MOST EFFECTIVE SCIENCE-BASED
cat behavior modification system
Schedule with Cat Behaviorist and New York Times Acclaimed Feline Behavior Science Author, Mieshelle Nagelschneider.
Understanding your Domestic “Wild” Cat
Most efforts to solve cat behavior issues fail. And they fail for two, key reasons: they are incomplete, and they offer outdated or erroneous (or even counterproductive) advice.
With her research of domestic cats here in the U.S. and wildcats in the montaine cloud forest reserve in Costa Rica with field biologists and a zoologist, and compiling 20 years of data from thousands of cat owners the clinic has helped, Mieshelle has developed the most accurate, up-to-date, comprehensive, and effective cat-behavior methodology. She calls it C.A.T.
How Can a C.A.T. Plan Solve All My
Cats’ Behavior Problems?
A C.A.T. Plan is a cat behavior modification plan specifically tailored to your cat not only in the context of its behavior problems and particular household environment, but its natural wildcat instincts still genetically prevalent from the African Wildcat. What’s important is that Mieshelle and the client address all elements of the Plan:
Identification. You can’t solve what you don’t understand. Is your cat spraying — or just urinating? How can you know? If he’s spraying, which one of dozens of possible reasons is causing it? Is that just a stool on the carpet — or is your cat trying to tell you something by middening? (Do you know what middening is?) Last but not least, how can you know when the problem may have a medical cause — and what you need in addition to cat behavior techniques is a vet or even medication? In many cases, if you don’t identify the problem, you could waste your time and money and even harm your cat. We recommend that all cat owners have their cat checked out by a vet. Our behavior advice does not take the place of vet care.
The next three steps must go together. If you are using advice that (as often happens) only includes 1 or at most 2 of these steps, your success rate will never be as good as when working with a complete and comprehensive behavior plan.
C: is for Cease the Unwanted Behavior
For inappropriate urination, for example, Mieshelle will tell you how to clean and treat the soiled areas, how to do so properly, and what products to use — and which popular one to avoid. She’ll also save you from a lot of traditional, but wrong, advice. For example, should you or shouldn’t you place litter boxes at the scene of the crime? Is what you’re doing causing social hierarchy stress leading to litter box issues and even health problems? Does the African Wildcat share latrine sites?
Mieshelle will coach you on techniques to make the unwanted behavior unattractive, from simply strategies to scientifically-validated, and easy-to-follow re-association techniques. If any behavior products are involved, she will give you tips that are more effective than those of the product manufacturers themselves. She’ll even teach you what a real prey sequence looks like — and how to make sure that you are leaving your cats satisfied after they play (hunt), not damaging the delicate social hierarchy, and not becoming more frustrated!
A: is for Attract the Cat to a Desirable Behavior
Continuing the example of a cat with urination problems, Mieshelle will show you the second critical step: how to attract your kitty back to the litter box using techniques that fall in line with their natural wildcat latrine instincts that you can thank their wildcat ancestor (the African Wildcat) for. She’ll cover box type, size, design, cleanliness, dispersion and placement, number, and places to avoid. Should you use covered boxes? Automated? Which popular litter substrate to use and which ones to avoid. Mieshelle will tell you everything. Your (wild) cat will start returning to her box, every time.
T: is for Transform the Territory, or Environment
And Mieshelle is absolutely unique in providing a creative array of tools for the critical third step, that of Transforming your (“wild”) cat’s Territory and environmental landscape in order to greatly reduce any chances of a relapse. Do you know what should never go near litter boxes and what should? How to know when one of your cats is purposefully blocking the way to the litter box for others? How much light to provide? What Maintenance Litter should you use once the problem has been solved? How should the rest of your cat’s important resources be set up in the home to make sure you’re not causing litter box issues or social hierarchy structuring issues with other cats in the household? There is also very basic information (yet still unknown to most cat owners) on just how to make sure your cat is the happiest he can be that Mieshelle will set out for you in the “T” part of the plan because she believes in a holistic approach to every behavior issue. Nothing can be overlooked when it comes to cats that still have one foot in the jungle!
Contact The Cat Behavior Clinic to arrange for cat behavior consulting for your cat (or cats!).
Frequently Asked Questions
All cat behavior solutions must take into consideration feline instincts and their evolutionary biology. The clinic has exclusive rights to Mieshelle Nagelschneider’s proprietary Cat Whisperer™ consulting, easy-to-implement C.A.T. Plan™ positive behavior modification, the most effective, comprehensive, and up-to-date system for curing any cat behavior problem.
Because every cat and environment is different, the plan allows for customized behavior techniques and environmental changes when needed – because cat behavior is not one-size-fits-all. Mieshelle has spent 20 years developing a method so effective that when clients follow it, their success rate is well over 90% (even higher for the most common issues).
Her science-based cat behavior book, The Cat Whisperer, has been featured in the New York Times and a best-seller on Amazon and published in 4 languages (Random House Publishing with co-writer Cameron Powell).
For cat behaviorists seeking certification, her book is a required curriculum by a number of cat behaviorist certifying organizations.
Love is born of mystery, and our cats are mysterious and loved in equal measure. But sometimes the greatest blessing of all is a bit of light thrown into a dark place. Mieshelle Nagelschneider holds that light. Allow her to share it with you.”– Gwen Cooper Author, Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, of Life With a Blind Wonder Cat (Random House), New York, NY
Veterinarian: “Over the course of many years, Mieshelle has developed and refined her unique ability to think like a cat. On numerous occasions I have witnessed the life-changing benefits Mieshelle’s techniques can bring to cats and their sometimes very frustrated owners.” – Veterinarian, Dr. James R. Shultz DVM, Portland, Oregon
Cat Behavior Veterinarian Referral from Dr. Lisa Berger DVM: “Despite all the disruptions, there have been no incidents of urination on the bed or the couch, and neither have been covered by plastic all week!” – Juanita H. Portland, Oregon
You have the African wildcat, your domestic cat’s ancestor, to thank for many of your cat’s “unwanted” cat behaviors. Learn more about this during your consultation to better understand and help your cat and solve its behavior issues. We often misunderstand cat behaviors. Once cat owners understand their cat instincts and biology, they can better understand why the behavior strategies work so well and can better apply them.
Mieshelle The Cat Whisperer™ has been the spokesperson and cat behavior expert for Comfort Zone, Arm & Hammer Cat Litter, and Cat Expert for Whiska’s International Media Tour Australia. Her cat behavior expertise is seen in the New York Times, The Today Show, NBC Dateline, MTV, Animal Planet, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, The Hallmark Channel, Modern Cat Magazine, Parade, Reader’s Digest, Cat Fancy Magazine, The New York Post, The Boston Globe, USA Today, This Wild Life, The Divine Cat, Real Simple Magazine, Salon.com, Petside, Freekibblekat, The Toronto Star, Canada Globe and Mail, Animal Rescue Site, The Daily Cat, Feline Wellness Magazine, Advisory Council Pet360.com, This Wild Life, The Cat Channel, Pets Magazine, The Circle, New Republic, The Sunrise Show, Yahoo.com, Herald Sun, Toronto Star, and countless others. See our Media Room below for the latest.
Feline behavior therapy is very different from canine behavior therapy and the approach to changing a cat’s behavior is even more unique. Cats do not display obedience problems like dogs. The help you need is not focused on physical or verbal behavior modification strategies, like dog training with a dog trainer present. All cat behaviorists conduct consultations by phone or video via Skype. Our behavior plans are specific to cats and still allow for the natural feline instincts, but when and where you want them displayed. We will cover the behavior plan during the phone or video consultation and offer follow-up over the course of several weeks for all of our consultation programs.
Call The Clinic Today at 503-267-8888
