Cat behaviour consultations
How I can help you and your cats
Resolving cat behaviour problems is my passion and vocation, so if you’d like to work with a caring and supportive behaviourist, please read on. Clients often come to me in despair about their cats peeing all over the house or constantly fighting but with some professional guidance, things can start to change and become more positive. I can give you a deeper understanding of your cat’s behaviour, ways to improve your relationship and make things less stressful. Some of the issues I can help with include:
Aggressive behaviour towards other cats or humans.
House soiling such as weeing, pooing or spraying urine around the home.
Anxious, fearful, destructive or disruptive behaviour.
Any other kind of behavioural concerns such as handling, vet visits, age-related issues or day to day healthcare.
I use kind, force-free methods and my fees can be claimed back through most pet insurers. My cat behaviour consultations are available remotely in the UK or in-person within 15 miles of Swadlincote, Derbyshire. Please see below to find out more about my consultation process.
Consultation process
Cat behaviour problems come in many different shapes and sizes, which is why I offer a personalised consultation service, involving the following:
Veterinary referral - I provide you with a form for the vet to fill in and return to me to rule out medical problems. A check-up may be required beforehand.
Assessment - I ask you to fill in a detailed questionnaire and send videos of your cat or cats’ home environment and behaviour for me to assess.
Meeting - we have an in-home or remote meeting of 1-1.5 hours to discuss everything and create plan of action, which I send in writing within a few days.
Support - I provide one month of support via WhatsApp or email messages to help you implement your plan and start seeing results.
Prices start at £250 for a remote consultation or £275 for an in-home option plus further support at £75 per month, if required. You should be able to claim this back if you have pet insurance but please check what is covered first. I may offer an initial chat in some cases if the best way forward is unclear or there are multiple issues. I work in-person within 15 miles of Swadlincote, Derbyshire and remotely in the UK. Please click the button below to fill in my contact form and I’ll be happy to provide you with a quotation. Please also see my FAQ for further information.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Veterinary referral is necessary to rule out medical problems that may be causing or contributing to the behavioural issue(s). It is needed for each cat involved in the behaviour problem and the vet may require them to have a check-up beforehand. I provide clients with a form for their cat’s vet to fill in and return to me or they can send the cat’s medical history but the form is preferred, or both. I then get in touch with the vet if there are any queries. As a Clinical Animal Behaviourist, I am required to obtain veterinary referral from each client prior to a consultation, so it is a step that cannot be skipped.
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Consultations cost £250 for a remote option or £275 for an in-home consultation within 15 miles of Swadlincote, Derbyshire including one month of support. In some cases, I offer a pre-arranged initial chat of up to 15 minutes for free to discuss if a consultation would be beneficial if the best way forward is unclear or there are multiple issues.
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You should be able to claim my fees back but I recommend contacting your pet insurance provider before booking a consultation to ensure you have the right cover and for how much. Some policies only cover the consultation and not further support, so may wish to purchase one or two extra months of support in advance as a package. I can provide an invoice confirming that you’ve paid and any other information they require if they request this.
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I ask for full payment in advance via online banking prior to a meeting being booked, including clients with pet insurance who should be able to claim back my fee.
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If you need further support after the initial support period has expired, this is available at £75 per month. Support is provided via WhatsApp or email and usually involves clients sending me messages, photographs and videos of their progress for me to assess and advise on the next steps. Support is available from Monday morning to Friday midday for up to a total of three hours per month.
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I offer in-person consultations within 15 miles of Swadlincote, Derbyshire and provide a remote option for clients in the UK outside of this radius.
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A remote consultation is the same as an in-person one except we meet online, usually via WhatsApp video call or Google Meet, which can work just as well as meeting at your home.
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Sadly, not every situation works out and I ask clients if they have an option to rehome one of their cats if they need to. This mostly applies to situations in which there is a great deal of stress in a multi-cat household and the welfare of the cats has to be paramount. Whilst this can be heartbreaking for the humans, it can sometimes be the only way to ensure one or more of the cats has the best possible quality of life.
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There are no guarantees that the problem(s) will be completely resolved but by working with me, there should at least be a noticeable improvement and the situation should become more manageable. It takes a great deal of time, consistency and commitment on the part of my clients to work towards a resolution and making the most of the support I offer plays a big part in keeping everything on the right track towards success.
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Please click here to get started by filling in my contact form. This will give me the information I need to let you know how I should be able to help you resolve the cat behaviour problems in your household. I’m looking forward to hearing from you! Thank you.
What my clients say…
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![Three cats sat near each other]()
Primrose, Teddy and Minnie
We reached out to Sally in a bit of a desperate situation. We had tried to introduce a kitten to our older cat who is normally very gentle and calm but she just did not respond well. To make matters worse, we were also due to introduce another kitten to the mix. Sally was helpful, informative and caring throughout the entire process. She gave us clear steps to follow and was on hand for us to give her regular updates. We are so pleased that all 3 cats are now living together. Thank you Sally. Google review
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![Black cat in a cat bed]()
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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![Two cats on a sofa]()
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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![Sphynx cat in bed]()
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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![Two cats sitting near each other]()
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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![Two cats asleep on bed together]()
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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![Two cats on bed together]()
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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![Two fluffy white cats on a rug]()
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
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 15 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.
“We first approached Sally after one of our cats started to urinate inside. She conducted a thorough investigation and it’s now been months since he last sprayed inside. We’d highly recommend Sally.”
Shaka (& Bini), Norfolk.
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 get in touch to find out more. It can make such a difference to receive the guidance and support you need.
'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.
“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.
