Feline behaviour consultant (in training)
About Arianna
My approach to feline behaviour is rooted in partnership.
I grew up around a wide range of animals: horses, dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, small mammals. Each species demanded something different from me.
Horses taught me that control is an illusion; partnership is earned through timing, clarity, and respect.
Dogs reinforced the power of positive reinforcement and consistency.
Small animals required careful handling, attentiveness, and environmental sensitivity.
Across all of them, one principle remained constant: behaviour is information.
That foundation shapes how I work with cats.
My Philosophy
We choose to bring animals into our homes.
The responsibility is not to mold them into convenience, but to shape our environments in ways that support their needs while maintaining safety and harmony.
I do not approach behaviour as something to suppress.
Cats do not act out of spite or rudeness. When a behaviour becomes frustrating, it is serving a purpose; meeting a need, responding to stress, or navigating an environmental mismatch.
Rather than asking, “How do we stop this?”
I ask, “What is this behaviour accomplishing?”
From there, we adjust.
Sometimes that means restructuring the environment.
Sometimes it means shifting routine.
Sometimes it means adjusting our own expectations.
Counter jumping, for example, is rarely disobedience - it is curiosity, access, or opportunity. Meowing at a closed door is communication. When safe and appropriate, the solution may not be silencing the cat, but reconsidering the barrier.
Behaviour work is often as much about adapting the household as it is about guiding the cat.
On Boundaries
Cats are members of the household.
When safe and reasonable, I encourage setups that allow for agency and appropriate access rather than restriction for convenience alone. Boundaries absolutely matter - especially where safety, health, or structural constraints are involved.
But my work is not centered on control.
It is centered on creating conditions in which the behaviours we want become natural, and the behaviours we struggle with become unnecessary.
This requires participation from both the cat and the human.
Training & Credentials
I am currently completing my feline behaviour certification through CASI.
My work is evidence-informed and within scope of practice. When behaviour may have a medical component, veterinary clearance specific to the issue is required before intervention.
Responsible practice means knowing when to collaborate, when to refer, and when to slow down.
Working Together
My consultations are structured and practical.
You can expect:
- Clear explanations without blame
- Environmental and routine-based recommendations
- Realistic timelines
- Defined next steps
I will not promise instant results, and I will not frame your cat as the problem.
Behaviour is communication.
When we understand it, we can build homes that feel calmer for everyone.