Are you a cat whisperer? This is a question I get asked at least a dozen times a day. My answer is always No.

The Good, the Bad, and the Totally Unqualified

With the increase in popularity of the study of animal behavior and the popularity of the TV show The Dog Whisperer, more and more people are calling themselves cat behavior experts, cat psychologists, cat therapists, cat behaviorists and cat whisperers. The problem is that in this unregulated field anyone can claim to be an expert. Anyone can put up a website, make claims about their expertise and post testimonials but how do you know their expertise is valid? The problem is you don’t know unless you do your homework and find out more about them. If you’re having a behavior problem with your pet and your family life is in crisis because of it, you may be enticed by claims of “guaranteed” results or lots of testimonials on the website (that may or may not even be real), but a wrong choice may result in making the behavior problem worse.

Starting Off Right

If you’re in a position where you feel you need professional help with a cat behavior problem, how do you go about choosing the right expert? First, start with your veterinarian. I know it doesn’t sound as glamorous as consulting with someone who claims to have some sort of special rapport with cats and ability to “whisper” to them, but many behavior problems can be the result of an underlying medical problem. An examination by your veterinarian should be your first step. You’d be surprised how many times a litter box problem is due to lower urinary tract disease, renal failure or diabetes, just to name a few. I’ve seen lots of cases of aggression as well where the cause turned out to be medical such as periodontal disease, spinal pain, abscess, arthritis, and so on. So don’t skip this step even if you’re convinced the problem is behavioral.

When you visit your veterinarian, be specific and honest about the behavior the cat has been displaying. Sometimes when the veterinarian asks how often the litter box is cleaned the client may be embarrassed and not tell the truth. That doesn’t help the cat so when the veterinarian asks questions give as honest and complete of an answer as you can.

There’s no Magic

Behavior modification is a powerful tool and if done correctly, is an effective way to change unwanted behavior. Behavior modification is science-based and there’s no magic or whispering about it. A trained, professional, certified expert can explain to you how and why the process works and the science behind it. A certified expert will not “guarantee” results because much of the success of behavior modification depends on client compliance and the specifics of the case. A qualified professional also won’t give you a promise that behavior problems can be “fixed” in a short amount of time. Every case is unique and every case has specific circumstances. Your neighbor’s cat with the same behavior problem may take twice as long to correct as your cat’s issue.

 

Look foProfessionalsWho are Fully Certified in Their Field

The best way to protect yourself from the multitude of so-called experts is to ask your veterinarian for a referral to a fully certified behavior expert.  Certified Animal Behavior Consultants are certified through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. There are associate certified consultants in the IAABC but they haven’t passed the certification requirements. How they may advertise might cause confusion for you but associate members are not certified.  Be sure the person you hire is a CCBC or CABC. Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists are certified through the Animal Behavior Society. Veterinary Behaviorists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. You can visit their websites for more information and for the location of a certified professional nearest you. If there isn’t one in your area, many certified professionals will do telephone consultations.

Am I saying that all cat behavior experts who aren’t certified are no good? Certainly not, but since anyone can put up a sign or a website, the best way to protect yourself is to choose someone who has proven that they have met the educational and ethical requirements as well as having documented experience in their field as formally recognized by professional certifying associations.

What to Expect

• Don’t hesitate to ask the behavior professional you’re considering about their educational and experiential background. Is this someone who has demonstrated true expertise in their field or someone who has put up an impressive website and claims to be good with cats because they’ve had many cats in their lifetime? Is their advertising misleading or does it accurately reflect factual information about the professional’s level of expertise?

 

• Research the behavior expert’s credentials. Have they been certified by one of the certifying associations mentioned above? To be certified, an expert must meet the strict requirements set forth by the specific certifying body. To maintain certification status the expert must also maintain documented educational requirements on a regular basis. This also tells you that the expert is continuing to stay current in their field. Certified experts must also adhere to strict ethical guidelines established by the specific certifying association. They aren’t permitted to make claims outside of their area of expertise, they must respect your confidentiality, not judge or blame, not make a medical diagnosis (unless they have a veterinary degree as well) and not promise guaranteed results.

 

• You should feel comfortable talking with the certified behavior expert and also be comfortable with the proposed behavior modification plan. In order for behavior modification to be successful, it must be a plan that fits your abilities, schedule and lifestyle. A qualified professional will work with you to establish a customized plan to fit you and your cat. There is no one-size-fits all behavior modification plan.

• The behavior expert should provide an explanation of why the proposed behavior modification is being chosen and the science behind it.

 

• Whether you’re doing an in-home consultation, in-clinic consultation or telephone consultation, you will need to fill out a detailed behavior and medical history questionnaire. Even if a question on the form doesn’t seem relevant, fill out the form to the best of your abilities to help the behavior professional put all pieces of the puzzle together.

 

• The behavior professional should provide you with follow-up instructions.

Remember, the first step is to visit your veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical problem. If you have any questions, visit the websites above to learn more about professional animal behavior consulting.

At Cat Behavior Associates, cat behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett, CCBC, PCBC is fully certified through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is also a Professional Member of the Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. With over  27 years of experience, she is considered to be the pioneer in the field of cat behavior consulting. Many consultants in this profession today credit Pam as their mentor and refer to her books as the cat behavior bibles. Much of the information you see on other cat behavior websites and shelter websites came from Pam Johnson-Bennett’s books, lectures and years of leadership in the cat behavior profession.

 

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