Pam Johnson-Bennett, CCBC, PCBC is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and best-selling author of 8 books. She is a former Vice-President of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and is the founder/co-chair of the organization’s Cat Division. She is a professional member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Pam is also on the American Humane Association’s Advisory Board on Animal Behavior and Training. She is on the Advisory Board for Tree House Humane Society and also works with the Winn Feline Foundation. Pam is a professional member of the Animal Behavior Management Alliance and a member of the Animal Behavior Society.

Pam’s “Think Like a Cat” Approach

Pam is one of the most well-known cat behaviorists and considered a pioneer in the field of cat behavior consulting. Her ground-breaking “Think Like a Cat” approach to cat behavior has been featured and profiled in numerous magazines and television shows. To the cat behavior professionals in the field today, Pam Johnson-Bennett has been a mentor and leader since she first paved the way in the early 1980s. Although she doesn’t like being referred to as a cat whisperer, many have tried to copy her talent and skill without success. Her books are considered the “cat bibles” when it comes to understanding felines and what makes them tick. She is the top selling cat book author in the world. Much of the information you read on the websites of shelters, animal welfare organizations and behavior consultants came from Pam’s books and her ground-breaking work.

In the Media

Pam travels extensively to lecture on cat behavior at veterinary and animal welfare conferences around the country. She also makes numerous appearances on television and radio. She is the resident behavior expert for Friskies and has done many national tours with the famous Friskies cats seen on TV and in movies. Pam has been featured on CNN, Fox News Channel, CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox & Friends, National Geographic, AM Canada, Animal Planet Radio, Woman’s World, Newsweek, Prevention, USA Today, Complete Woman, Seattle Times, Newsday, The Tennessean, Chicago Tribune, National Enquirer, USA Weekend, Washington Post, PetLife, Cat Fancy, Cats Magazine, Parade, as well as countless other television and radio programs and print publications.

Previously, Pam was the behavior columnist for ivillage, Yahoo, Cat Fancy’s Cat Channel, Kittens USA, the Daily Cat, and Cats Magazine. She was also the cat behaviorist on the Friskies “Dream Team” along with the Today Show’s Lou Manfredini and celebrity interior designer Frank Beilec. Together, they designed the Friskies Ultimate Cat habitat that was unveiled to national media and showcased around the country. It was designed to help cat owners learn ways to provide a more stimulating environment for their cats. She was also the spokesperson for the national Friskies contest that awarded three lucky winners with their own home version of the cat habitat.

Pam, along with country superstar Leann Rimes, was the spokesperson for the Friskies prototype cageless shelter that was created at Northshore Animal League in New York. The shelter  was unveiled to national media and was designed to encourage cats to live in social groups. This also increased the chances that potential owners would adopt more than one cat at a time after seeing how well they got along together.

Being on the road is a normal part of life for Pam. She has toured nationally with the famous Friskies cats as part of an educational program to demonstrate how to create a more cat-friendly home and  show some fun training ideas. The tours included television, radio and live shows.

Pam was the spokesperson and one of the judges for the Friskies shelter grant program. Recently, Pam was the cat behaviorist for Friskies’ latest project, The Friskies Playhouse. Some very fortunate shelter cats got to live in this ultimate playhouse for two weeks while waiting for their forever homes. The Friskies Playhouse was equipped with live camera feeds where Facebook users could tune in and watch the action as well as control camera angles and toy movements. Pam’s responsibility was to make sure all the elements in the Playhouse were safe, healthy, encouraged stimulation and were fun. She also advised Friskies on choosing the cats, how to introduce them to the environment and addressing their day-to-day needs.

Pam is the recipient of numerous awards including the Winn Feline Foundation Award and multiple Cat Writers’ Association awards.

Cat Behavior Associates

Pam owns Cat Behavior Associates, LLC, a private veterinarian-referred behavior company in Nashville, TN. Telephone and email consultations are available by appointment. Her office deals with all types of cat behavior and training issues from litter box problems, intercat aggression, compulsive behaviors, furniture scratching, human-directed aggression, depression, fear-based behaviors, new cat introductions and much more.

On the Personal Side

Pam lives in Nashville with her husband, two children, a dog and a cat. Recently, Pam ventured out of the world of cat behavior and co-authored  the popular book on the roller coaster world of motherhood, Cookies for Dinner (White River Press). The book is available through online retailers and in bookstores everywhere.