About the course

Understanding cat body language is fundamental to accurately interpreting a cat's emotional state and supporting safe, effective interactions between cats and people. This course is designed for professionals and caregivers who work with cats in a variety of settings. Participants will examine how posture, facial expressions, tail position, and movement patterns reflect underlying emotional states such as relaxation, fear, arousal, and frustration. The course emphasizes careful observation and evidence informed interpretation of behavior, highlighting how emotional states influence a cat's responses to handling, environmental changes, and social interaction. Through video analysis students will develop stronger assessment skills and learn how to adjust their responses to support emotional well being, reduce stress, and promote positive human cat relationships.

Tabitha Kucera

Tabitha Kucera

Tabitha Kucera is an Elite Fear Free and Low-Stress Handling Certified Registered Veterinary Technician, a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behavior, a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She is the founder of Chirrups and Chatter Cat and Dog Behavior Consulting and Training and Co-Founder of Small-Paws. An award-winning educator and international speaker, Tabitha lectures at regional, national, and international conferences, helping animal care professionals and pet caregivers deepen their understanding of animal behavior and strengthen the human-animal bond. She is a Fear Free Certified Speaker, a Fear Free Practice Certification Consultant, and the host of the podcast Tails from a Vet Tech. Tabitha has held leadership positions with the Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians, the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and the Pet Professional Guild’s Cat Committee, and she currently serves as President-Elect for the Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians.In addition to working directly with clients, Tabitha consults with veterinary hospitals and animal shelters, focusing on education, implementation, and the development of practical training, behavior programs, and SOPs that improve animal welfare and team success. Her contributions have helped create comprehensive onboarding, training, and behavior resources for organizations across the industry.

Curriculum

6 Chapters · 16 Lessons

  1. 1

    Introduction and Overview

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Support

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Description & Learning Objectives

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Speaking Cat: Course Materials

  2. 2

    Speaking Cat: Decoding Cat Body Language Part 1

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Speaking Cat: Language, Labels and Understanding

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Observation as a Practice Skill

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Cat Observation Chart

  3. 3

    Speaking Cat: Decoding Cat Body Language Part 2

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Speaking Cat: Decoding Cat Body Language Part 2

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Decoding Cat Body Language

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Decoding Cat Body Language: Handout

  4. 4

    Speaking Cat: Decoding Cat Body Language Part 3

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Speaking Cat: Putting it into Practice

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Test Your Cat Knowledge

  5. 5

    Just For Fun!

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Just For Fun!

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Do You See What I See? Observation Game

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Do You See What I See? Answer Key

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Red Light, Green Light: At Home Activity

  6. 6

    Q&A: Recording April 12, 2026

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Q&A Recording on April 12, 12:00pm EST

Words Matter

The language we use shapes how we interpret behavior and what actions we take next. This section explores why objective, observable language leads to better decisions and more effective outcomes for cats and caregivers.

Reading The Whole Cat

We take a detailed look at cat body language, from facial expressions to feet, posture, and movement. You will learn how individual signals work together and how to apply this knowledge in everyday interactions.

From Learning to Practice

Practical, interactive tools designed to help you apply concepts in real-world settings. Worksheets, observation charts, and guided activities support skill-building beyond the video content and can be used for individual reflection, team learning, or educational settings.

From the Small-Paws Community

Insights from across the Small-Paws community, from veterinary professionals and trainers to animal care staff, volunteers, and caregivers, all bringing this learning into everyday practice.

”
Tabitha not only does a wonderful job with her skill set of cooperative handling and training, but is an engaging instructor as well. The compassion she has for animals and their wellbeing is obvious, as is her desire to spark the same passion in others. I would highly recommend learning from Tabitha whenever you can!
Amanda G.

Learner

”
Tabitha joined us for a week of training at our shelter. Our goals were to learn more to support our clinic, behavior, and admissions teams with providing fear free experiences for our shelter and community pets. Tabitha's approach to lecture and hands on learning was open, positive, and energetic which created an environment that helped our staff feel comfortable with learning new techniques. I look forward to continuing to work with her and highly recommend her for others looking to learn how to create fear free experiences in a fast paced, high volume environment.
Stephanie M.

Anti-Cruelty Animal Shelter

”
Tabitha is a one-of-a-kind gem. She has so much knowledge and specialized expertise, yet she maintains a cool and collect demeanor and is able to communicate in a really accessible way. I have had the opportunity to attend several of her lectures and I utilize her recommended resources often. The world is a better place because of Tabitha and the services she provides to help preserve the human/animal bond.
Lynn B

Learner

Live Q&A with Tabitha on April 12, 12:00 ET Purchase before April 10 to attend.

CEUS: IAABC, CCPDT & KPA - Pending

$35.00

Enroll now