certifications rather than advanced degrees. These programs are less expensive and less time-intensive, but still valuable.

While behavior consultants may not have the same academic credentials, they often have deep hands-on experience and practical knowledge. They are generally:

• Easier to find and schedule with

• More affordable

• Willing to do in-home visits (especially important for cats)

• Able to spend more time with clients overall

For example, while you may pay $175–$250 for a two-hour session with a consultant, that time often includes 3–4 hours of review, planning, and follow-up—not just the visit itself.

From a financial perspective:

• Behaviorists often earn $150–$200 per hour

• Consultants typically earn $40–$75 per hour, with lower overhead

So Who Am I?

To be clear:
I am a feline behavior consultant, not a behaviorist.

I bring years of experience, a holistic approach, and the flexibility to work closely with you and your cat—especially in the comfort of your own home.

Looking beyond basic protocols and training methods, there are many holistic tools that support a cat’s healing journey. As a holistic feline behavior consultant, I approach each case from multiple angles.

One powerful tool is energy work. It can often accelerate emotional healing or behavior change.

Some research suggests cats experience the widest emotional range among domesticated animals. As a cat parent, you’ve probably seen this firsthand—those feelings play across their faces: fear, jealousy, excitement, confusion, affection, anxiety, and more.

To be clear, I don’t believe in projecting human emotions onto cats. But I do believe cats have deep emotional lives of their own—and those emotions have energy.

Each feeling has a vibrational frequency. When cats carry trapped emotional energy, especially low-frequency types like fear or sadness, it can affect their behavior and well-being. Releasing that energy can help them move forward.

This is why I often recommend energy work in conjunction with veterinary care and behavioral plans.

Other Holistic Tools I May Recommend:

• Nutritional suggestions

• Crystals for emotional support

• Tapping by proxy (EFT)

• Healing frequencies

• Supplements and flower essences

• Aromatherapy (cat-safe only, of course)

These are never “instead of” medical care—but rather gentle, supportive tools to round out your cat’s healing journey.

Both options have unique pros and cons. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide what works best for you and your cat:

🖥 Virtual Sessions – Benefits:

• Lower cost

• Flexible scheduling

• Less stress for you and kitty

• No stranger in your home

Possible Limitations:

• I may miss environmental triggers (sights, smells, sounds)

• Technology hiccups (camera/audio issues)

• Less ability to observe your cat’s real-time body language

🏡 In-Home Visits – Benefits:

• Greater ability to spot behavioral triggers

• In-person connection and observation

• Easier to assess your cat’s trainability (if they’re not hiding)

Possible Limitations:

• You might feel pressure to “clean up,” unintentionally hiding clues

• More scheduling coordination required

• Slightly higher cost due to added travel and time

Author of Purrrfecting Your Bond: A Practical & Spiritual Guide to Create a Lasting, Loving Relationship with Your Kitty released August of 2024

Feline Training and Behavior Certification from Animal Behavior Institute

            Courses Completed:

            Animal Behavior, an Evolutionary Approach

            Feline Training

            Feline Behavior and Enrichment

Advanced Feline Training Certification from Animal Behavior Institute

            Additional Courses Completed:

            Feline Health and Nutrition

            Advanced Feline Training

Over 15,000 Hours Volunteering in Feline Rescue Work

Certified Fear Free Professional

Feline Elimination Expert Certification from Jones Animal Behavior

Feeding Felines: An Evidence-Based Cat Nutrition Course from The Science Dog

Cat Consulting Mentorship with Katenna Jones from International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

Professional Member of the Cat Writer’s Association

Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants

Certified Emotion Code Practitioner from Discover Healing

Certified Body Code Practitioner from Discover Healing

Certified Belief Code Practitioner from Discover Healing

Author of Purrrfect Bonds Children’s Coloring Book: A Fun Story Guide to Help Children & Families Create Healthy Relationships with Cats released in October of 2024

Author of Neonatal Orphaned Kitten Care: Fostering the Most Fragile Felines a 30-page guidebook released in October 2021

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from BYU

Holistic Carnivore Nutrition Certification from Holistic Animal Studies

Pet Homeopathic Educator Certification from Academy of Natural Health