HOW TO FIND A GOOD CAT BEHAVIOURIST
A cat behaviourist (often called a Cat Behaviour Counsellor or Consultant) is a professional person who helps owners to resolve or understand any kind of behaviour in their cats that is worrying them or they find difficult to handle. Some UK cat behaviourists are also vets and tend to be called Veterinary Behaviourists.
Choosing a cat behaviourist to help with a problem can be challenging, as the profession is not regulated like it is with vets, doctors or lawyers, but your local vet should be able to recommend someone.
HOW DO I KNOW A CAT BEHAVIOURIST HAS THE RIGHT QUALIFICATIONS?
Experience and qualifications are essential for a good cat behaviourist. Your vet should be able to recommend a good behaviourist and make sure you get a recommendation from someone you can trust. All good cat behaviourists in the UK work on referral from vets only.
There are also various professional associations for pet behaviour counsellors in the UK; for example, the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC) or the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FABC).
The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) is a regulatory body and the only welfare charity that is mainly concerned with protecting the welfare and wellbeing of animals undergoing training and behaviour interventions.
The ABTC maintains a national register of appropriately qualified behaviourists and is endorsed by Battersea as well as other major UK animal welfare charities, and behavioural and veterinary organisations.
Many behaviourists work mostly with dogs, but this doesn’t mean that they will not be able to help you; many practitioners who work with a number of species are extremely effective. However, particularly in more complex cases, it can be beneficial to work with someone who has a particular interest and experience with cats.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO SEE A BEHAVIOURIST ABOUT MY CAT?
Most behaviourists, when working with cats, will visit you at home. Some may ask you to take your cat to them and provide photos, floor plans and video footage of your home instead.
