I'm sure you've received this question before but I couldn't find it on your blog so I hope this ask isn't too annoying- I'm interested in becoming a feline behaviorist but I can't find many resources on how to gain knowledge/get certified! How did you get into the business/any tips? Thank you so much!
It’s not annoying! Honestly I looked into the online certification programs. I went with the Animal Behavior Institute. It was a little more expensive, but it required more time for their hands on volunteer portion of their program and it offered me a lot more learning opportunities.
Pam Bennett-Johnson offers a certification process that allows you to be listed as a behaviorist on her site, but I’m unaware of the steps necessary, and I also can’t vouch for the lessons she teaches, since I didn’t wind up going that route. I also decided not to attend the Animal Behavior College just because I read some negative things on the Better Business Bureau website. Although I’ve seen some folks on tumblr who have attended ABC and say it’s great. But again I can’t remark on that because I didn’t actually attend.
Aside from schooling, surround yourself with cats as much as possible. Read books on cat behavior, volunteer at local shelters and help the cats out there. You can foster or just go hang and help clean up. The more you know, the better. And you can never learn too much. I visited an emergency hospital in my area today for work and wound up networking for behavioral work if they need me. I also signed up for their cat handling course. Because honestly if there’s something I’m not aware of I want to know.
Never stop learning. You may swear by something up and down, but don’t let your previously conceived ideas hold you down. Learn new techniques. Read new studies as they come out. Question those studies. Find studies with differing opinions. Find out who paid for those studies.
But more importantly - be involved with cats. Spend as much time with as many different cats as you can. Don’t be afraid to be scratched or bitten - you will be. Not as much as some TV shows would have you believe, but it happens. Learn what works for what cats. The bigger your sample size, the better.
But the MOST important thing with ANY field that revolves around animal care - Take care of yourself. Make sure you are okay. People who deal with animals have to handle a lot. Not just working with the animals themselves, but the people can be something else entirely. Know when to pick your battles. Animal care offers some of the most rewarding work, but it’s high risk high reward. Be kind to yourself. Take breaks when you need them. It’s okay to not be okay, as long as you recognize it.