Meet the Consultant

James Henderson Dip. FBST, RN, is the owner and operator of The Cognitive Cat, LLC, a behavioral consulting service that was founded in 2020. The Cognitive Cat, LLC, specializes in increasing understanding and communication between cats and their people to deepen trust and relationship. If this sounds of value to you, keep reading!

Behavioral misunderstandings occur. The important thing is how we respond. Such misunderstandings can be times of frustration, but they are also opportunities to better understand the cat(s) in our lives. Cats are behaving in certain ways for certain reasons. Knowing those reasons increases our understanding of the cats in our lives along with their preferences, stressors, reinforcers, and routines, indeed, their unique personalities. The Cognitive Cat, LLC, specializes in helping to develop this understanding and offers approahces to enhance communication between you and the cat(s) in your life. This increased understanding and communication can lead to an overall deepening of trust and relationship. 

Some of the behaviors that The Cognitive Cat, LLC, has experience working with are:

• Litter box aversion/avoidance 
• Marking/spraying 
• Introductions between cats and to other species 
• Aggression between cats (or towards other species) 
• Scratching and other destructive behaviors
• Cooperative Care (nail trimming, dental care, grooming, etc.)
• Medication planning and administration (oral, ear, eye, topical, injections and glucometer and/or continuous glucose monitoring equipment)
• Pica and inappropriate ingestion 
• Socialization 
• Separation Anxiety
• Counterconditioning (decreasing fear)
• Carrier training
• Harness/leash training 
• understanding enrichment and species appropriate needs 
• how to meet those needs through enrichment and an enhanced routine 

James' approach is to understand cats through observing their behavior and applying a reinforcement-based approach to create strategies and environments to resolve current behavioral misunderstandings. This process allows for the creation of new possibilities for both cats and their people by increasing trust and relationship through understanding and communication. 

 As a graduate of the, Companion Animal Sciences Institute, James has over 3,000 hours working with cats in shelter/rescue settings and private residences. James is a supporter of TNR and working toward a no-euthanasia nation (and then world). He continues to increase his education and knowledge by attending conferences and taking courses yearly. The approaches and methods that James and The Cognitive Cat, LLC, use are founded in science and academic publications and based in positive reinforcement. He is against the use of punishment, coercion or aversive methods as the goal is to deepen trust and relationship through understanding and communication. The Cognitive Cat, LLC, sees the cats in our lives as best friends and family. They are individuals we want to work with, not boss around. The goal is collaboration, not subjugation. 

As a behavior consultant, James' favorite aspects of working with cats and their people are developing planning cooperative care, incorporating the power of play and scheduled feedings via puzzle feeders, offering cats more choice and control and exploring ways to incorporate species appropriate opportunities. The Cognitive Cat, LLC, believes everyone is doing the best they can. The more one knows, the better they can understand and communicate with the cat(s) in their life. 

James works full-time as a registered nurse, having a diversity of experience in medical-surgical, emergency psychiatry and outpatient clinics. This nursing experience is incorporated into his approach of making collaborative plans with clients, placing an emphasis on client-centered education. Nursing allows James to have a professional understanding of medication storage, preparation, administration and disposal. Such skills and professional experience prove valuable when planning medications around cats as well. 

 Growing up in the early 1990's James was diagnosed with ADHD so he understands that a single teaching approach (or plan) does not work for everyone. This diversity of learning and living is celebrated at The Cognitive Cat, LLC, and something that extends to the cat's in our lives as well. James sees learning as a feedback loop of insight and inspiration from one individual to another. It is a collaborative process, not a lecture. If this sounds like an approach that can support your learning style then message The Cognitive Cat, LLC, today! 

 James lives in Rochester, NY with the amazing clowder of Durga & Poe. He volunteers at an assortment of local rescues. and in his spare time likes to read, play bass guitar, hike, all while trying to keep up with the ever expanding MCU. 

Message James today to find out how he can help deepen trust and relationship between you and the cat(s) in your life through increased understanding and communication.