Short answer: No, but depending on the behavior you’re seeking help with, skipping the vet could be dangerous, and might limit what we’re able to do.

For example: if your cat is urinating outside the litter box, that could be a result of any number of things. It could be due to a medical issue, a problem with the box itself, stress, or something entirely different. While I’m a whiz at helping with the last few things - environment, stress, etc. - I can’t diagnose or treat medical issues. We can problem solve til we’re blue in the face, but if (for example) your cat needs antibiotics, then none of my suggestions are going to help.

Why go to a vet first? It takes less time for a vet to rule out a medical problem than it does for me to try every possible behavioral intervention & realize that nothing is working because the problem is physical. In the time it takes us to rule out every strategy, a medical issue could progress from minor to significant. (It will also cost you less money in the long run to go to the vet at the beginning than it will to pay me for months to make no progress.)

I recognize that vets are expensive, and this can be frustrating! But you might end up saving money (not to mention, your cat’s life) by going to the vet before calling me. Any sudden change in behavior could be the result of a medical issue and is cause for a vet visit. While we can do an initial consultation, and I can give you some troubleshooting suggestions to try, I may require that you visit a vet before scheduling a second consultation.

An analogy: behaviorists are like psychologists, veterinary behaviorists are like psychiatrists, and behavior consultants are like therapists.

Behaviorists are certified through the Animal Behavior Society. They have a CAAB or ACAAB after their name. To get certified, behaviorists need to complete a PhD or Masters in animal behavior, and conduct/present research studies. While some behaviorists also do behavior consulting (just like some clinical psychologists work with patients), many are mainly scientists who focus on research.

Veterinary behaviorists are vets with a special certification in behavior. They have a DA-CVB after their name. Most vets don’t have much training in behavior. (They have a LOT of other things to focus on, vets are amazing!) Veterinary behaviorists have done special training, and are uniquely equipped to evaluate behavior from a medical perspective. They can also prescribe medication if needed. You can find a certified veterinary behaviorist here.

Behavior consultants (like me!) are usually associated with the IAABC. They are well-versed in the science around cat behavior and learning, and they find ways for their clients to use that science to resolve behavior issues. Rather than doing studies, behavior consultants are focused on individual cases, practical solutions, and helping their clients and their pets live happily together. (Jackson Galaxy is a famous example of a behavior consultant - he’s not a behaviorist, and doesn’t claim to be!)

It can be confusing, because while there are accrediting organizations, this field is unregulated. People can legally call themselves whatever they want, which clots the market with people who have no training. Those people often use the word “behaviorist”, even though they aren’t qualified. Be skeptical of anyone who calls themself a behaviorist, but doesn’t have a CAAB or ACAAB accreditation.

Obviously, this varies by issue, but one thing is true in every case - we move at the cat’s pace.

That means that as we work with your cat, we observe their behavior, respond accordingly, and only move forward with interventions when they’re comfortable. Sometimes this takes a while, sometimes it doesn’t.

Because we’re prioritizing the cat’s timeline, it’s impossible to put an exact time frame on how long it will take to address an issue. How long it takes will also depend on the resources we have available, including time, space, and energy. You should expect to do work - behavior changes happen slowly, with daily effort, and while we will work together to find a solution that fits into your life and abilities, there’s probably no magic fix.

However, another thing that’s always true - following the cat’s pace winds up being faster than obsessing over our own schedule. After all, have you ever met a cat who voluntarily plays by someone else’s rules? Yeah, me neither. Putting in the time to learn and follow your cat’s signals will not only help you solve your problem - it’ll deepen your bond.