Learn about Cat Behavior, No Declawing, and Environment Enrichment: Your Cats will Thank You!

Rita Reimers on Pet Life Radio

Ingrid Johnson is our special guest today, and what a resume she has! Ingrid is a busy lady, with a full-time job at a busy Georgia vet’s office as a vet tech and cat groomer, she also has a private cat behavior practice, she is the former co-chair of the IAABC for whom she also blogs, she is the current co-chair of the anti-declaw movement, Paw Project Georgia Chapter, and on top of all that, Ingrid also developed her own line of cat toys and puzzle feeders. WOW, she is one busy lady! Ingrid is involved with so many more things we can hardly list them all!

Ingrid, Linda, and Rita discuss plenty of things cat today. Their main topic of discussion is about keeping our cats happy and healthy, by providing an environment that meets your cat’s natural tendencies and daily needs. From the overweight sleepy cat to the high-energy rascal cat, all kitties have specific feline needs that must be met. Unfortunately, not all cat owners understand these needs. As simple and providing a scratching pad or as complex as providing safe outdoor access with a Catio, we’re here to help you solve the mystery of cat needs and behavior today. As Ingrid says “Environment enrichment isn’t really an accurate term anymore. You don’t get points for providing your cat with his basic needs.”

While there is quite a lot on Ingrid’s plate, she loves every moment of it. Ingrid and her husband currently have 7 cats and 3 dogs at home.

Be sure to visit Ingrid at Fundamentally Feline to learn more about her and her line of cat toys.

BIO:


Ingrid Johnson is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) through The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). She is past Co-Chair of the Cat Division as well. Ingrid is employed at Paws Whiskers and Claws, a feline only veterinary hospital in Marietta, Georgia, as a veterinary technician and cat groomer. Ingrid has been working exclusively with cats since 1999 and has had the opportunity to attend many continuing education courses all over the country, including the first ever all-cat behavior conference hosted by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). She has now moved on to speaking at the AAFP! Ingrid also created another website resource with friend and colleague Mikel Delgado called foodpuzzlesforcats.com. This site is the one stop resource for all things food puzzles one of Ingrid's most passionate topics regarding cat care.

She lectures at veterinary conferences such as the Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference (ACVC.org) and the AAFP as mentioned above, to both veterinarians and technicians, but will also offer staff and volunteer education for shelters and rescues in the Atlanta area. She has spoken at different humane society events on common cat behavior challenges, hosted group education seminars for the volunteers at Good Mews, and also hosted discussions for her colleagues through the IAABC on her most passionate topic, environmental enrichment for indoor cats. Most recently she has been appointed Co-Director of the Paw Project Georgia chapter, working towards ending the cruel practice of de-clawing cats.

Ingrid has been interviewed for numerous publications both in print and online (see below for details) including CNN.com, Cat Fancy magazine, Catster, thedailycat.com, Critter Chatter, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution. The AJC also utilized Ingrid’s feline knowledge to answer an online question and answer column called “Ask the Experts” at AJCpets.com. Ingrid’s home was featured in Cat Fancy magazine’s 2008 “Home Issue” showcasing all of the feline friendly accommodations that she and her husband have made to their home. This spread illustrates many of the aesthetically pleasing ways you can provide for your cats' innate basic needs while still having a home the humans can enjoy and be proud to show off.

Perhaps one of the most exciting opportunities was when her home, cats, and environmental enrichment expertise were featured on Animal Planet’s Cats101 show, specifically the episode featuring the Color-Point Short Hair. You may also catch clips of her feline family in the Animal Planet’s Must Love Cats theme song and on various other programs. Ingrid is also a blog writer for the IAABC’s Cat blog, www.iaabc.org.