Heather Alvey | Source | Owner at Felidae Behavior Consulting

HA

Heather Alvey

Owner at Felidae Behavior Consulting
On the record
Share profile 
Link:
Bio
Edit

Heather is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant with over 20 years experience working with cats and their people. She helps clients all over the world solve or manage their cat's behavioral challenges using positive reinforcement methods.

Employment
Sign up to view all
Media
Sign up to view all
  • Why Do Cats Loaf?

    Cat parents have probably seen their cat “loaf” by tucking their paws under their body—but what does it mean when a cat loafs?

    Article
Story Ideas
Sign up to view all
  • Understanding Cat Meows: Insights from a Behavior Expert
    Heather explains that cats meow to communicate with humans and express needs. She highlights that excessive meowing can signal health issues and offers tips on what’s normal for different breeds. For those losing sleep, Heather provides techniques to manage disruptive meowing.
  • Decoding Cat "Loafing": Comfort or Alertness?
    Heather Alvey, Felidae Behavior Consulting owner, clarifies cat "loafing." Paws tucked under indicates relaxation, while flat paws suggest alertness. Loafing is a chosen resting position, similar to humans' favored sitting styles.
Recent Quotes
Sign up to view all

  • Alvey has several tips and tricks for avoiding those ferocious kicks.

    Use appropriate toys
    It’s important to offer your cat toys small enough to easily grab with their mouth. If your cat has no suitable toys, they may try to make you their plaything instead.

    “Never use hands or feet as toys while you play. I like using wand toys as a way to keep a cat away from sensitive body parts,” Alvey says.

    Resist the tummy rubs
    Unlike dogs, cats don’t always show you their belly as an invitation to touch or stroke it.

    They’re actually showing you they trust you by displaying the most sensitive part of their anatomy, according to Alvey. “When you reach down to touch it, you are breaking that trust.”

    A startled or betrayed cat may bunny kick you in defense of their body and personal space.

    Don’t punish your cat
    Bunny kicking is a natural behavior for cats, and it’s not fair to punish them for acting on their instincts.

    Yes, kittens can teach each other to soften their bunny kicks by biting or howling at each other. But you’re much larger than a five-pound kitten, so a shout or a swat from you is much more serious.

    “Yelling or striking your cat will only lead to a breakdown of your relationship and cause your cat fear and stress,” says Alvey. And of course, stressed cats are more likely to behave aggressively in the future.

    Walk away
    While you shouldn’t punish your cat, you don’t want to sit there and let them tear apart your ankle, either. When your cat bunny kicks you, Alvey recommends removing yourself from the situation right away.

    “If you are injured, quietly get up and walk away,” Alvey says. “If your cat is overstimulated and wants to continue the interaction, you may need to go to another room and shut the door behind you, giving them some time to cool down.”

  • “It’s never ok to allow your cat to bite or scratch you. We don’t want to reinforce that we are toys or prey,” says Alvey.

  • Using force: Another clue to help you decide if your cat is playing? Consider how much force they’re using, says Heather Alvey, CFTBS, cat behaviorist at Felidae Behavior Consulting. An aggressive cat will bunny kick you with everything they’ve got. If they’re ripping your arm to shreds with bites and scratches, it’s probably intentional.

Popularity
Sign up to view