Behavior Modification
When a cat is not behaving as we want them to, it can be very frustrating for everyone in the household. We tend to think of them like little people with complex thoughts and motives. However, they really are more basic than that and if we try to think like a cat then their behavior makes sense. Cats have instincts which drive their behavior and like any creature they repeat behaviors that give them what they want. Once we determine what essential need is not being met for your cat, we can correct their behavior pretty easily. Let me help you think like a cat and restore peace to your household.
Behavior Counseling
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Common behavior issues can include:
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Inappropriate Elimination (outside of litter box)
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Aggression to People
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Aggression to Other Pets
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Scratching Furniture or Woodwork
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General Mischief
If you have a cat exhibiting any of these behaviors, you are not alone and your cat is not being bad on purpose! Your cat is just missing an essential need in the environment. You may be surprised at how small changes will make a big difference in your cat's behavior.
I offer a 30 minute phone call to assess the issues and make recommendations for a fee of $25. Many times this is enough for my clients to start making changes and see results.
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I also offer a home visit for $80 which allows me to see the cat's environment and provide a more intensive plan. A travel fee will be added for locations further than 10 miles from my location in Norge, VA.
Declawing Education
Cat declawing used to be very common for indoor cats but we have learned so much about the consequences of declawing and the ease of correcting inappropriate scratching that it is totally unnecessary these days. In fact, the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) has a policy on declawing domestic cats which states "Declawing should only be considered after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents an above normal health risk for its owner(s)." The AVMA holds the veterinarian obligated to educate the cat owner. Unfortunately, many veterinarians aren't aware of how easy it is to prevent scratching issues and don't share the unfortunate risks and behavioral consequences of declawing with cat owners. The AVMA's declawing policy can be found here - https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Declawing-of-Domestic-Cats.aspx
If you are considering declawing, please give me a chance to discuss options. Cats are driven by instincts and once we understand these instincts we can create a happy environment for them which prevents the need to declaw them.
