info@derpypawsbehavior.com

Servicing West Metro Twin Cities– Minneapolis, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Eden Prairie, Brooklyn Park, St. Louis Park, Excelsior, Golden Valley, Edina, Bloomington, and more!

Feline Services

Ready to Fear Less with Your Feline?

A playful moment between a cat and person, showcasing affection and bonding through a high five.

I Can Help With

Many of the behaviors listed below can be rooted in an underlying medical condition. I will work with your veterinarian to help offer comprehensive care in addressing your pet’s overall health and behavior.

Adorable cat lounging in an open vintage suitcase on a grassy field, creating a charming scene.

Litter Box Behaviors

Urinating, spraying, defecation- I’m ready to pull out my hair from cleaning so much

Scratching

People, furniture, walls- I’m lost at how else to scratch-proof my home

Housemate Dynamics

1 or more cats fighting or bullying- I’m worried about the safety of my cats

cat furniture, cat, scratching post, cats, animal, pet, naturally

I Can Also Help With…

Grooming and Veterinary Care

Medication Administration

Sound phobias

Human-directed biting behaviors

Ingestive behaviors (working with your vet)

Adolescent behavior prevention

… and Enrichment Plans

Modern cat lifestyles come with modern problems- like not having appropriate outlets for their natural behaviors of hunting, scratching, and multi-tiered exploration. Enrichment options are tailored to your cat’s age and personality.

gray kitten sitting on floor

Don’t see your pet’s specific behavior concern listed?

Contact me to see if I can still help!

“A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.”

Ernest Hemingway

Uncertain If We Might Be a Good Fit For Each Other?

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Behavior Info

Why the focus on using food for training? Are there other ways to reward behavior?

Food is a strong motivator for behavior- we humans have oodles of foods we use as rewards for our own hard work! How food is used is what’s important- making food either rewarding or aversive. The type, size, where offered (from a hand vs on the ground vs other), when, and how frequently (at first!) are vital components in helping strengthen or weaken a behavior.

Even so, some animals may prefer other types of rewards: toys, play, access to a preferred or “safe” location, praise, and some even love petting or scratches! I’ll work with you to help assess what rewards your pet prefers and how to utilize those to your advantage.

Will the behavior change we work on be permanent?

It depends! Some pets learn a new behavior pattern and continue that pattern for life (think of a cat hearing a food can opening). Other behavior patterns might require some life-long reinforcing (think maintaining an awesome recall with your dog).

Each human-pet duo is unique. Some pets may “work for less” with one of their trusted humans, but may “only work” for food or toy rewards from the other human in their family. If that dynamic is ok for you, then that’s ok and it doesn’t need to change. If you’d like help assessing if or how to change that dynamic, let’s see what we can do together!

How long will it take to see behavior changes in my pet?

Sometimes behavior changes are seen within a matter of days! Every pet, family, and behavior pattern is different. Some behaviors may improve dramatically through management interventions and a few easy changes to your daily or weekly life.

Other behaviors, especially those rooted in significant fear or anxiety or that have been “practiced” for years may take longer to change. In these cases, partnering with a Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist or your primary care veterinarian may be most appropriate.

What if my pet doesn’t respond to training?

We’ll assess what “success” may look like together. I find that the better we understand our pet’s problematic behaviors, better support their natural behaviors, and expand your behavioral “tool kit”, the more likely the initial goals for you and your pet may change. I’m happy to help navigate those changes with you!