Frequently Asked Questions
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What is your philosophy in your work with cats?
My philosophy as a cat behavior specialist is to be your cat’s advocate. What we perceive as behavior problems is often our cat trying to cope with boredom, frustration, stressors, or fears the only way they know how (i.e., aggression, house-soiling, etc.). I don’t see cat behavior concerns as problems to fix. These behavior concerns are our cats trying to communicate their discomfort about something with us in cat language, but we as humans don’t speak cat! My goal is to help you decipher your cat’s behavior to better anticipate and accommodate their needs alleviating behavior concerns and allowing you to build a stronger bond with your cat. You can read more about my philosophy here.
What is your approach?
My approach is integrative. I'm educated from a scientific and conventional standpoint in feline domestication, development, communication, and social behavior that contribute to feline behavior. Understanding these components and observational skills helps me identify behavioral and environmental areas that could be causing your cat's behavioral concerns.
However, I also subscribe to an emotionally-attuned, intuitive, and holistic approach. Your cat's physical, mental, and emotional health and behavior, I believe, are interconnected. Your bond with your cat and your behaviors and emotions can impact your cat. I believe in discussing and addressing all of these areas to best help your cat and you!
What do you mean by emotionally attuned when talking about your approach?
Emotional attunement in my work means that I practice from a place of emotional awareness, empathy, and compassion in working with cats and people. I do not view behavior separately or as a problem with a specific methodology or formula to fix.
I seek to become aware, hold space, and acknowledge the emotional pretext of the behavior individually with each cat and person. I use my understanding of a cat's instincts, body language, and intuition to help me connect with and understand cat emotions. I practice this myself and impart it to my clients, so they can also practice emotional attunement and awareness with their cats and themselves.
Do you consider yourself a cat trainer, and do you offer any training services?
No, I do not and do not offer training services. I focus on helping guardians understand their cat's behavior by understanding their emotions and instincts. I believe this is a crucial component that needs more awareness and investigation before training is considered. However, if I feel your cat may benefit from training services, I will refer you to a cat trainer or provide you with training resources.
How do I determine if we're a good fit to work together?
I encourage you to read The Fulfilled Feline's Philosophy to help you determine if we're a good fit to work together.