Blissful Cat Behavior Consulting

29/06/2025

Happy Sunday! I was so overjoyed with an appointment I had yesterday that I wanted to share some positive news with you all.

This is Mouse, a kitten just under a year old who joined a new family in the last few months. Mouse has been incredibly fearful and anxious since day one. He'd hiss and retreat when anyone entered his room, he was hesitant to eat food, and he was even frightened by toys.

Mouse's mom and I have been working together for about 2 months to reduce his stress, build his relationship with the other cats in the home, and help him feel as safe and comfortable as possible. In this past month, Mouse started playing with his string toy AND asking his mom for pets. We joke that he's now making up for lost time, because he'll persistently request head scratches and belly rubs for 30 minutes at a time.

This goes to show the power of letting cats make progress at their own pace, rewarding them for making adaptive choices, and respecting their boundaries. Mouse is very lucky to have landed in a home with a person who loves him so much!

18/06/2025

Just because your cats WILL eat near each other doesn’t mean they prefer it, either! Feeding in separate rooms or separate floors of your home is best. Feeding out of line of sight is a must!

Please do not feed your cats next to each other.

Cats are solitary hunters and prefer to eat alone.

Being forced to eat next to another cat - especially one they dislike - is only contributing to the tension in your home.

01/06/2025

Happy Pride, my friends and colleagues!! Blissful Cat is a q***r owned business and will always be a safe place for people to seek support as their most authentic selves.

I am proud and honored to offer the help that I do to those in the LGBTQIA+ community and their most beloved companions. My cat Wally is very proud to be gay and he knows he’s fabulous 💅

31/05/2025

Feeling very grateful for Dao today. I wouldn’t be able to be nearly as helpful to my clients and their cats without his help.

Today, Dao made appearances in three of my appointments. He taught someone how we use predictor cues in cooperative care for handling ears and paws. He showed two cats how to do a nose target, and demonstrated exemplary mat skills for stationing.

I love what I do, and I’m so lucky to have Dao to help me do it!

25/05/2025

Finally, we have some answers

Your orange cat may host a never-before-seen genetic pathway for color pigmentation, according to new studies

23/05/2025

Most of my work relates to cats, but news about the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Inc. position on use of aversive tools like shock collars and prong collars in dog training still fills me with disappointment.

We know that the cause for most behavior challenges stems from emotions like fear, stress, anxiety, and insecurity. Many animals that I work with are simply doing their best to meet their basic needs and feel comfortable and safe. Knowing this, it simply *doesn't make sense* to punish those animals with things that may inflict fear or pain, as they may INCREASE the stress this animal is already experiencing.

I've worked (and and currently working) with cases involving dogs who growl, bark, and lunge at cats. Do you know how many times I've ever recommended a shock or prong collar? None. I've even talked some folks out of them and convinced them why they're inappropriate tools to use in any circumstance.

I feel like the current animal training environment and culture can leave no room for ambiguity in training methodology. Tools that inflict fear, pain, stress, or discomfort on our most beloved animal companions simply have no place in modern training.

22/04/2025

Changing how you perceive your cat’s behavior is super important!

When people use negative words to describe a cat, they often misrepresent the cat's behavior and personality. We’ve been conditioned to use terms like “grumpy,” “mean,” or “spicy” to label cats who are simply expressing their emotions or fears. This reinforces the assumption that all cats are unfriendly and incapable of affection. Over time, these stereotypes are repeated so often that they become ingrained, leading many to view cats as second-class animals—undeserving of respect, empathy, or love.

08/03/2025

Today is Wally’s birthday! Wally is my sweet, sensitive, laid back boy. He’s a little slower to explore new things than Dao, but he’s a great cuddler and super smart. If you’ve met with mw on Zoom, you’ve probably been fortunate enough to witness a mystical grey floofy tail flying across my we**am - that’s Wally saying hello!

We’re celebrating with some new cardboard boxes and Wally’s favorite silvervine powder. How do you celebrate your cat’s birthday?

20/02/2025

I had the pleasure of being featured on a veterinary behavior podcast! I spoke with Dr. Amy Pike and Dr. Amy learn about all things ENRICHMENT for cats. This was such a blast and I'm hopeful that you'll give this a listen to learn more about having fun with your cat!

Behavior Buzzzzzz with 2 Amys

Search and download your favorite episodes of the Behavior Buzzzzzz with 2 Amys podcast!

14/02/2025

Working with Zack and his amazing caregiver and veterinarian has been SO rewarding. I could not be more proud of this little man and all of the progress he’s made!

27/01/2025

My business will always be a place where the wellbeing of women, q***r people, and people of color is respected and valued. My experience as a q***r and neurodivergent person shapes so much of how I conduct my work with cats - and I know that I am a BETTER behavior consultant because of it.

Thank you, Karen Pryor Clicker Training.

We believe diversity is a source of strength, equity is worth pursuing, inclusive practices foster humanity and progress, women's and LGBTQ+ rights are human rights, retaining control over our outcomes is fundamental, and kindness reflects true character. We reaffirm our commitment to foster inclusivity in training and behavior. In 2025, we will expand our scholarship opportunities for those who represent and/or support underserved and underrepresented communities. We will continue to evaluate and explore ways to further support this through our various platforms and brands in the weeks, months, and years ahead. More: https://bit.ly/4jKjlCD

13/01/2025

Let’s go, Massachusetts!! 🥳

Cat declawing​ is now illegal in Massachusetts, banning the procedure that many animal advocates call inhumane.