ABOUT ME.
Passionate. Patient. Persistent.
With a calm yet determined style, I'm here to dig into any behavioral issues you're experiencing with your cat(s). I can also help you plan for life changes that relate to a cat.
I've long had good intuition about cats and their language. A cat whisperer of sorts. I've also had formal training in cat behavior and cat behavior counseling. I'm a Ph.D. Economist now following my heart as a cat behaviorist, a cat behavior consultant.
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I have years of experience introducing cats to cats, cats to dogs, cats to rabbits, and cats to new humans. I've also worked with countless shy and nervous cats and tackled a wide variety of feline behavioral challenges. I'd love to share what I've learned. I'm currently mom to four cats (Vinny, Vienna, Pearl, and Calvin), two dogs (Lola and Pedro), and two humans (Josh and Allie).
MY STORY.
I am a cat person.
I'm Kim Katz and I've loved cats all my life. For the whole of my childhood, I'd rush home from school each day and immediately head to find the family cat. There was Charlie Brown. And then there was Lucy. These two cats were my first loves. (And yes, I'm also a huge fan of Snoopy.)
Fast forward to my adult years, I was thrilled when I finally lived in an apartment that allowed me to have a cat of my own. I was a graduate student in Philadelphia at the time and called a local vet practice for a recommendation on where I might find a cat that needed a home. What a coincidence, they told me. Just that morning, someone had called about a stray cat they’d trapped in a neighborhood nearby. A kitten, actually, about four months old. "But," they said, "this kitten seems to be quite scared of humans." And they gave me the phone number of the person with the cat. Naturally, undeterred, I called immediately and set a time to pick up the kitten that very afternoon. Enter Earl. Scroll down further to read Earl’s full story.
While living with Earl and then also Emily, I finished grad school, earning my Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. And upon finishing, I took a job as a professor, teaching and doing research in economics, at a Massachusetts college. Yet throughout all this, I had a persistent, nagging feeling that I might not be on the right path. My heart was elsewhere. I spent long nights pondering what career might be my true calling, and careers with animals always came to mind. Back at the time, I knew of dog trainers but the idea that one might work in cat behavior was essentially unknown. So I wasn’t sure.
Eventually, I chose to leave economics and shortly thereafter, to stay home with my two children. Along the way, I volunteered at local cat shelters. And somewhere in there, I began teaching a few fitness classes part-time. But for twenty years, my primary job was being mom. I’m so glad I made this choice; it was absolutely the right choice for me. But when my kids left for college, I found myself back to thinking about what to do with myself. Whatever I chose, I wanted to love it, to feel that my whole heart was in it, and to feel a sense of purpose doing it.
Cat behaviorist. Helping people with their cats. Keeping people and their cats together. Helping people love living with their cats. Keeping cats from being returned to shelters. It fits. It’s me. It so truly satisfies what I’m looking for.
Many of the solutions I’ll give to help with your cat’s behavior come from my instincts, my intuition. I’ve always instinctively had a good sense for cats, their language, and their needs. Friends and family have called me a cat whisperer for as long as I can remember. But I’ve also taken a wide range of courses – a cat behavior consultant mentorship through the IAABC plus courses in feline behavior, low stress handling of cats and dogs, fear free shelters, feline introductions, feline enrichment, feline house soiling, multi-cat households, medicating cats positively, and more. I'm a Humane Society trained Cat Behavior and Retention Counselor. I'm a Fear Free Shelter graduate. I’m certified silver in low stress handling. I’m a certified surrender prevention specialist. I'm an American Association of Feline Practitioners Cat Friendly Veterinary Advocate. I attended numerous sessions at the “Pounce! 2023” conference. I volunteer regularly at a local cat shelter.
And now, with a better-late-than-never spirit, I’m thrilled to be in business as a cat behavior consultant, serving people and cats in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, and southern Maine.
EARL'S STORY.
Earl. Boy, the vet’s office wasn’t kidding when they said this kitten was scared of people. Earl wasn’t just scared; he was terrified. Terrified! 100% feral. Honestly, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I took him in.
On day one, with Earl still in the carrier he was handed to me in, I headed to the vet. I dropped him off, understanding that he needed to be fully sedated to receive a basic exam, vaccinations, and a flea bath. When the vet tech brought out my carrier later in the day, I thought there was a mistake. I’d arrived with a black and gray kitten and the kitten now in the carrier was black and white. But it was Earl. The flea bath, they told me, had washed away the dirt that was making him appear gray.
In those first days, first weeks, Earl hid under my couch. All day. Every day. He’d come out at night to eat and play. I’d hear him when I turned off the lights for the night. But at dawn, or if he heard me up and moving, it was back under the couch. From time to time, I’d manage to “scoop” Earl out from under the couch and get him to run into a small bathroom where he would hiss and spit at the sight of me. I’d lock us into the bathroom, where I’d sit on the floor near him, hoping he’d get used to my presence. And some days, I’d suit up in thick ski gloves and attempt to pet him just a little. Occasionally, I even managed to pick him up and a couple times, he fell asleep on my lap. But clearly this wasn’t going to be easy.
Eventually, with a mix of frustration and some hope that perhaps it would help, I decided to bring home a second kitten. A very well socialized kitten. If Earl wanted nothing to do with me, fine. I’d get some kitty love from Emily. Emily slept on my bed the very first night.
Little by little, Earl watched as Emily survived her interactions with me. She wasn’t being mauled. She seemed to be safe. She probably even appeared to be having some fun. And in time, Earl slowly started coming out from under the couch. Though let me reiterate … slowly. And he wasn’t yet keen on me. Earl taught me patience.
I don’t remember the exact timetable, but it was likely a couple years before Earl would let me walk right up to him and touch him. But he was worth the wait. He was so very worth the wait. When Earl finally decided to trust me, we formed the most incredible bond. I don’t exaggerate when I say he was a soulmate. We spent 18.5 years together and it was amazing. If you meet me, you will notice that to this day, I always wear a bracelet bearing his name. Earl is the original inspiration behind my wanting to help you with your cat behavior challenges so that you can get back to loving life with your cat.
