Allison with Allison Helps Cats is Helping to Keep Kitties Out of Shelters in Lincoln and Omaha!

Have you ever wondered what to do with a cat with behavioral issues? While there are many resources out there for our canine friends, our feline friends get the short end of the kitty stick. Well local help is available! Allison with Allison Helps Cats is a cat behavior consultant and trainer. Since 2019, she’s offered cat behavior consultations through The Cat House in Lincoln and the online group Helping Cats with Behavioral Issues. She also maintains a pet education blog and her articles have appeared in Lincoln Kids, Lincoln 55+, Neighborhood Extra, Star City Sports, and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants’ journal. She’s certified in Cat Retention and Behavior and is a member of the IABBC and the Pet Professional Guild.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Allison and hearing about how she got started in this amazing field and her advice to all cat owners.

ELIZA: What made you want to start your own business?

ALLISON: While I was blogging for Lincoln Animal Ambassadors, I learned that cat behavior was the top reason for cats being surrendered and euthanized. I wanted to do something to help but wasn’t sure what to do except write articles. Eventually I was inspired by LAA’s mission, which is to address the root causes of animal homelessness, and I realized that as a cat behavior consultant I could give struggling cat owners an alternative to relinquishing their cats to shelters.

However, I soon discovered how much time and money it would take to become a cat behavior consultant, and decided that it wasn’t a realistic option for me. Yet I couldn’t shake the idea that addressing cat behavior was the best way to keep cats in their homes and out of shelters. I joined online cat behavior groups so that I could write better informed articles, and I kept looking for affordable classes.

When I discovered a cat behavior course from HSUS, I enrolled in it so I could learn more about cats and to see if might like the behavior field. I loved the course so much that I told my husband that I’d become a cat behavior consultant if money wasn’t an option. He said I should go for it.

I still had objections. I knew that lots of businesses fail and that to have any chance of success would require a lot of time on my part. Because my husband sees how much my face lights up whenever I talk about cats he had an answer for every objection, and so I finally decided to take a leap of faith.

ELIZA: Why a cat training business vs the more recognized dog training?

ALLISON: Because I love cats. And for the exact reason you gave! Cats are underserved. If you do a Google search for dog trainers in Lincoln, you’ll easily find a dozen or more. You can also find a few dog behavior consultants, however, you won’t find any local cat trainers or cat behavior consultants.

ELIZA: Tell me about your own furry family members.

ALLISON: My husband and I have one dog and three cats. Our dog is a 15-year-old toy poodle who used to compete in agility. He also received his Canine Good Citizenship. In his retirement, he enjoys walks, playtime, and long sleeps. Our second oldest cat came from Hearts United for Animals. She will greet visitors at our door but otherwise is reserved and doesn’t care to be touched. Our second oldest had lived outside for three years before we adopted her through Husker Cats. During her first year with us, we had to acclimate her to what a house is. Now she jumps on the table just like our other cats. She is also a lap cat. Our youngest came to us as a kitten. She’s outgoing and unflappable. Training her to do agility and therapy have been a breeze!

ELIZA: Tell me about your background with animals.

ALLISON: I grew up in Canada loving animals. I rescued snails and earthworms and cried once when I killed a fly. At one time I contemplated being a naturalist. Throughout my childhood, my family only had dogs. When I moved to Nebraska, I had guinea pigs for over ten years. Then a stray cat showed up in my yard. Until her, I had thought cats were standoffish and loners. She broke all my preconceptions. She lay on me, napped with me, and shadowed me. When I lost her to kidney disease, I threw myself into animal welfare, especially the rescue of cats.

ELIZA: What other experience qualifies you to run your business?

ALLISON: First, I have a lot of entrepreneurship experience, in that I have been a freelance designer and blogger. I’ve also taken classes in marketing and used the skills I acquired to increase readership for my blogs. Third, I have a certificate in cat behavior and retention. I’m also working on a couple other certifications, one from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and another from the Low-Stress Handling University.

ELIZA: What mistakes did you make when you first started?

ALLISON: I started my business before I really knew what running one involved. I thought all I had to do was publicize my services, but I soon discovered there’s much more to starting a business. I had to decide on what kind of type of business entity to form, find out the rules for having a business and for charging taxes, set up a business page on Facebook, apply for insurance, and the list goes on. My husband says that if I’d known how much was involved in starting a business, I never would’ve considered it. He’s probably right, so it’s good that I was so naïve.

ELIZA: Share a memorable moment.

ALLISON: One of my earliest behavior calls came from a cat owner who was dismayed that her new cat wasn’t getting along with her existing cat. After asking her a few questions, we realized that while the designated cat room had plenty of enrichment, the rest of the house lacked it and that is where the aggression was taking place. I loved being able to find a solution to restore harmony to her home. Just as importantly, I loved that I could reassure her that asking for help didn’t mean she wasn’t a good pet owner. In fact, doing so showed how much she loved her cats.

ELIZA: What keeps you going through the challenges?

ALLISON: My husband Andy. Back when I balked at taking expensive cat behavior classes, he told me that if I love the field, I should pursue it. Every time I feel like I’m spending too much time on my business and not enough time with him, and I ask him if he’s okay with my choice, he tells me that my happiness makes him happy. Whenever I’m reluctant to make a business purchase, he tells me that I need to spend money to make money. My parents, my in-laws, and my close friends also encourage and advise me. Finally, I have mentors in the world of animal welfare, and a supportive group of cat behavior consultants online.

ELIZA: If you were to change one thing about how you started, what would it be?

ALLISON: I’d research how to run a cat behavior consulting business. I’m grateful that my first few clients were patient with how much I learned on the job. I’ve learned the importance of preparing well-organized forms, to take lots of notes, photos, and even videos when doing home visits, and to bring treats and toys with me. I’ve also learned to walk my clients through the behavior plan over the phone or in person rather leaving them to figure it out on their own.

ELIZA: What have you learned about animals in your business?

ALLISON: Cats aren’t unlike humans. Their behavior is often closely connected to their emotions A great deal of the time they do try very hard to communicate with us, but we often don’t understand what they’re saying. Sometimes they’re confused about what they need or want, which then means their communication to us isn’t very clear. But they’re also different from people. We need to learn to deal with them on their own terms and to welcome love from them in the way they give it. They depend on us for happy relationships.

ELIZA: What have you learned about people in your business?

ALLISON: People have all kinds of relationships with their cats. Some expect cats to know how to behave from the start and to adjust instantly with every change. Others realize that cats need guidance but have no idea what kind to give or don’t have time. Some spoil their cats or are willing to put up with anything cats do. Others realize that cats feel stress and will do everything to help them, including hire a cat behavior consultant. 😉

ELIZA: Why should I use your business?

 ALLISON: I can help people with pretty much any kind of training they need for their cat: preventative health such as cleaning their cat’s teeth and clipping their cat’s nails, preparing their cat for a vet visit, improving their cat’s environment, addressing their cat’s behavior problems, teaching their cat manners, tricks, or skills (like walking on-leash), etc. If I don’t have an answer, I have a wealth of resources in books and fellow cat experts to draw upon.

 ELIZA: In what ways do you give back to the community?

 ALLISON: I write pet education articles for several local publications and I write a pet education blog. On my blog, I feature many animal welfare groups, share many inspirational stories about animals, and post many information articles. I also have tutorials, videos, and checklists. Finally, I volunteer with a couple of local animal welfare groups, and I donate to fundraisers by animal rescues.

 ELIZA: What’s the one piece of advice you’d like to give your readers about cat care or training?

 ALLISON: Parents can have good relationships with their children by teaching them in a positive way how to behave, taking time to figure out what they need, and spending quality time with them. The same applies for how we can have a good relationship with our cats.

 ELIZA: What do you see your business being or looking like in three years?

ALLISON: I’d like to have a consult every week and teach multiple classes every weekend.

Through my pet education articles, I’ve helped many people realize that cats can be trained. Through my business, I’d like to continue to reshape how people view cats. Cats can be our companions too. We can snuggle with them, take them for outings, and play games with them. Achieving all these things takes time, but the result will be a priceless relationship.

You can reach Allison at allisontalkspets@gmail.com or message her at Allison Helps Cats.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I am proud to announce that Preferred Pet Partners and Lincoln Pet Culture will be exchanging blog articles in the months to come!