WITH THE EYES OF A CAT
When I look at a cat, I try to observe reality through its eyes. Through the owner’s stories, his environment, his movements… I empathise with him to understand what moves him, what he feels, how he thinks, the strategies he finds.
When it comes to understanding the causes that triggered a problematic situation, I go beyond appearances to get to the source of his motivations. Sometimes, loving your cat or having had many cats in your life is not enough to really understand your feline friend. Our habits, preconceptions and moods can distort reality, preventing us from looking at our kitty with fresh, impartial eyes.
If you need a neutral but experienced gaze with which to interpret your cat’s behaviour, my work can help you. And together we might discover something very, very far from what you might have imagined….
SCIENCE, LISTENING AND INTUITION
Science underpins my approach as a Feline Relationship Counsellor, based on the cognitive zooanthropological model. What does this mean? First of all, that cats and humans are two very similar beings (both mammals!), but also profoundly different from each other. Each has unique characteristics, given both by their own species and personal experience.
We often fall into the very human trap of treating our cat as our own, ending up saying that he pees around out of spite, that it is right to punish him, or that it is always good to get a second cat to keep the other one company. These beliefs prevent us from looking at our cat for who it really is: first and foremost a feline, the result of millennia of evolution, with senses, instincts and motivations very different from our own.
And this is where I come in as a feline behaviour consultant: based on ethological studies of the cat and what we know about its well-being as a species, I will listen to your story, observe your environment and decrypt the way you communicate. With all the information gathered and a pinch of intuition, I will be able to come up with solutions that respect each one’s nature: human, feline, canine…
EVERY RELATIONSHIP IS UNIQUE
They are magnificent, we agree, but sometimes our cats drive us to exasperation. Add to that the fact that there is little time to devote to them and everyday life is super hectic. At least with our pets, we would like things to be easy. The truth is that every relationship is unique, as is every cat (and every human). That is why I will not be able to offer ready-made solutions that can be applied to every situation and with every subject, but will need to investigate the real reasons behind unwanted behaviour.
To do this, a home visit will be of great help, both to get to know each other better and to study the kitten’s territory. Sharing videos and photos showing the behaviour under accusation will also be invaluable. In fact, my role is more akin to that of a marriage counsellor than a ‘feline trainer’. I will enter with feline steps into the relationship between bipeds and quadrupeds in the home, to better understand your internal dynamics, habits, rituals, division of space in the home…
My work will be all the more successful the more you cooperate. In fact, to really understand the problem and thus solve it, it will sometimes be necessary to take a step back, setting aside your human convictions to make room for the feline point of view. Sometimes, you will need to take a step forward towards your furry partner: an extra 15 minutes of playtime, an extra litter box, a new moment of sharing… Because love is magic, but it is also a matter of small (and big) compromises.
THE CAT SHOWS THE WAY
When I think about the direction we should take towards a peaceful coexistence between humans and felines, I first think about what would make him, our felis catus, happy.
With an animal wisdom free of prejudice, with a natural feeling aligned with the present, cats invite us to open our perspectives, to develop curiosity and spontaneity towards others, the world, ourselves. Cats can give us the gift of an enormous love, precisely because it is born in the space of a full freedom of choice, from a deep and autonomous desire.
Looking at a cat therefore gives us the opportunity to take up an invitation: to enter into harmony with its essence, to become a little like it in order to dialogue with our most instinctual and intuitive part. Through knowing and accepting his diversity, we can know and accept ourselves, our limitations, our whims. We can learn love as an offer of freedom and an exercise of trust, not only towards our cats and other living beings, but, once again, towards ourselves.
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RICHIEDI UNA
CONSULTANCY
Write a message to info@aliceguardaigatti.it or fill in the form. I will get back to you as soon as possible!