I have been lucky to spend my life living with cats, and I have always been fascinated by their charm, beauty and complex behaviours. Many years ago, I began studying feline behaviour, and received an MSc from the University of Edinburgh in Animal Welfare and Animal Behaviour.  Much of my research was focused on the effects of stress on cat behaviour.

Whilst cats are often loving, playful, and easy to live with, some cats exhibit behaviours that cause problems for them and their owners. My philosophy is that cats are intelligent and sensitive animals who are showing problem behaviours for a reason. As a cat trainer and behaviourist, I ask the question ‘why is this cat doing this behaviour’?
The answer is often stress related, caused by personal or environmental reasons the owner may be unaware of. In focusing on the reasons for their behaviour, the solution to the problem behaviour often becomes clear.

Using this approach, I will come to your home to assess your cat, the cat’s environment and other factors that may be affecting their behaviour. Once we figure out why the cat is acting that way, we can make the changes required to reduce your cat’s stress, teach them alternate behaviours, and thereby help them to reduce or stop their problem behaviours.

Some of the problem behaviours that I can help you with include:

• Aggression between cats
• Aggression from cat to humans or to dogs
• Destructive scratching
• Litter tray issues
• Urine marking
• Fear and anxiety
• Problems between a cat and other animals in household
• Worries about cat and baby interactions
• Excessive meowing
• Repetitive behaviours
• Older cats behaviour problems

Please get in touch if you and your cat are having problems. Initially I will speak to you on the phone, and get some basic information from you. I will then send you an assessment form for you to complete and return. I will schedule a home visit to meet your cat, and your family and see the environment where the cat lives. The first home visit will last approximately 60 to 90 minutes. Following this I will write up my assessment and treatment recommendations using the latest research in cat behaviour and psychology.

I will then schedule a follow-up visit to discuss these recommendations with you. Later follow-up visits or telephone consultations are available if required.