Start with your cat’s veterinarian when a behavior change is sudden, new, or could have a medical cause. For aggression, possible medication, or a complex clinical problem, ask about referral to an ACVB board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB). For behavior consulting where medical care is not the main need, a cat-experienced consultant with IAABC’s Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) credential may be worth considering. Check the person’s current credentials, cat experience, methods, and scope of practice; the label “behavior consultant” by itself does not establish qualifications.
Choose the right kind of help for your cat’s situation
| Your situation | Where to start | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A sudden, new, or changing behavior, or a possible health concern | Your cat’s veterinarian | Medical and behavioral factors can overlap. A veterinary assessment can help identify health concerns before or alongside a behavior plan. |
| Aggression, a high-risk situation, possible medication, or a complex clinical case | An ACVB board-certified veterinary behaviorist (DACVB), often working with your primary veterinarian | Veterinary behaviorists are veterinarians with specialty behavior training who can assess medical and behavioral history and consider treatment, including medication when appropriate. ACVB recommends veterinary behaviorist help for animals displaying aggression because of the potential consequences and liability. ACVB owner guidance |
| Behavior consulting when medical evaluation is not the central need | A cat-experienced consultant; consider an IAABC Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) | CCBC is a cat-specific consultant credential. A consultant’s credential does not make them a veterinarian or qualify them to diagnose or prescribe medication. |
| No specialist appears to be nearby | Search adjoining states or provinces, then contact candidates directly about their service format | ACVB advises searching adjoining states or provinces when no local Diplomate is found. Confirm remote consultation availability with the individual; a directory listing does not establish it. ACVB Diplomate directory guidance |
These are screening routes, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that a particular professional is right for your cat. For medical concerns, contact your veterinarian and confirm each candidate’s current credentials and scope directly.
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Understand the credentials before you contact someone
DACVB: a board-certified veterinary behaviorist
DACVB identifies a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. ACVB describes a pathway that includes veterinary school and licensure, internship-equivalent training, a supervised behavior residency, peer-reviewed research, and a comprehensive examination. A DACVB is a veterinarian with specialty behavior training and can address medical as well as behavioral aspects of a case. See ACVB’s certification information and owner guidance on veterinary behaviorists.
ACVB’s owner guidance states that veterinarians may call themselves “behaviorists” only if they have achieved board certification by ACVB. When evaluating a person who uses that title, verify the actual designation rather than relying on the wording alone.
CCBC: a cat-specific consultant credential
IAABC’s Certified Cat Behavior Consultant credential is intended for consultants with at least three years of experience working on complex cases. IAABC also requires credential holders to complete at least 36 continuing education units every three years. These are requirements for this credential, not a measure of every consultant’s experience or skill. Review IAABC’s credential descriptions.
A behavior consultant is not necessarily a veterinarian. If your cat may have a medical problem, aggression is severe, or medication could be part of treatment, involve your veterinarian and ask whether veterinary behaviorist care is appropriate.
Find candidates in professional directories
- Search ACVB’s Diplomate directory for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. If no one appears nearby, ACVB advises checking adjoining states or provinces. Confirm directly whether the person is accepting cases and what appointment formats are available. Find ACVB Diplomates.
- Check AVSAB’s directory for member veterinarians, veterinary behaviorists, and PhD behaviorists who accept behavior cases. AVSAB also lists behavior consultants as a courtesy; that listing does not make the generic title a credential. Open the AVSAB directory.
- Look for the IAABC CCBC credential if you are seeking a cat-focused behavior consultant. Verify the person’s current credential and whether their experience fits the issue you need help with. Review IAABC credentials.
Directories help identify possible candidates, but they do not confirm an individual’s current availability, wait time, fees, insurance reimbursement, or whether appointments are virtual. Ask the professional and your veterinarian about the details relevant to your case.
Screen a candidate before booking
AVSAB advises owners to ask about a consultant’s education, training, and qualifications. Use an initial call or email to establish whether the person has the right experience and a clear plan for working with you and your cat. Read AVSAB’s guide to selecting a behavior consultant.
- Credentials and training: What formal education, relevant credentials, and continuing education do you have? Can I verify your credential in the issuing organization’s directory?
- Relevant experience: Have you worked with cats showing this specific behavior? What kinds of cases do you handle regularly?
- Assessment and progress: How will you assess my cat and household, and how will we know whether the plan is helping?
- Methods and welfare: What methods do you use? Ask for a clear explanation of how the plan protects your cat’s welfare and what you should expect to do at home. IAABC’s standards describe its aims around professionalism, animal welfare, and positive outcomes. Read IAABC’s Standards of Practice.
- Scope and coordination: When do you involve or refer to a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist? Who handles medical assessment and medication questions?
- Practical fit: Do you take cases like mine, and are appointments in person, virtual, or both? Confirm fees, availability, and any other arrangements directly.
A suitable professional should explain their qualifications and boundaries plainly, describe how they will assess progress, and be willing to coordinate with a veterinarian when the case calls for it. If the answers do not address your concern or leave the professional’s role unclear, keep looking.
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