The PAWS Approach
Predictability | Agency | Welfare | Security
A better life,
from their point of view.
Personalised cat behaviour support for the moments when internet advice stops being useful.
Cat behaviour consulting · Canberra, Queanbeyan and online
A gentle place to begin
Learn at your own pace
The PAWS Membership: short audio and video lessons and a community of people working through the same things.
A closer look at your cat
Work with me one-to-one
Cat behaviour consultations: providing a tailored assessment, practical first steps and a written plan.
Not sure where to start? The free 15-minute call works it out with you, no pressure and no obligation to book. Book a free discovery call ↗
Founding places in the PAWS Membership are open now.
Founding places in the PAWS Membership are open now.
Cat driving you around the bend?
You’ve probably already tried the internet’s advice. Some of it made sense, some of it made things worse.
There’s a lot of cat advice out there. And your cat isn’t a generic cat. Everything under The PAWS Approach works from current feline behaviour research, without punishment or intimidation, designed around the cat in front of us.
That same philosophy runs through both the membership and consultations: learn the framework at your own pace, or get a plan shaped around your cat and your household.
Whether you’d like to learn at your own pace or have a plan built around your cat and your household, there’s a gentle place to begin.
Your cat is communicating. We can learn to listen.
Litter tray troubles, scratching, tension between cats, overgrooming, or a cat who suddenly seems unlike themselves: none of these are failures. They’re your cat’s way of telling you something.
The PAWS Approach helps you understand what’s going on underneath the behaviour, then make practical changes that suit your cat and your actual household. There’s no punishment and no one-size-fits-all fixes, just a clearer way forward.
We can also help with cat skills and cooperative care, from getting comfortable with the carrier to handling, grooming, medication and vet visits. When your cat has a choice and feels safe, everyday care becomes easier for everyone, including you.
The PAWS Membership
Learn to understand your cat, one short lesson
at a time.
Instead of scattered tips, you get a guided path of short audio lessons, each ending with one small practical action. It starts with how cats see the world, moves through the four PAWS lenses (Predictability, Agency, Welfare and Security), and brings everything together in practical decisions for your household.
Alongside the core path, cooperative care mini-courses help with everyday things like brushing and claw trimming, so your cat can feel safe and have a say in their own care. You’ll also join a community of people working through the same things.
Founding guardians pay $30 a month and keep that rate for as long as they stay members.
Once founding places are filled, membership will be $45 a month.
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Short Podcast-style audio lessons or Videos ending with one small practical action.
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Observation logs and simple tasks to try with your cat.
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Short sets of lessons for specific moments, like vet visits, moving house, a new kitten or introducing a new pet.
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A safe space to ask, share wins and cheer each other on.
A Plan With A Point Of View
One-to-one Support
Less guessing, more understanding.
1 / First we talk.
A free 15 minute chat, no pitch. I want to know if this is something I can genuinely help with, or whether you need a vet involved first. If its the second one, I’ll tell you.
2 / Book your consult - Behaviour or Skills
Together can support behaviour concerns, cooperative care goals or both. You'll receive a service agreement and an intake questionnaire so I can learn your cat's history before we meet. Once your questionnaire is complete, you will receive an invoice as I start getting to work on learning about your cat and how best to help you.
3 / We have a live session.
About 90 minutes in duration, either in-person (Canberra or Queanbeyan area) or online. We'll go through your cat's body language, environment and routines together.
4 / You get a written plan.
Practical phases stepped out with strategies built for your cat and household. If your vet needs to be involved, I'll liaise with them directly.
5 / We keep going if you need to.
Follow-up sessions are available, either adhoc or as part of a package.
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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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Anonyomous -
"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.
I’m a Certified Animal Behaviourist (DipCABT-C-C.C.A.B.) graduating with a 94% average. I’m also a Feline Training Provisional Member of the Pet Professional Guild Australia.
I’ll always tell you what I don’t know, and bring in a vet or specialist when a case needs one.
Start with a conversation
You do not have to solve this by yourself.
Book a free 15-minute call. Tell me what has been happening, what you have tried and what you wish was different. We will work out together whether a consult is the right next step.
Don’t like using the phone - feel free to reach out using our contact form instead.