Individual Support

Are you a cat owner looking for expert support for your cat’s unique behavioral needs? Allison Helps Cats is your solution! All options come with a subscription to the AHC e-newsletter and an invite to the AHC social club after your service ends and feedback has been received.

Service Options

Let’s Talk Cats Workshops ($15): Do want to talk about cat behavior or training with a cat expert and other cat owners?

• Q&A and group discussions about cat behavior. The even months will focus on behavior and the odd months will focus on training. Each month will have a theme. (No discussion of adversives.)
• You must follow Allison Helps Cats on Facebook and sign up for the AHC e-newsletter.
• Cost $15. Half will cover event fees and half will be donated to a cat owner in need or a cat rescue/shelter.
• Option to register at EventBrite.

Behavior Call ($120): Do you have a series of minor questions such as how to stop your cat from chewing objects, jumping on you, eating your plants? Service includes these features:

• Review of paperwork
• 50-minute virtual call
• Short list of recommendations and resources
• Behavior plan summary for your vet

Training Call ($120): Do you want to receive support for basic care, carrier usage, manners, or agility? Service includes these features:

• Review of paperwork
• 50-minute virtual call
• Instructions
• Demos
• Opportunity to practice

Packages ($385-$580): Does your cat have a major issue? This multi-session option is for you! Packages include these features:

• Virtual home visit
• Multiple virtual check-ins
• Extensive teaching
• PDFs of the content I share during check-ins
• Behavior plan summary for you and your vet
• Option to extend support by Zoom calls or email
• Option to join membership groups after service ends

Package Options

• Transition (introductions, life changes): four check-ins
• Eliminating/Scratching: six check-ins
• Aggression/Reintroductions: eight check-ins

PACKAGE DETAILS

I offer a research-based approach to cat behavior modification and training. This includes positive reinforcement and an adherence to the principles of LIMA (least intrusive minimal aversive) behavior strategies.

In working with me, you must understand that this is a team effort that includes you, me, and your vet.

• You and I will follow a weekly plan to change your cat’s behavior.
• You will be actively involved each week in implementing the steps outlined, submitting photos and/or videos, and discussing on your progress.
• Your vet will be consulted for their medical expertise and appraised of our work.

Behavior Questionnaire: Prior to the start of my behavior package, I will send you my Behavior Questionnaire. It is an in-depth form that asks you about your cat’s history, home environment, lifestyle, behavior, and training, as well as your expectations. This form will help me assess your cat’s behavior and pinpoint problem areas to address.

Meet & Greet: After I receive your questionnaire, I will follow-up with a 30-minute call during which we will overview your current situation, possibly visit with your cats on screen, overview my services and prices, and talk about data collection. You will also be subscribed to my e-newsletter. If we are a good fit, I will send a Consent To Treat and an invoice for my services.

Data Collection: To resolve your cat’s misbehavior, we will need to problem solve. I will ask you to collect data for a week that shows what preceded your cat’s problem behavior, who was nearby, when and where the behavior happened, and what happened after your cat’s problem behavior. This will provide us with a baseline, and also possibly with the trigger for your cat’s behavior. Throughout our consultation, I may ask you to repeat this data collection.

Virtual Home Visit: A visit allows me to observe your cat in its home environment, along with observe your cat’s interactions with your family. The virtual home visit will count as the first check-in. I will ask follow-up questions and review any data and/or media you’ve sent. (You may elect to send a map and video ahead of time that gives me a tour of your home from your cat’ s perspective and to answer follow-up questions through email.)

Behavior Plan: After I receive paperwork and payment, I will create a behavior plan. In it, I will cover distant and current antecedents, motivating operations, interventions tried, possible reinforcers, vet report, medical and physiological factors, antecedent changes, consequence changes, and maintenance of new behavior. I will also create a series of implementation steps and decide what info and training is needed for these to be successful, all of which will form the basis of our check-ins.

Virtual Check-Ins: Check-ins are typically 50 minutes each, weekly to start, and include a slide presentation. At each check-in, I’ll provide information that will help you understand your cat’s behaviors and a series of implementation steps for working with your cat. Demos and practice might be included, depending on the number of check-ins you pick.

Activities: At the end of each check-in, we will decide together on activities for you to do between meetings. Activities for check-ins will be due two days prior to check-in. We will only meet if homework is submitted in a timely matter. No matter the frequency that we meet, data and videos will be due weekly, so that your cats can continue to progress.

Exit Survey: This survey will provide you with the chance to provide feedback on my service to you. Upon completing it, you will have the option to join the AHC Social Club and/or AHC Think Tank. After I receive it, I will also send a summary of our work together to you and your vet, along with AHC swag,

Support Options: Caring for a cat can be similar to parenting a child in that you might continue to look for new ways to improve your cat’s behavior. For that reason, after your initial goal for your cat’s behavior has been met, you’ll have the option to join my Facebook Social Club and my Client Catch-Up Group Calls. The first is available for free to clients and the second is available for a monthly fee.

PACKAGE FACTORS

• Assignments
  • We will proceed with a subsequent implement step, only AFTER you have completed assignments from the previous step.
  • Barring emergencies, should you fail to prepare for or miss two check-ins, I will consider our case closed. You are responsible for being actively involved in implementing this plan and reporting on your progress.
• Transportation: Within Lincoln city limits, I do not charge extra for transportation time and cost. Outside of Lincoln, I charge 35 cents per mile of round trip driving distance. (Note: My driving distances will always be for the quickest route that avoids interstate highways.)
• Multiple Cats: Prices are based on a single-cat household or multi-cat households where the behavioral problem is clearly limited to a single cat.
• Big Three Cases: For cases involving any of the big three behaviors (elimination, scratching, aggression), you must purchase six to eight check-ins. Complex behaviors take time to change.
• Aggression Cases: The adults must attend the Initial Consult and all family members must attend at least one check-in session. Complex behaviors take a team to change.