Here are some things that I can call myself, based upon my certifications:
Cat Behavior Consultant
Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist
Certified Cat Trainer
Fear Free Certified Professional
Professional Dog Trainer
Here's the thing - anyone, ANYONE, can refer to themselves as a cat specialist or behaviorist. Please not that I do not refer to myself as a behaviorist. There are currently no regulations in the animal behavior and training industry that can prevent a five year-old, even, from claiming expertise in this field. And actually, in the United States, in order to legitimately claim you are a "behaviorist" you must be a veterinarian with a specialty in animal behavior.
There are a growing number of animal behavior certifications that can be attained by paying a (somewhat decent) sum of money and getting a passing grade. I am not trying to discount any programs in general, but I will say that I had to learn clicker training on my own because none of the programs that I completed had adequately covered it, and it was really important to me to develop training as a skill in my work with cats. I ended up paying for and completing multiple programs because I didn't feel like any one program provided enough information for me to feel like I had a solid understand of cat behavior and training - but that's all part of the "imposter syndrome" that so many of us have to deal with!
So what CAN a cat behavior/training specialist do?
This may depend on which specialist you ask, as each professional may have a particular specialty or preference for the type of case they will take on. It's kind of like a general practitioner versus a gastroenterologist. While cat behavior/training specialists are certainly not the same as veterinarians, we can certainly have our own unique preferences, skills, and talents when it comes to how and why we might specialize in a particular aspect of cat behavior. I recently gave this example to my friends: "I know how to make brownies. But they never come out right. So I just buy them if I want them." Thus, just because one cat behavior specialist can help you with cat to cat introductions, it doesn't mean they feel really strong in coaching a client through them, or it could be because there is liability involved, or it could even be because these cases can take some time to resolve (and sometimes they never do). This is me speaking about myself, by the way!
Some of the things a cat behavior/training specialist might do can include:
Identify concerning cat behaviors
Help to address/resolve house soiling
Formulate behavioral/training plans for cats exhibiting aggression
Help cats and guardians to coexist peacefully
Help make homes more cat-friendly
Work with the cat's veterinarian to help troubleshoot various issues of concern
Teach the guardian how to add enrichment activities and make them routine
Teach the guardian to do clicker training with the cat (loads of applications here!)
I used to offer ALL of the above to my clients, and then I burned out, by the way.
What professional services do I MYSELF offer?
Great question! I'm actually working on that, and it's an ever-evolving answer. I just ended a five year stint managing a pet retail company, and I am in the process of reinventing myself. I am currently focusing on producing e-Books that anyone, anywhere can access at a more affordable rate than what a consultation would traditionally cost. I am also saving up for a farm so that I can work on rehabilitating cats with behavioral and/or medical needs, and I am working on creating ways to earn residual income. That's more than you needed to know, but it's my truth!
I almost always have a foster cat and I offer board & train services to help rehabilitate fearful cats, or cats with other special needs.
I am also meditating on what feels authentic to me and I am looking at some additional services that I would like to offer, and how I would like to offer them. Historically I have offered 1 - 1.5 hour sessions, and that doesn't feel like something I necessarily want to offer again. So I'm looking at what I said to a client years ago - doing something in "bite sized pieces." Stay tuned if you are interested in working with me, and please always feel free to reach out. If I feel that I am not the right fit for your needs, I will let you know and I will send you a different suggestion and likely a referral to a colleague.
What I claim for myself is experience, research, and humility in my very niche field. I know that I will never know everything about cats. That is not my goal - my goal is to be present with cats. I seek to understand the needs of cats. What motivates this individual cat? What is this cat nervous about? Why is this cat doing this particular behavior?
My biggest truth in working with cats is that I prefer one-on-one work with them. This is why I will have a facility as soon as I can make that happen. I want to teach others through not only showing them, but through allowing them to experience it. I want to co-create an experience with cats and humans that transcends traditional behavioral consulting, and move cats and people into a space that is designed for healing, growth, and self-reflection.
And with that, I trust that you will understand my vibe a bit better and I invite you to keep tabs on me through Instagram, which is where I post about my current foster cat(s) and what I am up to. Ta for meow!
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