Certified Cat Behavior Consultant & Trainer - Allison Hunter-Frederick 🇺🇸

About

Hi! I am a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and Trainer. I am also the wife of a supportive husband and mother of four fur kids and several revolving foster cats.

I first fell in love with cats when a stray showed up in my front yard in 2005 and stayed. She changed my conceptions of what cats are like and I've been a cat-lover ever since. When I lost her to kidney failure, I knew that our household would never be complete without a cat. Now we have four!

Like many cat behavior consultants, I have firsthand experience with behavior challenges in my own cats, which helps me empathize with cat owners. What sets me apart is my work with both private clients and adopters, as well as my experience helping cats in homes and shelters. In addition, I bring ten years of teaching special education and years of writing non-fiction articles, giving me a unique perspective in understanding both feline behavior and how to communicate solutions effectively.

Prior to having cats, I grew up with dogs and then also had three guinea pigs. Outside of my love of animals, I like to read and attend library book talks, write and attend an annual Cat Writing Retreat, bake sweets, and hang out with friends. In the evenings, my husband and I unwind with movies, shows, and word puzzles. He’s my biggest supporter, there to lend a shoulder and help with my business however he can.

Career

I've been volunteering in animal welfare since the early 2000s and focusing on cat behavior since 2015. While writing for a spay/neuter group, I learned that behavior is a top reason for surrenders, which led me to pursue cat behavior education and certification.

In 2019, I launched my cat behavior business, offering Kitten Kindergarten classes, and later expanding to virtual consultations and classes during the pandemic. Around the same time, I volunteered extensively at our local cat shelter, socializing cats, assisting during Open Hours, and contributing to the newsletter. In 2022, I completed a humane society internship and then developed their cat enrichment and post-adoption support programs.

Beyond hands-on experience, I’ve taken numerous courses on behavior, introductions, aggression, training, cooperative care, and shelter work. My work has been recognized in national podcasts, our local newspaper, and with CWA Muse Medallions for infographics created with my husband.

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