Behavioural Help for Cats

Is your cat a Jekyll and Hyde character?  Is your cat’s litter tray use a bit hit and miss? Or is your cat frightened of the neighbourhood bully?  Are you so busy that you never seem to find time to do anything about it?

Feline behaviour problems are more common than you might imagine.  Problem behaviour can take even the most diligent pet owners by surprise and is often the result of an unfortunate series of events, or a simple misunderstanding of cat behaviour and environmental requirements.

I can help.

I provide a non-judgemental approach and up to date, bespoke behaviour treatment programmes, designed to achieve positive behaviour change.  Using proven, welfare friendly strategies, I will support you every step of the way, so that you feel empowered and begin to enjoy life with your cat again.

Help is available for:

Why Choose Me?

• I am a fully qualified and accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist (see the About Me page for more details)

• Clinicians with my qualifications are recommended by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

• Most clients can claim for my fees on their pet insurance (please check with your insurer before booking)

• I work with a limited number of clients at any one time, ensuring focussed and bespoke support

• My behaviour treatment programmes are designed to give the best chance of success via intensive, targeted and supported coaching

How Does it Work?

Step 1 – Information Gathering

When you get in touch, we will ask you to provide a history of the problems you are having and information about your cat’s history and current lifestyle.  We will also provide a referral form for your vet to complete.  Once we have the information, we will book a time for your initial consultation and will ask for payment to hold the date.  One important step nearer to getting help.

Step 2 – Initial Consultation

I will visit you at your home, or if this is not possible, we will meet online. I will assess your cat’s behaviour and explain why the specific behaviours of concern have developed. We will decide upon our aims and goals for treatment and agree upon a Behaviour Change Package most likely to achieve the best outcome. The type and length of package will be dictated by the behaviour problem itself, your own learning style, other life commitments etc – I will recommend the package most likely to be successful (see examples below).

I will provide you with any essential management strategies to implement straight away. The fees for the Behaviour Change Package will be payable before we start work, by cash, cheque or BACS. You will receive a written behaviour assessment and initial action plan for your cat within the next 7 days. I will also send the referring vet a summary of my assessment, and liaise with them to discuss any medical issues, medication, supplements or diet change.

Step 3 – Behaviour Change Package

We will work together for the duration of your package using one or more of;

• Face to face, practical skills coaching sessions

• Progress tracking via your own online training diary, or weekly phone calls - ensuring that you and your cat are making progress in the right direction, and that you feel confident and supported

• Supporting materials in the form of videos or written handouts as needed, in a private online resource area

• Liaison with the referring vet as needed for cats requiring medication or with pre-existing medical conditions

I make sure that we are working towards the right goals, at the best speed, with as much technical and moral support as you need. Other demands on your time and energies are taken into account, to ensure that training is always achievable. The overall aim is to equip you with both the skills and the knowledge to become pretty much self-sufficient at problem solving and supporting your cat, enabling you to maintain their new improved behaviour choices going forwards. Much of our work with cats involves understanding their needs and manipulating their environment and interactions in order to meet those needs.

At the end of the package, progress will be reviewed and you can either continue to move forwards with your cat, using the tools you have learnt, or further support can be arranged where beneficial. If we have unused sessions in hand, these can either be refunded, or used to work on any other areas of concern.

Step 4 – Behaviour Change

When problem behaviour begins to change, it is a huge relief!  My aim is to work with you to improve your cat’s behaviour as efficiently as possible, using intensive, supported coaching, but considering your cat’s welfare every step of the way.  There are no magic wands and no quick fixes - reward based, ethologically appropriate behaviour treatment is proven to give long term positive change, without hurting or frightening your cat.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

We will always try to be clear about our prices, nobody likes unexpected costs. Fees for a standard behaviour consult with full written behaviour assessment and action plan are £380 if I attend in person, or £330 if we meet online. Other options are available, some costing more, some less, depending upon the complexity of the case and the scope of the written report provided. We will let you know before you book, if there will be any additional charges for travel outside our area. The standard behaviour consult includes;

• Case preparation, research, reviewing of video footage etc

• Liaising with the referring vet

• Travel within my standard service area for in-person consults

• The consult lasting about 2 hours

• Management strategies to help straight away

• Preparing and sending your behaviour assessment and initial action plan

• Preparing and sending a summary report to the referring vet

• Liaising further with the vet and any other practitioners regarding treatment plans involving both medical and behavioural elements

• Completing and returning paperwork for pet insurance claims

ABOUT BESPOKE BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PACKAGES

Written record keeping is not for everyone, many of us prefer to discuss and to learn face to face, or by telephone. So for some, written diary keeping is useful, whilst others might prefer a telephone catch up weekly.

Pandemics, family and work commitments, internet connection, geography and the cat’s behaviour may also impact how we work together.

Financial considerations are also part of the decision making, however my fees are covered by most insurance companies, so do check with your insurance provider.

For all of these reasons, a bespoke package of elements best suited to each individual case will be put together by discussion at the initial consult. I have provided some example packages below to give you some idea of the range of costs and timescales involved.

Please note that behaviour change is affected by variables other than the ones that we manipulate or have any choice about. The suggestion of a package does not therefore imply or guarantee a specific outcome during that time period.

The best results are achieved when owners;

• Commit to consistent application of the recommended strategies

• Consider their cat’s emotional and physical welfare at every step

• Keep in regular contact with me throughout.

I have helped hundreds of owners and their pets to work through a huge variety of issues, and will be committed to helping you too.

EXAMPLE BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PACKAGES

We recognise, that a package of behavioural treatment is a significant financial commitment, and this is reflected in a reduced rate for the pre-paid behaviour packages. Some example package prices are given below.

Example - 4 Week Behaviour Change Package - all sessions provided online

£100 (save £10)

Suitable for some mild or recent onset behavioural issues requiring simple changes to the home environment, routine or interactions. This package includes;

• Progress tracking via twice weekly online diary check-ins for 4 weeks to ensure progress

• Email support for the duration of the package for quick questions and troubleshooting

• Written guides and video links to support learning

Example - 8 Week Behaviour Change Package - all sessions provided online

£200 (save £20)

Suitable for some longer standing behavioural issues requiring more involved management and environmental manipulation. This package includes;

• Progress Tracking via weekly 30 minute Zoom calls for 8 weeks to ensure progress

• Email support for the duration of the package for quick questions and troubleshooting

• Written guides and video links to support learning

Example - 12 Week Behaviour Change Package - all sessions provided online

£300 (save £30)

This package provides extra support to make a good start with more complex issues such as intercat conflict in multicat households, or long standing inappropriate urination in the home (subject to my assessment of your cat at the initial consult).  It is also useful for clients too far away to travel to, or when travel is restricted. This package includes;

• Progress Tracking via twice weekly online diary check-ins for 12 weeks to ensure progress

• Email support for the duration of the package for quick questions and troubleshooting

• Written guides and video links to support learning

Testimonials