A life on the road with superstars or a life working with cats?
That’s a tough decision for many, but not for Anita Kelsey of Notting Hill, West London.
She once toured as a back-up singer for the Spice Girls and the Kings of Leon, her talent garnering her a MOBO award. But after a while in the music industry, her heart longed to be elsewhere and preferably covered in cat hair.
“I’ve always loved cats and knew I had the same passion about them as I do with music. When I was young, I wanted to be a vet or a singer,” Anita told The Sun.
After years of a fulfilling career in music, 56-year-old Anita turned her attention to helping felines. She attended Middlesex University and earned a first class honours degree in cat psychology, which is the UK equivalent of a obtaining a higher education degree with a maintained GPA of 4.0. Her classes focused on feline behavior and grooming and judging by her grades, Anita knows her cat curriculum.
“I’ve done the singing bit and I guess this is the closest I’ll get to being a vet! I’m happy to settle for that,” said Anita.
A Friend to Cats Who Need Help Sorting It Out
Based in Notting Hill, Anita owns a center when she grooms cats and works with felines embroiled in behavior issues. Dealing with everything from aggression to urination issues, she reports cat parents often don’t realize their fur baby has an issue until the problem has become a habit. Once the habit is formed, its harder to help the cat relearn life as it was before the problem. Catching behavior issues early helps tremendously.
Anita cites these issues as some of the main problems for which families seek help:
Inappropriate Litter Box Behavior
“Cats spray to leave their scent and mark their territory but it can also be related to stress. Is the litter tray too small or too near to a noisy entrance? They could be seeing or sensing other cats in the area.”
Destructive Behavior by Indoor Kitties
“If a cat lives indoors and doesn’t have outside space or is in a high-rise apartment, they may be desperate for some breeze on their fur. Put them on a lead and take them for a walk to stop them crying in the house.”
Depression, Cats Experience It Too
“Have you moved house, altered your home in some way or got a new partner? A cat can become withdrawn and change behaviours to resemble a depressed state if their daily rituals alter. Cats do not like change or disruption.”
And while a chubby kitty is not a behavior issue, Anita does warn clients about letting their cats put on too much weight. “When their waist starts to disappear, it’s time to question what you are giving them and why. Their natural diet is meat, not biscuits. Never free-feed. If food is available all day, every day, your cat will eat it.”
Songbird to Cat Lady, She’s a Superstar to Felines
An award-winner for her music as well as her dedication to cats, Anita is the only feline-specific behaviorist and expert groomer in London. She’s written a book and various articles on how to aid cats with their troubles. If you have behavior issues going on in your home, check out Anita’s blog for tips on where to begin in helping your cat.
H/T: The Sun
Feature Image: @cat_behaviourist/Instagram