Meet Your Trainer
Misty Hampton
I have always had a soft spot for misunderstood creatures. Cats are among the most popular pets and, yet, they seem mysterious and are often misunderstood.
My journey to becoming a cat behavior consultant started 10 years ago when a friend asked me if I knew anyone who wanted a kitten. She showed me a picture of a fluffy orange kitten, and I fell in love. Two weeks later, I brought home Linus. Over the next three years, we adopted more kittens into our family. Now, we have five cats: Linus, Jasper, Abigail, Pearl, and Piper.
I treated Linus the way my family did our childhood cat, but I soon learned that the traditional methods I had learned - spraying him with a squirt bottle, for instance - didn't work. He became defensively aggressive. On the other hand, Pearl was still very fearful of handling. I realized then that there had to be a better way of interacting with cats.
Since then, I have made it my mission to enrich the lives of people and pets by making training more accessible. I aim to use the least invasive methods that are effective for changing behavior. Learn more about my approach here.
Linus
Linus likes to be around people. He enjoys petting on his terms: three or four chin scratches is just right!
Linus has diabetes, and has learned to take his daily insulin injections (for the most part) without a fuss. He's a cooperative care champ! I have even worked with Linus to develop a cooperative procedure for sanitary trims (shaving his bum).
If your cat bites during petting and does not tolerate restraint, Linus can show you some alternatives.
Jasper
Jasper favorite pastime is foraging for snacks.
Jasper does demos for cooperative care procedures, introductions, and managing cat-cat aggression. If your cat seems anxious in new situations and doesn't get along well with other cats, Jasper can help.
Abby
Abby's nickname is "Madame Squeak" because she squeaks at us when she wants to be picked up and petted. She enjoys snuggling on the couch during movie night.
Abby can help you learn how you can read your cat's body language and understand when your cat wants to be picked up, and how they like to be petted.
Pearl
Pearl loves treats, and is always eager for training! When I break out the treats for a live training demo, Pearl is usually the first to show up.
Pearl is a diva on screen. In real life, she's working on overcoming her fear of strangers. If your cat seems nervous around unfamiliar people and with handling, Pearl can show you some games to boost your cat’s confidence.
Piper
Piper was exposed to a wide variety of positive experiences when she was young. As a result, she's not afraid to try new things.
Piper does demos for introductions, carrier training, and harness training.
