top of page

Human-directed aggression in cats

This covers aggressive behaviour directed towards you, your family or visitors. Examples include scratching or biting when being petted and swiping as people pass by.

 

Home visits can be undertaken throughout Northamptonshire, as well as around Banbury, Market Harborough and Milton Keynes. Assessments can also be undertaken remotely nationwide.

​

Feeling worried for you and your cat, hurt, annoyed or just overwhelmed with all the to-do? If so, I can help!

Are you struggling with your cat:

​

  • Biting or scratching you during petting;

  • Attacking you or your visitors when passing; or

  • Any other form of aggression aimed at humans?

 

It can be very hard to live with cats that bite or scratch, as well as being potentially very dangerous. Both management and rehabilitation is usually needed – for practical reasons and to protect the welfare of your loved pet and yourself!

​

I can help you transform your cat’s behaviour by giving you the tools to prevent the undesired behaviour and encourage more appropriate behaviour via a step-by-step plan, tailored to you and your cat(s).

A behaviour consultation involves the following steps:

​

  • Free initial telephone or Zoom call to discuss the help I can offer and to ensure you are happy with the process

  • Completion of a detailed history form and veterinary referral - this ensures I have a full set of information and that any underlying medical problems are taken into consideration and is in-line with my professional membership bodies’ Codes of Conduct

  • In-person or Zoom-based consultation, lasting between 1 and 2.5 hours – this allows me to fully assess each problem behaviour by clarifying details with you and takes into account the whole family’s experiences of the problem

  • Immediate intervention plan, discussed and agreed with you during the consultation – this allows immediate improvements to be made while keeping everyone safe and preventing further development of the problem(s)

  • Written report and additional resources, sent within a week of the consultation – details the assessment i.e. what is your cat feeling and why, and what is the immediate and longer term plan

  • Liaison with your vet, including written report – this ensures communication with your pet’s primary professional caregiver and is in-line with my membership bodies’ Codes of Conduct

  • Follow-up support for 8 weeks, including follow-up sessions via Zoom or telephone – this allows ongoing practical training support, as well as enabling me to tweak any bits of the plan that are not working for you or need further development (such as follow-on exercises that can only be implemented once initial improvement has been seen).

 

Package options:

 

Standard package: Up to 2 hour consultation, with 8 weeks of regular follow-up telephone or video calls and email support. £395

 

Premium package: Up to 2 hour consultation, with 12 weeks of regular follow-up telephone or video calls and email support. £450

 

After working with me, you should feel relieved and be able to enjoy your cat(s) again. No more scrubbing floors and walls or wondering why your cat is doing these things! And to top it all off, your cat will also be happier and secure in their world. You have the power to make this change! And all this can be done using scientific, proven and kind methods. My promise to you includes never using or recommending punishment-based devices, such as water sprays - welfare is paramount!

Ready to get started?

​

  • Book your chosen package type via the links below

  • Obtain a veterinary referral

  • Prepare the intake questionnaire

  • After the consultation you will receive the Behaviour Modification Plan in report form, with additional supporting materials

  • Receive ongoing support to continue to progress and restore harmony!

FAQs

How quickly can you solve the problem? Many cat behaviour issues require careful environmental changes and/or re-training over time. Sometimes you will see an improvement straight away, just by learning about the whys and hows, but usually it takes a few weeks to months to see a full resolution. There is often some level of ongoing management needed, especially where human safety is an issue.

Can you guarantee to solve all my cat’s problems? Unfortunately, there are no guarantees as every situation and every cat is different. The Behaviour Modification Plan will take a significant amount of effort on your part but I will never ask you to do anything you cannot do, whether due to practical reasons or something else, e.g. lack of time. Having worked with many cats over the years, with all sorts of issues, I can promise you I am in a great position to help you!

My cat has multiple issues or doesn’t quite fit the profile described above That’s no problem! I will take account of everything that concerns you in the behaviour consultation, based on your priorities, as well as safety and welfare. My packages are the same in layout and price. You can either book a standard consultation or chat to me first here if you would like some reassurance.

Why is a veterinary referral needed? Medical issues, including pain, can significantly affect cat behaviour. It is also part of my professional Code of Conduct. It is therefore essential for me to work with the knowledge and support of your vet. Most vets do not charge for this and I can even arrange it for you.

Can I claim on my insurance? As a Full Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors, I am recognised by many pet insurers in the UK but it will depend on your policy. Please check your policy wording carefully and check with your insurer directly if it is not obvious what and who they cover. Unfortunately I am unable to offer direct claims at the moment but I am happy to work with your insurer to get your claim paid back to you.

bottom of page