A Professional’s Guide to Feline Behaviour: Understanding, Improving and Resolving Problems

By Caroline Clark

ISBN 9781032171999

332 Pages 

110 Color Illustrations

Published October, 2024 

by CRC Press

Paperback

Description

A Professional's Guide to Feline Behaviour is an invaluable resource for the feline professional, yet written in such an accessible way that it would be of interest to anyone who shares their life with a cat and wants to gain a deeper understanding of their behaviour.

The book is presented in easy-to-navigate sections, each packed with practical advice and the colour illustrations, tables and graphics throughout make it approachable for every type of reader.

What this guide offers:

• A greater understanding of cats and how to meet their needs.

• How to recognise and mitigate negative emotions and deal with challenges that cats face both at home and particularly in the workplace.

• How to analyse feline behaviour accurately, with a view to designing a tailored behaviour modification plan.

• Comprehensive information on common, and not so common, problematic feline behaviours.

• The fundamentals of learning theory, with step-by-step training guides.

• Real-life case studies, accompanied by behaviour plans that integrate clinically proven methods to help manage or resolve a range of behaviour issues.

Written by Caroline Clark, a Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist and RCVS listed veterinary nurse, this well-researched book draws from her knowledge and professional experiences, offering a unique insight into feline behaviour.

Dedication

About the Author

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part One: Understanding Cat Behaviour and Meeting Their Needs 

Chapter 1: Domestication and the Influence of Genetics

Chapter 2: Life Stages and Behavioural Development

Chapter 3: Identifying and Fulfilling the Cat’s Needs

Chapter 4: Feline Communication

Part Two: Negative Emotional States: Their Effects and How We Can Help 

Chapter 5: Fear, Anxiety and Stress

Chapter 6: Pain and its Effect on Behaviour

Chapter 7: Working with Cats: Challenges and Practical Solutions

Part Three: Analysing, Understanding and Dealing with Feline Behaviour Problems

Chapter 8: The Fundamentals of Behaviour Analysis

Chapter 9: Understanding and Dealing with Problematic Behaviours

Chapter 10: Improving Emotional Well-being: Complementary Therapies and Integrated Treatments

Part Four: Applying the Knowledge

Chapter 11: Training Cats and How They Learn

Chapter 12: Case Studies

Appendices:

Appendix 1: Training Guides

Appendix 2: Advice and Guidance

Appendix 3: Useful Resources and Recommended Reading

End Note

Glossary

Index

Caroline has been working with cats and other companion animals for over 40 years and during that time has amassed a wealth of knowledge. She began her career as a veterinary nurse and, after many years in first opinion veterinary practice, spent some time lecturing. Having a passion for animal behaviour, she gained a post graduate diploma in companion animal behaviour at Southampton University, being fortunate to study under some of the world’s leading behaviourists. Since then, Caroline has been working with cats and their caregivers to help them overcome a range of problematic behaviours so they can lead happier lives. Caroline divides her time between seeing clinical behaviour cases, mentoring budding behaviourists and providing online and in-person continuing education to the veterinary community and other pet professionals. In her spare time, Caroline loves to spend time with her animals in the Yorkshire Wolds where she lives. Caroline can be contacted at www.carolineclarkauthor.co.uk