Feline Fears and Anxieties

Cats often find unfamiliar environments rather stressful, so we ask you not to bring your cat to our clinic. However, we could chat face-to-face at the clinic without your cat, as long as you provide all the records that we requested beforehand. For instance, we ask you to draw a diagram of the layout of your home in the questionnaire that you complete prior to the appointment. Any videos or photos of your home sent to us prior to the clinic would also be very useful. If we are still finding it difficult to understand what’s going on though, we could also try a video or Skype call, facilities allowing. It may be harder to get to the bottom of the problem without a home visit, but our cat owners have found these clinics to be very useful.

Cat behaviour problems often have some physiological element, which is why it is important for a vet to thoroughly check over your cat before referring onto us. For instance, often cats have urinary tract problems, which exacerbate house-soiling issues.

Remember that vet visits are stressful for cats; so do chat through the different options with your vet first. For example, if you are having problems between cats in the household, taking one cat out can make things worse. One way to make the experience less stressful is to leave your cat transport box out for several days, then feed your cat(s) inside it.

The range of behaviour problems exhibited in dogs, cats and parrots is varied. It includes aggression, destructiveness, toileting problems, marking, spraying, self-mutilation, vocal behaviour, nervousness, car travel, livestock chasing and general control. We can offer help with these, as well as other behaviour problems exhibited in smaller companion animals and birds.   Our table of services can be downloaded here.

If you are seeking general training (e.g. to perform tricks on cue) or socialisation for your pet, then we recommend seeking an ABTC registered Animal Training Instructor.

Contact us for a no obligations chat. After you have been referred by your veterinary surgeon, you can phone us on 0121 299 0188 to discuss the details and costs, or book online here. You can access the referral form here, or your vet can make the referral online here.

Currently, in the UK anyone can practise as a clinical animal behaviourist whether they have any qualifications and experience or not.  However, there are moves afoot to put pressure on the government to regulate the profession.  The Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) is one body that aims to be an umbrella regulatory body for the sector. The Council is made up of several professional trade bodies, representing animal trainers and behaviourists to the public. The ABTC sets and maintains the standards of knowledge and practical skills necessary to be an animal trainer or behaviourist. The ABTC maintains national registers of appropriately qualified and experienced practitioners.  A strict Code of Conduct and an annual CPD (Continuing Professional Development) requirement is expected from the professional trade bodies who are members of the Council.

The Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians (FAB Clinicians) is one such professional trade body, representing externally, independently accredited clinical animal behaviourists and those working towards independent accreditation.  CCAB Certification (formally the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Accreditation Committee) run the only independent scheme in the UK that assesses and accredits clinical animal behaviourists ('CCABs'), who need to meet high educational, experiential and ethical standards.  CCABs are recommended by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and it is this certification that most pet insurance companies require. 

Zoe Demery, who runs Second Nature Behaviour, has a doctorate in animal behaviour and a first-class honours degree in zoology and psychology. She is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) in dogs, cats and parrots, which means she is fully accredited with the ABTC and CCAB Certification.  She is very happy to be a Certificated Member of FAB Clinicians. All of Second Nature Behaviour’s associate behaviourists are well qualified, but are still working towards CCAB accreditation.  We all work according to the Code of Conduct set by the Fellowship of Animal Behaviour Clinicians.

Exemplary feedback from our clients indicates they are appreciative of someone having the time to listen to them and to deal with their pets’ problems. Second Nature Behaviour can offer years of experience, well-qualified, empathic behaviourists and great facilities. We are able to provide you with the tools and the time you need to develop thorough behaviour treatment plans that are suitable for your pet’s individual circumstances. We employ kind, reward-based techniques to resolve behaviour problems in a range of animal species.

Consultations are held on an appointment basis, either at one of our regional clinics or in your own home. If possible, all family members involved should be present. A history of the problem will be taken and your pet’s temperament assessed. After this, the counsellor will explain the motivation for the behaviour and devise a treatment programme to help you modify your pet’s behaviour.

Treatment programmes vary according to the nature and severity of the problem. Sometimes only the initial consultation, remote support and some hard work on your part work are sufficient. Moreover, a detailed report outlining the therapy will be sent to you and your veterinary surgeon. Further advice and aftercare are provided via further sessions and email for at least 3 months. Where treatment dictates it, or if you would prefer face-to-face support, a follow-up appointment can be arranged online.   Alternatively, we can come to your home again.  If you are a dog owner, we offer extensive face-to-face support following the initial consultation as part of our standard service.

Although we are based in Birmingham, full consultations generally take place in your own home, allowing us to get a clearer picture of what is going on. We may also go out on one of your local walks.

We will travel to see cases up to approximately 1 ½  hours’ drive from Birmingham, including the West and East Midlands, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire. We also hold monthly regional and virtual behavioural clinics.  For parrots and cats outside our normal service area, we can see you over online video link.

We cannot guarantee a ‘cure’ or work miracles, but if between us we can diagnose what is going on, and if you are prepared to work hard, dramatic improvement is not unusual.  The treatment plan is designed to be fluid.  If what we initially suggest doesn’t seem to have much effect, then we will reassess and make some other suggestions about what to do. 

There is no quick fix to any kind of behaviour problem. The treatment plan advised may produce results very quickly, but often it will take time, effort and commitment from all of the family to produce the improved behaviour. Always remember that your pet’s current problems may have developed over a long period of time, so it may take a particularly long time to improve. It really varies from individual to individual. However, support from us is ongoing, as you need it. Following your consultation, further advice is available by phone and email as you progress, or face-to-face if you require it. Progress is often faster with greater follow-up behaviour support within your own environment.