CAT BEHAVIOUR VET
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything you need to know before your cat behaviour consultation
1. What does a cat behaviour consultation look like? Once you have sent me a completed history form and your usual vet has sent me a referral form, plus the cat's medical history, we can move forward to the consultation. This may be in your home, or online, depending on your preference. The initial consult will last around 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the problem, and during this time we will discuss the behaviour concerns, the cat's history and medical background, the environment in which he/she lives, their daily routines and relationships with other cats/animals and people. If appropriate I will carry out a veterinary examination of the cat. I will give an initial assessment of the problem and outline changes to be made. I will follow this up with a behaviour report for you with full details of all my recommendations. I will also liaise with and send a separate report to your vet. Online follow-ups (usually two 30 minute consults) will be organised at a time suited to you around 4 and 8 weeks after the initial consultation. Email support is provided for 3 months following the initial consultation (up to 3 hours of my time). If further consultations are required then these will be at additional cost.
2. Can you definitely fix the problem? Behaviour issues are often complex and require hard work, time and understanding to improve. By working together we can identify sources of stress or motivations for the behaviour, then work together to address these stressors to improve the behaviour issues. This may mean some changes to your house (for example extra litter trays) or the way you interact with your cat. There are no guarantees but I am here to help you and your cat and I believe that in most cases we can make significant improvements.
3. How long will it take to fix the problem? There are no quick fixes and you should expect improvements to occur in weeks to months rather than days. As things progress we may tweak the plan to ensure it meets you and your cat's needs. Making the recommended changes can be difficult for caregivers and it does require patience and effort from everyone in the household. Unfortunately for some cats behaviour problems will be lifelong but we can work to reduce the severity and impact of these. In some cases I may feel that improvement is unlikely given the circumstances and alternatives may need to be considered.
4. What methods do you use? I believe in improving the welfare of cats as my number one priority, therefore no punishment is used. All techniques are evidence-based and use positive reinforcement only. I aim to reduce any stress and enhance the cat's environment to suit its individual needs.
5. Will my insurance cover behavioural consultations? This depends on both the individual insurance company and your particular insurance policy. Please contact your insurance company to advise them you have been referred to an ABTC-registered Veterinary Behaviourist and they will let you know what is covered. Completion of insurance documentation comes with an additional £25 charge to reflect the time taken to complete the documentation. Please note I do not accept Direct Claims so you will need to pay for the services and then claim the money back afterwards.
6. What kind of behavioural issues can you help with? I can help with a range of behaviour issues including stress/anxiety, house-soiling (urine or faeces), inter-cat conflict, human-directed aggression and overgooming. I also have a particular interest in helping to manage cats with Feline Idiopathic Cystitis ("stress cystitis"). If you have other questions or issues including how to introduce a new cat into the household, making your home cat-friendly, how to prepare you cat for moving house or anything else then please email me!
7. Will I still see my usual vet? Yes! You should call your registered vet for all other health-related issues, this includes any emergencies.
8. Will my cat be prescribed behavioural medication? It totally depends on the case. In some circumstances behavioural medication may be indicated to help improve your cat's welfare. This would be discussed in detail with you at the consultation and would only be persued if it was something you felt comfortable with. Any behavioural medication would be discussed with and prescribed by your usual veterinary surgeon.
9. What are your office hours? Cat Behaviour Vet’s usual office hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm, although subject to change. I aim to respond to email queries within 48 working hours. If you have a health concern or emergency with your cat please contact your registered veterinary surgeon or their out-of-hours provider.
10. What area do you cover? I attend home visits throughout Kent, London, Surrey and East Sussex - please get in touch if you have a query about your area. There is no charge for travel within 30 minutes' drive of Deal, Kent but for any distance above this there is a charge of £1 per mile (for both outward and return journeys). If I do not cover your area I can offer an online consultation.
11. What is your cancellation policy? You have the right to cancel at any time during the first 2 weeks after you sign up for a package. After this 2 week period is up if you give notice of cancellation the following will apply: (i) 14 days or more prior to the Initial Consult, we will provide you with a full refund; (ii) Less than 13 but more than 4 days prior to the Initial Consult, we will provide you with a refund equal to 70% of the Fees; (iii) Within 72 hours of the Initial Consult, you will not be entitled to any refund. Please see here for our full terms and conditions. To cancel please send an email to madeleine@catbehaviourvet.com or click here for more details.
12. What are your terms and conditions? Please see here for our full terms and conditions. See here for website terms of use. See bottom of page for cookie and privacy policies.
13. What information do you need prior to the consultation? At least 7 days before the consultation date I will need to have received from you a completed pre-visit history questionnaire, a signed contract, a full medical history from your vet and a referral form from your vet. The invoice also needs to have been paid. The consultation is only confirmed once the above has been completed fully. I will often also ask for a video tour of your house.
14. Why do I need a referral from my vet? Medical and behavioural problems can be closely intertwined and an overview of both is required to fully assess your cat. We will request your cat's medical history so that we can make a full assessment of the issues. As your vet is still responsible for managing health problems, they need to be aware of our findings and treatment recommendations. It is also part of the code of conduct of the RCVS, ABTC, APBC and FABC that behaviourists only see clients through a veterinary referral.
15. Why is it so expensive?! Anyone can say they are a behaviourist but I am both a qualified veterinary surgeon and Clinical Animal Behaviourist/Veterinary Behaviourist. I have extensive experience and underwent rigorous assessment to achieve these qualifications so you can be confident that I am fully qualified to assess your cat. Behaviour is a time-consuming business and a normal first consultation takes around 2 hours, unlike a usual visit to the vets, which takes 15 minutes. I produce all the documentation myself and personalise the plan to your cat; it is not generated by AI! The plan includes a total of around 3 hours of consultation time, 3 months of follow-up help by email plus a report for you and one for your vet. It also includes the time I spend preparing for your consultation, for example reading the medical history. If I liaise with your vet that is also included in the plan. Your insurance may cover behavioural consultations, so please check with your insurer.