The PAWS Approach
Predictability | Agency | Welfare | Security
A better life,
from their point of view.
Litter tray worries, scratching, tension between cats or a cat who’s suddenly acting differently can leave you wondering what to try next. Understand what your cat may be telling you, and find a kind, practical way forward.
Cat behaviour support · Canberra, Queanbeyan and online
A good place to start
What would feel helpful right now?
Litter tray changes, claws on the sofa, tension between cats or a 4am wake-up can make home feel upside down. You can learn a little at a time, or get a plan shaped around your cat and your home.
For learning, prevention and everyday cat care
Learn at your own
pace
The PAWS Membership offers short lessons, one small practical action at a time, plus a community of people learning alongside you. Kitten School is included.
A fit if: you want to understand your cat better and build skills gradually.
For specific or complex concerns
Let’s work it out together
A one-to-one consultation looks closely at your cat’s behaviour, body language, routines and environment, then gives you a practical written plan made for your household.
A fit if: you need guidance for what’s happening with your cat now.
Still not sure? That’s exactly what the free 15-minute discovery call is for. Let’s talk it through.
Founding places in the PAWS Membership are open now.
Founding places in the PAWS Membership are open now.
Sound familiar?
You’re not the only one trying to make sense of it.
Behaviour is information, not a report card on you or your cat. A careful look at the whole picture can help reveal what might be making life harder, and what to try next.
Scratching, climbing and busy paws
Make room for natural cat behaviour while finding options that work for your home, too.
Tension between cats
Subtle signs can be easy to miss. We look at the relationships, space and resources in your home.
Litter tray changes
Changes in toileting can have medical causes, so veterinary care comes first. We can also look at the home setup and your cat’s comfort.
The 3am zoomies (or 4am wake-up)
Night-time activity can be exhausting. Understanding your cat’s needs is a better starting point than blame.
Designed around the cat in front of us.
Predictability · Agency · Welfare · Security
There’s a lot of cat advice out there. Your cat isn’t a generic cat, and what helps one household may not fit another. The PAWS Approach uses current feline behaviour research and fear-free, positive methods to understand what’s going on from your cat’s point of view.
We avoid punishment and intimidation, and work with your cat’s needs, your household and what’s realistic for you. If something needs veterinary or specialist input, I’ll be honest about that.
Why look at the whole picture? A cat’s behaviour is shaped by more than what we see on the surface. routines, choice, health and how safe a cat feels can all be part of the picture. the paws lenses help us look beyond “how do i stop this?” and ask “what might my cat need?”
predictability: clear routines and signals help your cat know what to expect.
agency: choice and the ability to pause make everyday interactions more respectful.
welfare: physical and emotional needs matter, and health concerns belong with your vet.
security: safe spaces and thoughtful support can help your cat cope with fear and change.
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— Ada's Guardians
“We weren't sure at first what was going on with Ada, the accidents around the house were out of character and we felt a bit helpless.
The behaviour plan we followed made it clear that ruling out a medical cause had to come first, so a vet check was one of the very first steps. That's exactly what turned things around, the vet found a urinary infection we wouldn't have known to look for otherwise. After treatment, we worked through the behaviour plan to rebuild her confidence and routine around the litter box. It's been so reassuring to have a plan that looked at the whole picture.
Ada is completely back to her happy, affectionate self now, using her litter box like the pro she's always been, and we're so relieved and grateful for the guidance in getting her there.”
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G's Guardians
"I'll admit I was sceptical about a 'cat behaviourist'. Then Leigh showed me the reasoning behind every recommendation, and how it applied to our house, nothing gimmicky. It's the first time advice about our cat felt like it was for her, not from a YouTube video."
A free place to start
Why do cats do that?
Why has your cat chosen the am for a house-wide sprint? Why is the cardboard box more exciting than the expensive toy? Cats can be baffling, but they are not being naughty or difficult.
Their behaviour is communication.
Ever wondered what your cat is trying to tell you? Download our free copy to your inbox, for a little more sense of a cat’s mind.
Qualified, curious and honest about limits.
I’m a COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist (C.C.A.B.), having completed my Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour and Training (DipCABT-C) through COAPE International.
I’m also a Feline Training Professional Member of the Pet Professional Guild Australia.
You don’t have to figure it out alone
Let’s find a kind next step for you and your cat.
Tell me what’s been happening, what you’ve tried and what you wish was different. We’ll work out together whether a consultation is the right next step.
Don’t like using the phone - feel free to reach out using our contact form instead.