Advanced Certificate in Feline Fear, Anxiety & Aggression
This veterinary approved and externally accredited online course is written and designed by a qualified animal behaviourist with a busy behaviour referral practice. In the course you will learn feline body language and how to assess emotions, along with socialisation and other critical phases in a cat’s life.
The course is made up of multiple learning processes, such as written content, webinars, downloadable resources, directed tasks, recommended reading and references. There are no exams, but to obtain your certificate you must answer some multiple choice questions at the end of each module.
Course aims:
- To learn about feline structure and society.
- To have a solid understanding of feline body language and how to assess emotions.
- To learn about behavioural development – socialisation and other critical phases in their life.
- To learn how fear and anxiety impacts on behaviour.
- To understand the link between behavioural and medical problems.
- How to work safely with cats and preventing problems in the workplace.
- See full course curriculum below.
Course features:
- Written by an experienced, qualified animal behaviourist with a busy behaviour referral practice.
- Easy-to-digest lessons give you the flexibility to learn at home at your own pace.
- Over 4 hours of recorded webinars, which are slides presented with a voiceover.
- A comprehensive list of references and related research for each module.
- Factsheets, questionnaires, templates and other helpful resources.
- Tutor and technical support available.
- Lifetime access to dip in and out of the course whenever you need to refresh your knowledge.
- CPD Certificate of completion.
- CPD Transcript for prospective employers.
- CPD Reflection for professional portfolio and CPD log.
- Case Studies E-Book
- Works on computers, tablets & smartphones.
Suitable for:
- Veterinary nurses
- Vets
- Animal behaviourists
- Cattery workers
- Animal trainers
- Cat carers / sitters
- Rescue centre workers
- Pet professionals
- Dedicated cat owners
This course includes:
- 8 modules
Before you enrol:
This course includes videos with English subtitles. We design our courses to work with the way you learn — not against it. Whether you are neurodivergent, have a sensory or physical difference, or simply prefer flexible ways to study, the features below are here to support you.
- Reading Ruler: Highlights one line at a time to help maintain focus. Toggle it on/off from the toolbar at the top of each lesson.
- Table of Contents: Longer topics display a Contents button in the toolbar for quick navigation between sections.
- Dark Mode: Reduces eye strain in low-light environments. Toggle it from the sidebar panel (top-right icons).
- Reading Time: Each topic shows an estimated reading time in the toolbar so you can plan your study sessions.
- Auto-Generated Subtitles: Available on all of our videos (approximately 95% accurate). Enable them using the CC button in the video player.
- Video Transcripts: Text versions of video content with timestamps, allowing you to follow along or revisit specific sections.
- Adjustable Playback: Video quality adjusts automatically based on your connection. Use the gear icon for manual control, or adjust playback speed to suit your pace.
- Feature Boxes: Key information is presented in visually distinct boxes, helping break down content and improve focus for neurodivergent learners or those with reading difficulties.
- Colour Contrast: Our course materials use high-contrast colour schemes to aid readability, particularly for learners with colour blindness or visual impairments.
- Downloadable Resources: Slides and supporting materials accompany webinars, enabling you to take notes and refer back at your own pace.
About the instructor:
Course curriculum:
-
Module 1: Introduction - What causes an individual to be anxious, fearful and reactive?
- Welcome
- An introduction to the topic: Definitions & signs of anxiety & fear
- Genetics and Environmental Influences on Behaviour
- Temperament & Instinct
- Parental/Maternal Influences and Social Learning
- Socialisation, Habituation and One-Event Learning
- Significant Developmental Periods
- Suggested Tasks
- References & Related Research
- Feline Behaviour: Module 1 Self-Assessment Quiz
-
Module 2: Anatomy and Physiology
- Introduction to Module 2
- The Autonomic Nervous System & the Physiological Effects of Stress
- Hormones & Neurotransmitters
- The Amygdala
- Stress: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
- Pain and how it affects behaviour
- Suggested Tasks
- References & Related Research
- Feline Behaviour: Module 2 Self-Assessment Quiz
-
Module 3: Body-language & communication methods
- Introduction to Module 3
- Feline Social Society & Methods of Communication
- Reducing Feline Anxiety in the Workplace Environment
- Training a Cat to Enter a Carrier (Webinar)
- Handling & Restraint
- Suggested Tasks
- References & Related Research
- Feline Behaviour: Module 3 Self-Assessment Quiz
-
Module 4: Fear, Frustration and Aggression
- Introduction to Module 4
- Frustration and How it Affects Behaviour
- Fears & Phobias
- Feline aggression and reactivity (towards people, redirected aggression)
- Housing and Welfare (Webinar)
- Managing and Understanding Multi-Cat Household Problems
- Behavioural Analysis
- Suggested Tasks
- References & Related Research
- Feline Behaviour: Module 4 Self-Assessment Quiz
-
Module 5: The link between Behaviour Problems and Medical Conditions
- Introduction to Module 5
- The Impact of Acute and Chronic Stress on Feline Health
- Understanding & Dealing with Stress Induced House-Soiling
- Inappropriate House-Soiling Behaviour (Case Study)
- A Review of the Case Study: Inappropriate House-Soiling Behaviour (Webinar)
- References & Useful Resources
- Suggested Tasks
- Feline Behaviour: Module 5 Self-Assessment Quiz
Student reviews:
- Students gained practical confidence helping rescue cats and their own pets, learning to recognize stress signs and prevent behavioral problems.
- Reviewers praised the varied content delivery—videos, webinars, diagrams—that suited different learning styles and made complex topics accessible and understandable.
- Students felt better equipped to educate clients and colleagues, building confidence to discuss feline behavior holistically rather than just observable actions.
- Learners valued the comprehensive resources, research papers, and downloadable materials that supported deep engagement and allowed them to study at their own pace.
Based on 45 published student reviews across all star ratings for this course.
I learnt a lot and can use the acquired knowledge to help rescue cats.
Being able to help rescue cats is great. I have learnt the best ways to help them cope with stressful situations and get adopted.
Interesting insights and evidence to keep you engaged
This course is packed full of useful information and the perfect level of resources for further learning
Great Course
Great course, giving you a thorough and detailed knowledge with many resources available for learning
Education that goes beyond observable behaviours
Coming from a background rooted in Behaviourism, I had previously been discouraged from considering emotional states or interpreting body language in my behaviour work. This course challenged and expanded those boundaries by introducing me to the vital role that emotions, internal states, and stress play in shaping behaviour.
The content in this course was dense, extremely well researched, well communicated, thoughtfully structured and supported by additional readings and resources that encouraged deep engagement and further exploration.
The impact of the course has been immediate and practical. I’m now better equipped to assess behaviour holistically and communicate more effectively with clients. Helping caregivers understand the emotional experiences behind their cat’s behaviour has not only improved outcomes, but also fostered greater empathy and willingness to make changes.
I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of feline fear, anxiety and aggression beyond observable behaviours.
Excellent and thorough course.
I recommend this course to any cat owner that would like to learn more about how to support their own cat. It is useful to use for the prevention of undesirable behaviours as well as giving knowledge about what can cause undesirable behaviours and what we can do about them after ruling out other health concerns from a vet.
Very insightful and really helped me broaden my knowledge.
I like the varied delivery of information. I struggle to read a lot of literature and take it all in so I find the more interactive parts of the course great (videos, webinars, diagrams etc).
I think the content was pitched at a good level, there were some areas I had to revisit a few times to fully understand them but on the whole, the content was fab. It has helped me build confidence and understanding for talking to colleagues and clients to educate and raise awareness of feline behaviour.
I'd definitely recommend this course to other veterinary professionals and those interested in the area.
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