Radiant Cats Behaviour & Training

09/02/2026

08/18/2026

08/11/2026

08/11/2026

Why are cats often expected to be "okay" with less autonomy than dogs? 🐱

Autonomy for our pets includes allowing them to make choices, offering some level of control over what they do, when they do it, and how they interact with their environment.

In many cases, cats are seen as "easier" to care for than dogs, implying that they have fewer needs and are content being mostly independent.

While they can use a litter box and don't require walks or outdoor exercise like many dogs, cats still have needs and preferences like any other living being.

The Five Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X221128763

07/30/2026

Agency is an animal's ability to make choices and exert control over their environment in a way that aligns with their needs and preferences.

Giving our animals agency can help:
⭐ Increase their confidence
⭐ Improve their problem-solving skills
⭐ Reduce stress
⭐ Give greater satisfaction in their day-to-day lives

So, what changes can we make to give our pets more agency?

▶ Letting your pet choose when and how to interact with you or another human
▶ Letting your dog pick their walking path or direction
▶ Letting your pet pick their preferred resting areas
▶ Offering multiple toys or types of toys for your pet to choose from
▶ Providing multiple types of litter for your cat to choose from

"Animals express agency when they engage in voluntary and goal-directed behaviors that they are motivated to perform, which has both direct and indirect benefits.

Direct benefits—expressing agency can result in positive experiences and emotions such as joy and satisfaction.

Indirect benefits—expressing agency allows animals to choose resources (ex. food and resting areas) or activities that they enjoy." - Credit: https://insightfulanimals.substack.com/p/all-animals-need-choice-and-control

07/29/2026

Supporting an animal's behavioral health is just as important as supporting their physical health.

Let's talk Behavioral Medication Myths! 💊

Behavior medications for pets are medical tools, backed by decades of research and used to treat diagnosable conditions like anxiety disorders, compulsive behaviors, and fear-based aggression. In veterinary behavioral medicine, treatment plans are based on science, diagnosis, and welfare. Medication, when used appropriately, can be life-changing and should be considered as routine as treating pain, allergies, or arthritis.

“Medications mean I’ve failed.”
No! They reduce emotional distress and show you’re advocating for your pet’s well-being.

“It’s just a training problem.”
Not always. Training can help, but it doesn’t invalidate a diagnosed condition. Medications are not always necessary; however, they can greatly improve a pet's prognosis and ease of learning in cases where they're used.

“Meds will turn my pet into a zombie.”
The right meds shouldn’t sedate your pet (unless that’s the goal for things like vet visits). If something feels off, follow up with your veterinary behavior team. The right medications should help lower stress, improve recovery from triggering events, and support the learning process.

“Meds just mask the problem.”
They’re not magic. The use of appropriate medication should be combined with a comprehensive behavior/training plan from a qualified, positive-reinforcement-based professional.

“They'll need to be on meds lifelong.”
Sometimes. And that’s okay. The duration depends on the individual, same as with humans. Medications can be used short-term, long-term, and situationally.

“They’re a last resort.”
No! We don’t need to wait until things get worse. Medication can be a supportive tool from the start.

07/29/2026

✨ Keep your pet away from their trigger ✨

❓"Why? This isn't a permanent solution."
▶ We don't want it to be permanent, but...

Managing a pet's exposure to their triggers:

▪ Prevents the problem behavior from worsening. The more a behavior is rehearsed, the emotions and behavior involved get stronger and more resistant to change.

▪ Exposure to triggers should only happen during active behavior modification sessions, and only at a level of intensity your individual pet can successfully handle.

▪ A constant or near-constant state of stress is not conducive to learning.

07/21/2026

07/17/2026

06/21/2026

🙀 Disciplining cats with yelling, sq**rt bottles, or physical punishment can:

🚩 Increase fear and stress
🚩 Lead to more unwanted behaviors
🚩 Damage your bond with your cat
🚩 Make it harder for your cat to learn new habits

Instead of punishment, change your behavior and use positive reinforcement.

⬇️ Download the Addressing Unwanted Behavior Handout.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4q5T44h