Feline behaviour specialist
Making life easier for you & your cats
If you’re looking for a cat behaviourist who genuinely cares about helping you and your feline companions, you’ve come to the right place. I was brought up in a house full of animals and have always been mad about cats. After starting to learn about feline behaviour at the age of ten years, I finally began formally studying the subject in 2012 after setting up my own pet sitting business in 2011. I achieved my goal of becoming a Clinical Animal Behaviourist in 2022 specialising in cats after gaining lots of knowledge and experience in the years in-between. My vocation is helping people to resolve the cat behaviour problems in their home using kind, force-free methods. I’m always looking to learn something new, so as well as carrying out several hours of study each year, I often find that I learn the most from my clients themselves, both human and animal, which enables me to keep improving my services. Please read on for details or click below to get in touch to find out how I may be able to help.
Help with cat behaviour problems
Cats are mysterious creatures and easily misunderstood. If you’re at a loss as to how to resolve the cat behaviour problems in your home, please get in touch. Some issues can be difficult to live with, especially house soiling or feline fights, so it can be a huge relief to receive some professional advice. I offer cat behaviour consultations remotely in the UK or in-person within 10 miles of Swadlincote, Derbyshire and use only kind, force-free methods. I work via vet referral and my fees can be claimed back through most pet insurers. Please click below to find out more.
“Following a stressful few weeks of trying to introduce my two cats to each other, I contacted Sally for help. Sally gave me lots of valuable advice on what to do and they are now good friends.”
Huckleberry and Fin, Hertfordshire.
What I can offer my clients
As a force-free behaviourist, I work hard to offer the best possible service to my human and feline clients. This means ensuring that I am up to date and educated in the latest feline behaviour research and behaviour modification techniques and take a caring and non-judgmental approach to my work. Here are just a few of the things I do to achieve this:
Work via veterinary referral to rule out medical problems or ensure that treatment is being given for known conditions.
Listen to my clients and provide them with safe and appropriate advice regarding their cat behaviour concerns.
Support my clients in implementing my suggestions to help build their confidence and enjoy working with their cats.
Explain and demonstrate training and behaviour modification techniques that are force-free, which means NO force, fear, intimidation, coercion or punishment such as spray bottles, electric shock or spiky mats, hissing or shouting, scruffing a cat’s neck or telling them ‘No!’.
Provide a holistic service that takes into account all aspects of my clients’ lifestyle, circumstances and living environment.
Suggest ways to strengthen the feline-human bond and improve their communication to form the basis of positive behaviour change.
Working with a behaviour professional can help to put clients’ minds at ease knowing that they are in safe, qualified and experienced hands. We all work a little differently, but there is a behaviourist out there for everyone. As with all aspects of life, there are no guarantees, but with lots of hard work and dedication, working with a force-free behaviourist should greatly increase your chances of success in improving your cat’s behaviour and make life enjoyable again. Please click below to visit my cat behaviour page and find out more.
Areas covered
My in-person cat behaviour consultations are available in South Derbyshire, Burton-on-Trent, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Derby South, East Staffordshire and anywhere else within 10 miles of Swadlincote, Derbyshire. My remote consultations are offered to clients anywhere in the UK and can be just as effective as working in-person. Please get in touch to find out more.
What my clients say…
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Speedo, Tamworth
Sally visited us to help resolve several issues we had with our cats. Her consultation, understanding, advice and subsequent discussion were all really, really helpful in making things so much better in our two cat, one dog household. She is approachable and knowledgeable. Highly recommend. Google review
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Teddy & Dibley, Tamworth
Sally is extremely knowledgeable and personable. She really does care about the cats she works with and it feels as though she has been as invested as us! Our eldest cat was extremely upset by the thought of our younger cat being in the house let alone anywhere near her. With Sally's help, they can tolerate one another now and they were even asleep together on the sofa, in close proximity to one another. We are very grateful for Sally's time, patience and support and we would recommend her to anyone who is having issues with their cats! Google review
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Izzy, Coventry
I just want to thank you so much, since your help Izzy has become much more settled and as you can see from the photo the bed that was Izzy’s toilet has been made back into a bed which she sleeps on in the mornings now. I've managed to clean the carpet and redecorated and got a new mattress and bedding, we did it all a bit at a time over a month and a half so as not to stress Izzy too much. Thank you so so much (via email)
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Houston, South Derbyshire
I have a rescued Sphynx aged 4 years in November 2022 and will have had her 1 year in December 2022. She had a toileting issue and with Sallys help we have almost resolved this . She was very neglected and her background unknown but is turning into a lovely little girl. Sally is very patient and knowledgeable and is on hand to help. Google review
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Meredith and Willow, West Mids
Sally got us out of a hole we’d dug for ourselves, bringing a kitten into the house with an older resident female, and when things seemed unbearable, a few encouraging words proved invaluable. We now have two lovely cats, two years later, living mostly harmoniously together. Facebook review
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Fleap and Fluffy, Derby
Sally came out to advise and help with one of our cats who was aggressive towards the one. Some solutions which we wouldn't have thought about almost immediately had results and the aggression decreased within a few days. Sally was really helpful and knowledgable and helped us to understand the situation as well as manage and improve the situation. I recommend anyone who needs help with their cats to contact Sally. Google review
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Shaka and Bini, Norfolk
We first approached Sally in March this year after one of our cats started to urinate inside. Sally conducted a thorough review of the situation, through a questionaire and videos, followed by a video 1:1 call. Sally then provided an in depth report with analyse of the issue and lots of suggestions to help with the problem, including contacting our vet to recommend a treatment. I was able to contact her during the following few months and she always responded quickly. I am so pleased to report it has now been months since he last sprayed inside. Would definitely recommend Sally for any cat behavioural issues. Facebook review
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Mini and Boggle, Leicester
I contacted Sally after my two cats had a fight. my cats had lived together for eight years conflict free. Sally came and conducted a home visit, meeting the cats and assessing the house for the process to follow. she created a thorough report for me, which detailed the issue and a detailed plan for reintroducing the cats. Sally provided ongoing to support to me over a period of eight months, the time it took for harmony to return. Sally is kind, generous with her time and incredibly supportive. Thank you Sally for everything you have done for us. Facebook review
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Belle and Biscuit, Burton-on-Trent
We asked Sally to help us after we had some aggressive behaviour between our two cats. She engaged with us amazingly from the start, absorbing a lot of information (through e-mail, WhatsApp and a home visit, being local) and sharing it in a comprehensive report which then gave us recommendations and actions to get our kitties back on track. Sally was always friendly but super professional, always showed her knowledge, care and concern for our cats and provided lots of resources and support while we were working with her. Our cats have now reconciled - it took a long time and we did not have Sally with us for the whole period but she was super-gracious and never pressured us. When you use Sally, she will provide the insights and resources but you must work with her as a team...and it was a pleasure having her on our team. Google review
'Power of the Purr’
To accompany her work, Sally has written a cat behaviour book containing a wealth of information. 'Power of the Purr' covers everything cat lovers need to know about their feline companions in terms of their behaviour and keeping them happy. She explains how to resolve some of the most common cat behaviour problems using kind, force-free methods and the theories behind these. 'Power of the Purr' is educational but also humorous and entertaining. Sally includes stories and photos of the cats she has been owned by over the years, including her current beloved feline, Monty, who is also the cover model. Her book is available on Amazon in most countries so please click on the book cover image to take a look and leave a review if you enjoy it.
