The last couple of months, I’ve been conducting a research trying to find an expert to help me introduce my family of four (nursing cat and three two-month-old kittens) to my existing menagerie (two four-year-old cats, a ten year old cat and three dogs ranging in size from 3.5lbs to 60lbs). I’ve been working at socializing the kittens and their mom who is still nursing them. We’re quite a bunch of misfits and I’m quite a chicken when it comes to introducing animals, so I asked for help. I called around any number I bumped on online. I called several vets as well. It wasn’t until I learned the term “cat behaviorist” that I started getting some concrete answers. I was looking for a CAAB, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist.
I have only made two calls so far. The first one, had an opening for 1.5 months down the line. The second one said he was available much sooner. Both of them want to charge me an enormous amount. Here is an idea of how much an animal behaviorist will cost you in California.
$390-$490 consultation only and no follow up. Duration approximately 2-2.5 hours
I will be bringing you more animal behaviorist information and details as to questionnaire forms and fee schedules as soon as I’m over my initial shock over the hourly rates. I still need to figure out lots more about cat behavior before I proceed with the integration of the new cat family. I know way more about dog behavior and I can read dogs much better than cats.
I definitely want to be an animal behaviorist, or at least a cat behaviorist. I bet they charge just as much.
The Not That Crazy Cat Lady
Holy cow that is a lot of money! I am going to find a degree in this as soon as I am done commenting!
I think that you will do great an learn to read cats – at least the kittens – because they are way easier than you think (or maybe I just have always had cats who are more open and have been lucky). It takes time but so far I think you have done a great job – just remember they can all smell fear and so if you are nervous they will be too. If you go in confident and act kind of like the newbies are not a big deal it does help. Just have a spray bottle handy if necessary (canned air is good too if you you are far away a blast to the behind works, and usually just the sound is enough to stop them – I have even been known to blow on a close up, bitey kitten (aka Stella, and also Barney and Virgil when they were little). Oh, and I had to tell you when we took the kittens for the ectomies, Gus was a whopping 7 7/8 lbs. They are 5 months old today.
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