Cat trainers are growing in popularity as many cat owners are requesting this kind of service. A professional cat trainer helps tend to problems, such as litterbox avoidance, scratching or aggression. This is a growing profession that is gaining more and more traction in the mainstream pet community. No longer is behavioral training limited to dogs as cat trainers can help provide a better quality of life for cats and their owners. SPONSORED LISTINGS Featured Programs: Cats are very trainable and starting early in their lives can be paramount to success. Cat trainers have the ability to influence the feline mind. There may not be as much of a demand for cat trainers as there is for dog trainers, but the limited field has its advantages. It means that there are more opportunities for cat trainers with less competition in the profession. More cat owners are becoming very particular about their feline companions, thus increasing the need for cat trainers. Cat lovers can enjoy an exciting career that provides a much-needed service to cat owners. This service can change their lives for the better and also enhances the overall field of animal care. Cat Trainer EducationThere is not an abundance of cat trainer programs available throughout the United States as specialized certifications in this discipline are rather limited. However, obtaining a certification as a cat trainer, or cat behaviorist, could open a lot of doors since it is not a crowded job market. Select certification programs are available and typically cover cat behavior modification, feline theories, how to manage cat behavior, safety practices and more. A certification program at a post-secondary school typically lasts around six months to a year. There are online versions of these programs while many require a certain amount of practice hours to be completed. Feline health is also included in these curriculums as cat trainers learn how to identify the differences between cats who are sick and those who are just non-compliant. There are also individual workshops and pet societies that offer certifications upon the completion of training seminars and programs. The more certifications a cat trainer accumulates, the more credibility and knowledge is attained. This could help immensely when attempting to obtain a position or when opening up an individual business. It is important to note that cats are motivated differently from dogs, which makes it necessary to understand how their minds work. Cat trainers feed off a cat’s natural instincts. All of these nuances lead some individuals down an educational path that concludes with a degree in Animal Behavior. However, many individuals who earn advanced degrees in animal behavior often opt for a career in research. Finding a cat trainer educational program can be a major key to success in this field as it provides a type of education that is not widely available. Furthermore, a cat trainer will not be in demand if he/she cannot show success. The best avenue to success is through learning as much as possible about this emerging profession. There are also no licensing procedures that are required to be a cat trainer in any of the 50 U.S. states. Cat Trainer Job DutiesThe job of a cat trainer involves working one-on-one to modify feline behavior. Cats can experience problems with aggressive behavior and professional interaction works to mollify that problem. Cat trainers also help felines with litterbox issues and problems with scratching. Cat behaviorists can also treat different phobias and help to manage the sexual behavior of felines. Cat trainers even take preventative measures in terms of future problems. That means informing cat owners on the proper ways to handle their cats in an effort to modify behavioral patterns. Training also involves cat owners as this helps to facilitate learning and makes owners active participants in the process. Many times, it is important to involve all those in a household as it will ease the entire process. Cat Trainer Pay and Job ProspectsCat trainer salaries fall under a wide spectrum because it is such an individualized profession. Some cat trainers classify themselves as cat behaviorists can demand handsome hourly fees for in-home visits. A lot of those fees depend a good deal on location. Making house calls to affluent neighborhoods could demand more than $100 per hour for prominent cat trainers. Meanwhile, cat training done out of a pet store could demand smaller fees. It all comes down to how much clients are willing to spend and a lot of that is determined by demographics. Marketing also plays an integral role. Individual cat trainers who can successfully market themselves stand to make a lot of money, mainly because they are a minority in the workforce. Some pet stores and obedience schools offer cat training, although they are rather limited. Online searches provide little insight into cat trainer salaries or job prospects and even classified job listings are very barren. However, the private sector is one that is wide open. Cat trainers in business for themselves have the potential to earn a good deal of money. That is why it is important to enhance one’s training as much as possible. The cat trainer population could take off based on the sheer number of cat owners as it has exceeded 80 million in the United States. More cat owners are spending money on veterinary care and that trend bodes well for new cat trainers entering the field. ResourcesInternational Association of Animal Behavioral Consultants The IAABC offers various certifications for animal behaviorists and also provides a wealth of resources for those in this industry. American Cat Fanciers Association This association is geared towards cat owners with a tremendous amount of resources for cat owners and those who work with cats. The International Cat Association This association is the world’s largest registry of pedigree cats and also provides detailed information cat owners can use to their advantage. Cat Care Society This society assists with the adoption of cats as it looks to contribute to the welfare of felines throughout the U.S. Cat behaviorists are individuals who specialize in working in close environments with not only the cats, but their owners, and dealing with managing the behavior of the cat. A cat behaviorist can be certified or certificated after years of academic study and practical case experience. However, it is also possible for a behaviorist to work locally without completing extensive training.
In the USA, an ‘Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist’ holds a degree from a college or university. Animal behavior study is essential, with focus on biological or behavioral science. The degree includes a thesis conducted with intense research. The coursework requires several credits in ethology, animal behavior, comparative psychology, animal learning, conditioning and animal psychology (experimental psychology). Associate behaviorist requirements also need experience along with the education. The Animal Behavior Society requires two or more years of experience with applied animal behavior and interaction with particular species. At least three letters of recommendation are necessary to prove experience and education.[1] Whereas a ‘Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist’ holds a doctoral degree with focus on animal behavior, and possesses five years of experience, or holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine that requires two years of residency in animal behavior and three years of experience in applied animal behavior. The coursework and endorsements are identical to the Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. However, a Certified Animal Behaviorist will have to obtain the skills necessary for working closely with a species as a researcher, be an intern or research assistant, and show original creations or interpretations of animal behavior.[2] It is a common goal for the cat behaviorist to sort out problem behaviors and to create a strong communication between owner and pet. A cat behaviorist will work with both the cat and owner to achieve understanding between the relationships. They also concentrate on the unique changes in behavior in the pet and normal behavior so they can identify any irregular activities. They can even work along with veterinarians to distinguish the right medications for the animal.[3] As part of their duties, it is common for a behaviorist to work in a close environment with the cat, inspecting every detail necessary. A cat behaviorist must use their training of animal behavior to study responses and issues to lessen anxiety or fears rooted in the environment or elsewhere. They may question the owner's habits, house structure and living spaces of the pet to pinpoint certain concerns. It may be possible that in order to stop any unwanted behaviors, the owner of the pet will have to change their behavior first.[3] Understanding each other is one of many steps to peace in a warring household, and a cat behaviorist exists to provide just that: a link of communication between cat and owner. They aid in preventing or stopping psychological, health, and physical problems in the cat, such as scratching, biting, fighting, obesity, urine marking and more. A behaviorist will also inform or educate the owners about development stages in the cat in order to create an understanding. Once the owner understands the physical and social needs of a cat, behavior issues and other problems will decline.[4] A cat behaviorist will encourage socialization between the guardian and the cat to aid the process and gain a beneficial relationship. Social learning is extremely important for a cat and a cat behaviorist recognizes this and will incorporate these factors into the daily life. They promote healthy learning and stimulation with play and interaction. A cat behaviorist will also describe what is normal behavior and what is not, so that the owner can continue making that distinction and continue to help the cat.[4] An applied animal behaviorist or clinical animal behaviourist can specialize not just with cats, but with dogs, horses, and even parrots. Often a certified behaviorist will have undergone graduate training in courses such as zoology, biology and animal behavior in certain universities. In the USA, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAABs) are behaviorists with a doctoral degree and Associate Certified Applied Behaviorists (ACAABs) are those who studied with a master's degree.[1] There are various different organizations and associations that provide certification. The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) has a list of requirements before an individual can become board-certified, including an internship, examinations, creating a scientific journal and more.[5] The Animal Behaviour and Training Council, located in the United Kingdom, aims to regulate courses and organisations in which to become accredited as feline behaviourists.[6] Once qualified, a cat behaviorist can find a place of work in different fields. The need for animal specialty care and service is expected to increase, so jobs are in high demand. Specifically, many cat behaviorists have started their own line of work as independent cat trainers and behavior modifiers, including Jackson Galaxy and Sophia Yin. Jackson Galaxy has partnered up with Animal Planet and provides a show called My Cat from Hell, which identifies behavioral issues in cats. Sophia Yin created her own website to help individuals with problem cats. Mieshelle Nagelschneider is another example, author of the book, The Cat Whisperer (Random House Publishing). Other cat behaviorists have developed interest in veterinary jobs, animal control, animal shelters, kennels, and other animal-related work. In the UK, feline behaviourists are also known as clinical animal behaviourists, and work in a variety of sectors.[7] Since the employment opportunities for cat behaviorists differ, there is no set working salary. Those working for non-profit companies or researchers, such as zoos, typically earn less than those working for private companies. It also depends on the role of the job and where the behaviorist works. According to Michael Hutchins from the American Zoological Association, "Most animal behaviorists earn from $35,000 to $90,000 and more".[8]
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How to become a cat behaviorist
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