Cat Behaviour Is Not a Mystery.

Yes, but the approach is different from dog training. Cats don't respond to commands and rewards in the same way. We change the environment that's producing the behaviour (resources, space, stress triggers, enrichment) rather than trying to 'train' it out of them.

Rarely. Aggression in cats is almost always driven by fear, pain, or unmet needs. A cat who is consistently aggressive is a cat who is consistently stressed. A proper behaviour assessment will identify the triggers, the underlying emotional state, and the management changes that can reduce or eliminate the aggression.

Cats are highly sensitive to strangers entering their territory. A stranger in the home can suppress the very behaviours we need to assess, and can cause significant stress that takes days to resolve. Video consultations allow me to assess the environment and behaviour history without adding that stress, and they're equally effective for most cases.

Always rule out medical causes first. Urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and arthritis are common causes of inappropriate elimination. I always recommend that you have a vet check before working on elimination cases, especially if this is a new behaviour that's just started. Once medical causes are ruled out, the behaviour work can begin.

Yes. Multi-cat conflict is one of the most common and most mismanaged cat behaviour issues. The solution is almost never "rehome one cat", it's proper resource management, spatial separation, and a structured reintroduction protocol.

Yes, and I'd strongly recommend starting with an online consultation rather than in-home. A fearful cat who's already hiding doesn't need a stranger walking through their territory. Via video, I can assess your home environment, identify the stressors driving the hiding behaviour, and build a management plan without adding to your cat's anxiety. Most fearful cat cases resolve well with environmental changes alone.

You get a full behavioural assessment (90 minutes online or 120 minutes in-home) and a written management and enrichment plan specific to your cat. That's followed by one month of email support so we can adjust the plan as things change. If your cat needs a vet referral for pharmacological support, I'll write that letter too.

Online works for most cases: aggression, anxiety, elimination issues, fearful cats, and multi-cat conflict can all be assessed effectively via video. Choose in-home if the behaviour requires direct observation to assess properly (severe inter-cat aggression with spatial triggers, for example) or if your cat is confident enough that a stranger in the home won't set back progress. When in doubt, start online. We can always follow up in person if needed.

Fair question. Cat behaviour isn't just 'dog training but smaller'. It's a completely different species with different social structures, different stress responses, and different environmental needs. My Enrichment Framework for Behaviour Modification training through Pet Harmony covers both species, and my approach to cats draws heavily on Pam Johnson-Bennett's work and Jackson Galaxy's catification methodology. The M.E.T. framework (Management, Enrichment, Training) applies to cats just as well as dogs, and honestly, most cat cases resolve with management and enrichment alone. Training is rarely the answer for cats.

Every consultation includes one month of email support, so we can adjust the plan as things change. If you need a follow-up session after that month, you can book another consultation at the same rate. Some complex cases (severe multi-cat aggression, for example) do need two or three sessions to get right. I'll be upfront about that in our first session rather than overselling a single fix.

Online consultations are available Australia-wide: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, anywhere with a video connection. In-home visits cover all of Sydney metro, from Botany and the Inner West through to the Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, and Sutherland Shire. Zone pricing applies for in-home visits depending on travel distance.