About Me

I grew up with two cats, and thought I knew everything I needed to know about them.

Adopting Jack in 2017 completely changed my view on cat guardianship. He wasn’t the easy, snuggly pet I assumed he would be. It was beyond the normal “crazy kitten” stage.

We adopted him when he was very small, and dealt with behavioral and medical issues his whole life, including unexpected aggression that popped up seemingly out of nowhere when he was around 9 months old. I wanted to learn more about how I could help him, and improve the quality of life of everyone in our home.

When we moved to the Hudson Valley in 2019, I began working at a local animal shelter. The work was intense, but rewarding, and I saw a side to cats that I hadn’t really experienced — that MOST people hadn’t experienced. I began to understand the massive gap in cat behavior knowledge, both in the general public and within the animal welfare and behavioral science communities.

I learned that animal behaviorists, and specifically cat behavior consultants, existed as a resource. I consulted a pet behavior specialist for advice on Jack’s behaviors. Our conversation was fascinating, and I knew that I needed to learn more about this field and bring it to more cat guardians who didn’t even know it was a tool available for them.

I became a Supporting Member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), taking classes with IAABC and with other reputable organizations to learn the practical skills I needed to continue helping my own cats, shelter cats, and the cats we were hoping to keep in their loving home and out of the shelter.

In early 2023, my husband and I moved back to our hometown area in Massachusetts. That spring, Jack’s behavioral and physical health declined greatly, and we had to decide to euthanize him. I had a difficult time dealing with behavioral cases while healing from that experience, and slowed down my client intake. Later in the year, we adopted Whispurr, a two-year-old cat who had been brought to the shelter I previously worked in as part of a large group of cats living in an infirm elder’s home. I wanted Beans to have a companion after losing Jack, his best friend and cuddle buddy. Although Beans and Whispurr are still adjusting to each others’ quirks, they’ve become good friends who play, bird-watch, and snooze together.

My wide variety of experiences in cat guardianship helps to inform all my interactions with clients, reminding me to treat everyone with compassion and practicality. I’m still a “baby” cat behavior consultant early in my practice, and I strive to expand my knowledge base, learn from experts in the field, and give my clients the best possible platform to strengthen their relationships with their cats. Every cat deserves to live without fear and discomfort, and every cat guardian deserves to understand their cat’s role in their life and be able to create balance and harmony.