Feline Behavior Course

Lesson 1 • Physical Anatomy and Behavioral Implications

Connects musculoskeletal structure, retractable claws, and flexible spine to natural behaviors. Explains how anatomy drives hunting, climbing, and grooming.

Lesson 2 • Feline Sensory Systems

Examines vision, hearing, olfaction, taste, and touch in cats. Links sensory capabilities to environmental perception and behavioral responses.

Lesson 3 • Evolutionary Origins of Domestic Cats

Traces the cat's descent from solitary desert predators to domestic companions. Provides evolutionary context for understanding modern behavioral tendencies.

Lesson 1 • Chemical and Scent Communication

Explains pheromone types, marking behaviors, and olfactory messaging between cats. Connects scent communication to territory and social bonding.

Lesson 2 • Reading Multi-Signal Communication

Integrates vocal, postural, chemical, and tactile cues into holistic behavioral assessment. Trains students to avoid single-signal misinterpretation.

Lesson 3 • Touch and Tactile Communication

Covers head bunting, allorubbing, kneading, and grooming as social bonding behaviors. Identifies when tactile contact signals comfort versus overstimulation.

Lesson 4 • Vocal Communication Repertoire

Catalogs meowing, chirping, trilling, hissing, and growling with their communicative functions. Distinguishes sounds directed at humans from those directed at other cats.

Lesson 1 • Juvenile and Adolescent Development

Examines play behavior, predatory skill development, and social learning from eight weeks to one year. Links juvenile experiences to adult behavioral patterns.

Lesson 2 • Neonatal and Transitional Periods

Covers sensory development, maternal dependency, and early reflex behaviors from birth to three weeks. Establishes the biological baseline for later socialization.

Lesson 3 • The Critical Socialization Window

Defines the two-to-seven-week sensitive period for social exposure and its lifelong behavioral impact. Explains consequences of under-socialization and fear generalization.

Lesson 1 • Solitary vs. Social Feline Tendencies

Contrasts obligate solitary behavior with facultative sociality observed in feral colonies. Establishes the spectrum of social tolerance in domestic cats.

Lesson 2 • Human-Cat Attachment and Bonding

Explores attachment styles, secure base effects, and owner interaction patterns. Connects human behavior to cat trust and relationship quality.

Lesson 3 • Cat-to-Cat Relationship Dynamics

Analyzes bonded pairs, affiliative behaviors, and competitive interactions among cats. Identifies factors that predict compatibility between individuals.

Lesson 1 • Common Feline Stressors

Catalogs environmental, social, and husbandry-related stressors in domestic and shelter settings. Prioritizes stressors by frequency and behavioral impact.

Lesson 2 • Stress Reduction Strategies

Applies environmental modification, routine stability, and low-stress handling to reduce feline anxiety. Evaluates pheromone therapy and calming supplement evidence.

Lesson 3 • Stress Physiology in Cats

Explains the HPA axis, cortisol release, and immune suppression under chronic stress. Connects physiological stress responses to observable behavioral changes.

Lesson 1 • Aggression Risk Assessment

Applies structured assessment tools to evaluate bite risk, escalation history, and environmental triggers. Produces safety-informed management recommendations.

Lesson 2 • Classification of Feline Aggression

Distinguishes fear-based, play, redirected, territorial, and pain-induced aggression by etiology. Accurate classification is prerequisite to effective intervention.

Lesson 3 • Safe Handling During Aggressive Episodes

Teaches low-stress restraint, protective equipment use, and de-escalation techniques for aggressive cats. Prioritizes handler safety and cat welfare simultaneously.

Lesson 1 • Fear and Hiding Behavior

Addresses chronic hiding, fear of visitors, and generalized anxiety as behavior problems. Builds graduated exposure plans to increase confidence and social tolerance.

Lesson 2 • Destructive Scratching

Explains scratching as normal territorial and maintenance behavior and redirects it to appropriate surfaces. Addresses owner frustration while preserving cat welfare.

Lesson 3 • Compulsive and Repetitive Behaviors

Identifies wool sucking, excessive grooming, and pica as potential compulsive disorders. Distinguishes behavioral from medical etiologies and applies appropriate referrals.

Lesson 4 • Nighttime Activity and Vocalization

Addresses nocturnal activity bursts, attention-seeking vocalization, and sleep disruption complaints. Applies environmental and schedule-based solutions.

Lesson 1 • Cooperative Care and Husbandry Training

Trains cats to voluntarily accept grooming, nail trims, medication, and veterinary handling. Reduces stress for both cat and caregiver during routine procedures.

Lesson 2 • Positive Reinforcement Training Techniques

Teaches clicker training, target training, and reward selection for cats. Builds foundational skills for cooperative care and voluntary behavior.

Lesson 3 • Learning Theory Applied to Cats

Reviews classical and operant conditioning, reinforcement schedules, and extinction as applied to feline behavior. Corrects common misconceptions about cat trainability.

Lesson 4 • Designing and Evaluating Behavior Plans

Integrates assessment, goal setting, protocol selection, and outcome measurement into a complete behavior plan. Teaches documentation and client communication skills.