Chirrups and Chatter

04/22/2025

📢Calling all cat and dog behavior professionals and veterinary behavior enthusiasts

⏳ Enrollment closes 4/28—secure your spot now!

https://karenpryoracademy.com/live-classes/

Excel spots are sold out—but you can still join us via the Engage Experience!

This 4‑week virtual class equips you with practical and compassionate tools for urgent collaborative care handling, so you can deliver better outcomes—even when there’s no time to prep. You’ll learn steps to prevent, reduce, and manage stress in any situation, including emergencies.

As an Engage participant, you’ll get:
• 4 live Zoom classes with Tabitha Kucera
• Integrated weekly curriculum: video + written exercises for your dog and/or cat
• Interactive discussion forum for comments, questions, and video sharing
• Weekly Q&A sessions to troubleshoot your real-world cases
• 1‑year access to:
• All live class recordings
• Practical application demos and individualized coaching with our Engage students and their animals
• Ongoing discussion group and full course materials

You’ll learn to:
• Read and respond to body language
• Develop personalized handling plans
• Adapt care in real time based on behavior

04/22/2025

📢Calling all cat and dog behavior professionals and veterinary behavior enthusiasts

Excel spots are sold out—but you can still join us via the Engage Experience!

This 4‑week virtual class equips you with practical and compassionate tools for urgent collaborative care handling, so you can deliver better outcomes—even when there’s no time to prep. You’ll learn steps to prevent, reduce, and manage stress in any situation, including emergencies.

As an Engage participant, you’ll get:
• 4 live Zoom classes with Tabitha Kucera
• Integrated weekly curriculum: video + written exercises for your dog and/or cat
• Interactive discussion forum for comments, questions, and video sharing
• Weekly Q&A sessions to troubleshoot your real-world cases
• 1‑year access to:
• All live class recordings
• Practical application demos and individualized coaching with our Engage students and their animals
• Ongoing discussion group and full course materials

You’ll learn to:
• Read and respond to body language
• Develop personalized handling plans
• Adapt care in real time based on behavior

⏳ Enrollment closes 4/28—secure your spot now!

https://karenpryoracademy.com/live-classes/

04/19/2025

So grateful for my time at Animal Care Expo!

The world feels heavy lately, and I’ve been in nonstop work mode—so even though I came in exhausted, I’m leaving feeling lighter and recharged. Getting to spend real, quality time with some of my closest friends and connect with new colleagues filled my heart right up.

I’m continually inspired by the compassion, dedication, and drive of the people in this field. The care they show for both animals and each other is something special.

Huge thanks to everyone who joined my roundtables on using positive reinforcement to support cat and dog behavior in shelters and my session on preventing and managing housesoiling

I’m excited about the conversations that were started—and some exciting collaborations ahead that I truly believe will make a difference for animals and the people who care for them.

04/18/2025

I was very surprised and so honored—to receive the Unsung Hero Award at the recent Access to Care event through HSVMA/HumaneVMA at Animal Care Expo. Excited to now have a cape! 😃

This award recognizes the quiet, behind-the-scenes work that often goes unseen—and being acknowledged in this way by peers I admire so much means more than I can say.

A lot of what I do—whether it’s handling plans, trauma-informed care, behavior consulting, or advocating for accessible, compassionate support for animals and their people—happens in the background, through patience, partnership, and showing up for both animals and the humans doing their best.

To have that work recognized is incredibly validating and emotional.🥹🥹🥹

I’m so grateful for the work I get to do, the amazing people I get to do it with, and the shared mission we all care so deeply about.

04/17/2025

Huge thanks to everyone who attended my roundtables on using positive reinforcement to modify cat and dog behavior in shelters! 🐾 Humane World for Animals Animal Care Expo

It was amazing to discuss strategies not only for working with the animals but also for incorporating positive reinforcement with volunteers, staff, and adopters. Together, we explored kind and effective ways to help animals thrive while also empowering staff, volunteers, and adopters with tools to build trust and reduce stress. It’s all about creating a better experience—for animals and humans alike.

04/13/2025

🐾 I’m thrilled to be speaking at Humane World for Animals Animal Care Expo next week and can’t wait to connect with fellow animal professionals and friends ! If you’re attending, I’d love to meet up—DM me to set something up! 💬✨

Here’s where you can catch me:

Roundtables:
Using Positive Reinforcement to Modify Cat and Dog Behavior in Shelters
Let’s talk practical and compassionate behavior solutions for our shelter animals.

Lecture:
From Mess to Success: Managing and Preventing Housesoiling
🕓 Thursday, April 17th at 3:45 PM

Cats defecating and urinating outside the litterbox is a prevalent behavioral issue that often leads to cats being surrendered. In this session, we will explore essential litterbox lessons to address common causes of housesoiling, preventive measures, and considerations for senior and handicapped cats' litterbox needs. Attendees will gain valuable insights into effectively responding to clients' concerns about housesoiling and learn how to educate and support cat owners in dealing with this behavior. By providing appropriate litterbox guidance, we can help keep cats in their homes and strengthen the human-animal bond. 🐱💛

📝 BONUS: I created a free handout on managing and preventing housesoiling—stop by the Virox Technologies Inc. booth #623 to pick one up

04/09/2025

Friendly reminder to all of you implementing positive changes, understanding the importance of addressing both physical and mental needs of your patients, advocating for animals, clients, and colleagues, questioning we have always done it this way, and continuing to learn-

you are not alone and thank you!

04/09/2025

I recently spent an incredible week with the amazing team at in Chicago. I had the privilege of working closely with their animal care team, behavior team, veterinary medical team, and so many other dedicated staff—including their CSRs.

It was truly a joy to connect with team members from so many departments who shared my excitement for behavior. Their passion and commitment to doing the very best for the animals in their care was evident in every conversation, every question, and every hands-on moment we shared.

We spent the week diving into body language, fear free and supportive handling skills, and collaborative behavior support. I offered various hands-on workshops, observed daily routines, gathered feedback from the team, and wrapped up the week by meeting with leadership to prioritize meaningful and realistic next steps.

It was also wonderful to see a shelter prioritize continuing education for their team—creating space to grow skills, deepen understanding, and build confidence in a way that supports both people and animals.

This is exactly what Chirrups and Chatter is all about—compassionate, trauma-informed consulting, training, and implementation support designed to create sustainable change and stronger bonds between humans and animals.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity and look forward to continuing to work with this awesome shelter and their incredible team!

04/08/2025

Do you ever wonder what’s really behind a cat’s hiss, swat, or growl? Join me for Decoding Feline Fury at the 2025 Online Behavior Day, hosted by the Community Cats Podcast

I will dig into the "why" behind feline aggression and how to better understand, prevent, and address it—while strengthening the human-animal bond.

🎤 This event features a fantastic lineup including Arden Moore and Rachel Geller perfect for anyone working or living with cats.

🗓️ Mark your calendar: April 12th, 2025
💻 100% online and super affordable!

👉 Register here: https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/2025-online-behavior-day/

Let’s turn feline fury into feline understanding! 🐾

The 2025 Online Behavior Day Speakers and Presentations Schedule subject to change. Subscribe to our email newsletter to get all the details and updates sent straight to your inbox. New for 2025! Join the Behavior “Dream Team” for a Tough Question Panel The audience is welcome to bring their tou...

04/08/2025

With one-on-one coaching, video reviews, and unlimited Q&A, this 4-unit, virtual, group class offers a personalized learning experience to help you create safer, less stressful care environments for cats and dogs. Join us to transform the way you approach animal care and strengthen the human-animal bond. Tabitha Kucera of Chirrups and Chatter will teach you:
- How to proactively prevent and reduce fear and stress
- Adjust handling strategies based on individual animal needs
- Techniques to build trust and cooperation during vet visits and routine care
- How to collaborate with your pet's veterinary team
- And more

Enroll now! The first LIVE class will take place on Zoom in late April. https://bit.ly/4cbASQI

04/02/2025

03/29/2025

I had a blast speaking with Dr. Andy Roark on the cone of shame podcast about my journey from general practice to launching Chirrups and Chatter, the challenges I’ve faced, and the steps I have taken to advocate for myself and establish a successful behavior consulting business. I discuss imposter syndrome, career growth, and why behavior is an essential part of veterinary medicine❤️

You can watch below or listen wherever you get podcasts

Tabitha Kucera, RVT, VTS (Behavior) joins Dr. Andy Roark to talk about how veterinary technicians can build a career in behavior. She shares her journey from...

03/28/2025

It’s respect your cat day 🐈‍⬛ 🐈 ⁣
⁣
Your cat is communicating with you all the time, they use their body language to communicate when they are feeling happy, scared, anxious, and painful.⁣
⁣
A huge part of respecting your cat is understanding your cats body language, listening to it, and respecting it. ⁣
⁣
Download my free body language and pain handout to learn more about how to speak cat⁣
at ⁣chirrupsandchatter.com

How are you celebrating your cat today 🎉 ⁣
⁣

03/27/2025

Some days, work is tough. Imposter syndrome creeps in, and it’s easy to feel like we’re not doing enough. Then there are the frustrating moments — hearing outdated beliefs like “cats don’t need pain meds” or seeing force used in training and handling because “that’s how it’s always been done.” But I remind myself that those views are the minority.

I’m fortunate to meet, consult with, and lecture to so many cat and dog caregivers, animal welfare professionals, and veterinary teams who are always learning and striving to do better. I’m incredibly grateful for my colleagues who are pushing our field forward and doing their absolute best for animals and the people who care for them. I’m also thankful for those moments when people reach out for help, ask questions, and seek support. Seeing others grow and feel inspired is one of the greatest joys of this work.

On tough days, I hold onto the kind words and feedback I’ve received. They remind me that even when it feels like I’m not making a difference, I am. And so are you.

Thank you to everyone who has shared words of encouragement — they truly make my day and help me through the hard ones.

Let’s keep supporting and uplifting each other. Save those messages that lift you up and revisit them when you need a reminder. Keep advocating for yourself, others, and animals.

You’re amazing. Even when it doesn’t feel like it. 💛

03/25/2025

I’m feeling really drained lately. In just three weeks, I’ve come across three cases where I observed over 25 symptoms of chronic and severe pain in cats and shared them. Despite these clear indicators and the veterinarian agreeing with me, they didn’t respond to me and told caregivers that nothing could be done about the pain.

I want to remind everyone—both colleagues and cat caregivers—that there are multiple treatment options available to manage feline pain, and a multimodal approach is key.

I’m committed to educating others on this topic, which is why I am sharing this post along with my handouts, podcasts, and frequent presentations. Over the weekend, I had a wonderful time speaking with awesome veterinariany and animal welfare professionals about recognizing chronic pain in cats and the various ways we can manage and treat it.

For many veterinary technicians, A significant source of compassion fatigue and burnout is the lack of collaboration and mutual respect we receive.

As a VTS in behavior, I believe in meeting people where they are and supporting small, gradual changes. However, it’s also crucial that we hold each other accountable. Many of us devote ourselves to advocating for animals, only to have our concerns brushed aside. This isn’t about questioning anyone’s dedication—we all care deeply—but it’s about recognizing that accountability and genuine collaboration are essential for the well-being of our patients and ourselves.

In my work, I assess multiple aspects of an animal’s behavior and physical function. For example, I review and narrate videos that capture abnormal gaits and other indicators of discomfort, document various symptoms of pain, and utilize pain scoring systems for every animal. These detailed observations are crucial, especially since chronic pain often manifests through subtle behavioral changes that can be challenging for veterinarians to diagnose. I also get to assess the animals in their home for long periods of time. I make it a priority to provide this comprehensive information to help guide the veterinarian’s evaluation.

I also emphasize the importance of establishing a strong, collaborative relationship with their veterinarian right from the start. I advise and encourage clients to consult with their vet or build a relationship with one if they dont have one , as this collaboration is essential for accurately addressing and managing chronic pain.

Let’s keep pushing for collaboration and better care for our patients.

A few cat pain resources to learn more 😻

https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-pain-management-guidelines-for-dogs-and-cats/

https://catvets.com/resource/chronic-pain-educational-toolkit/

https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Pain+Management+for+Veterinary+Technicians+and+Nurses%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781119892397

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X211066268

Chirrupsandchatter.com

https://icatcare.org/news/isfm-and-the-aafp-release-new-guidelines-on-the-long-term-use-of-nsaids-in-cats

Are you concerned about your pet’s behavior? Chirrups and Chatter offers Virtual Training and comprehensive behavior solutions for dogs and cats – contact us!

03/25/2025

Exciting news! My new collaborative care course for cats and dogs is live and open for enrollment! 🐾

This 5-week course includes Excel Experiences—personalized coaching with me—and access to Engage Student perks like live Zoom classes, Q&A, recordings, and a full year of curriculum.

Ready to improve your handling skills and create less stressful care for your pets?

Spots are limited, so sign up now!

https://karenpryoracademy.com/live-classes/

03/25/2025

Join Tabitha Kucera Chirrups and Chatter and discover why handling is the most essential cooperative skill you’ve never learned. In this 4-unit LIVE virtual class, you'll learn how to bring cooperative care handling to urgent and emergent care scenarios, which reduces stress, increases safety, and increases opportunities for timely care. With one-on-one coaching, video reviews, and unlimited Q&A, this class offers a personalized learning experience to help you create safer, less stressful care environments for cats and dogs.

Enroll now! The first LIVE class will take place on Zoom in late April.
https://bit.ly/4cbASQI

03/18/2025

💔 My friend Mikkel Becker and her partner are facing a really difficult time and could use some support. With mounting medical expenses and neither able to work, Mikkel is dedicating all her time and energy to caring for her children and partner.

Mikkel is an incredible person who brings joy and kindness to everyone she meets and has done and continues to do so much to make the world a better place for both humans and animals.

Please consider donating or sharing to help their family. Every bit makes a difference.

➡️ GoFundMe.com/ryanandkel

My husband, Ryan, was discharged from Johns Hopkins with an urgent referral to Dr. Alex Ortega at OHSU near Portland, the top pyroderma gangrenosum (PG) expert in the world. Johns Hopkins was amazing, but they lack a PG expert and Dr. Ortega is the best. Unfortunately Ryan has developed 8 more lesions in just a couple days since being discharged, including on his other arm, stomach, side and even his palms. His pain is nearly unbearable.

Dr. Ortega is truly our last hope for Ryan to receive treatment for this debilitating, life threatening condition that most closely resembles pyroderma gangrenosum bullous type, though with an even faster spread and on even more parts of his body than anyone has ever seen.

Please pray for Ryan and for our family. We are still holding out for a miracle, but feel so devastated and scared. Neither of us can work. For me, wound care and assisting Ryan and caring for our four month old baby is more than a full-time job. For Ryan, he’s unable to work for the foreseeable future as he has sores covering close to 60% of his body, with this being the most painful condition imaginable, with pain on par with that of a burn patient. If you can please donate or share, we are in real, desperate need and are so appreciative of your support!

GoFundMe.com/ryanandkel