Hi, I’m Gillian!
I have been in the pet industry for over a decade. I started out at a local humane society, where I adopted out almost 1000 animals. I then started my own dog walking/cat sitting business but once COVID hit, I had to go a different route. Enter: nutrition. I worked at an independent pet store and completed my nutrition certifications, sparking an intense fascination with nutrition for both cats and dogs.
**Trigger warning for pet euthanasia.**
It was striking how many resources there are for dogs and how few there are for cat guardians. There are more cats in homes than dogs in North America and yet there are so few options for cats with behavioural challenges. Many cats are relinquished to shelters, abandoned, or euthanized for behavioural issues. I wanted to provide another option for cat guardians through evidence-based, fear-free behaviour change.
**End trigger warning**
Now armed with behaviour and nutrition certifications (and always more credentials on the way!), I aim to be a resource for cat guardians, helping their cats live healthy and full lives.
I also work with a local cat rescue group, Annex Cat Rescue, to help the community cats of Toronto. I am a foster parent providing behaviour assessments for cats who are Trapped-Neutered-Returned (but before they are returned!). I assess these cats for their potential to live with humans, working towards getting them adopted, and living the sweet life.
I also provide free consultations to foster parents with more challenging behavioural cases. I mostly work with cats who need help with their socialization, reducing their length of stay in foster, and getting them to their fur-ever homes.
You can view some of this work on my instagram account.
I am over-the-moon to be doing this work. I get to talk about cats all day! How fun is that?
I live in Toronto, Canada with my husband. I am blessed with two cats, Issy and Cypress, and a greyhound, Hawkeye. I love playing piano and singing. I am a voracious romance reader and a huge Survivor fan.
My main goal is to keep cats in homes (or find them homes). I strongly believe that we cannot help cats without helping humans first.
Certified Advanced Feline Training Professional (CAFTP), Animal Behaviour Institute
Feline Inappropriate Elimination Certificate, Hippocampus Online
Natural Animal Nutrition Certificate, College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies
Pet Nutrition Coach Certification, North American Veterinary Community
Pet Professional Guild (PPG) Member
The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) Member
