Cat Psychology and Training

Animal Psychology home study course. Understand cat psychology and apply that knowledge to manage and influence the behaviour of your cats.

Course Code: BAG222
Fee Code: S1
Duration (approx) Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification Statement of Attainment
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Understand domestic and wild cat psychology, online learning on how to manage and influence the behaviour of cats. 

Learn about::
  • Cat communication - domestic and wild cats 
  • Cat behaviour training - domestic cats
  • Cat behaviour
  • Managing a Cat business
 
Course duration and pace: 100 hours of self paced study. Start the course at any time and study at a pace to suit you. Take 12 months to complete the course with as much or as little tutor guidance or support as you need.

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

  1. Nature and Scope of Cat Psychology
    • Introduction
    • Terminology
    • Cat Industries
    • Differentiating health and behavioural issues
    • Feline Diabetes
    • Kidney Disease
    • Stress
  2. Cat Senses and Communication
    • Understanding Cat communications
    • Sounds made by the Cat
    • Body Language
    • Smell
    • Hearing
  3. Understanding Natural Behaviour in Cats
    • Aggression
    • Scratch Fever
    • Cat Behavioural Development
    • Biological Rhythms and Sleep
    • Sexual Behaviour
    • Maternal Behaviour
    • Eating and Drinking
  4. Behavioural Disorders/Abnormalities
    • Nature or Nurture
    • Sensitive Periods
    • Neurological Development
    • Sleep
    • Play
    • Cat Temperament Tests
    • How Breeds Differ
  5. Basic Training
    • Aggression
    • Redirected Aggression
    • Maternal Aggression
    • Idiopathic Aggression
    • Dealing with Aggression
    • Housebreaking
    • Inappropriate Elimination
    • Excessive Vocalisation
    • Geriatric Dysfunction
    • Controlling killing of Wildlife
    • Eating Disorders
    • Abnormal Suckling
    • Separation Anxiety
  6. Obedience Training
    • Forming Habits
    • Train them Early
    • Conditioning
    • Operant Conditioning
    • Socialisation
    • House Training
    • Grooming
    • Bathing
    • Scratching
    • Catching Vermin
    • Tricks
    • Discipline
  7. Cat Behaviour Management
    • Cat Doors
    • Microchipping and Registering
    • Coming when Called
    • Energy Release Activities
    • Neutering
    • Drug Treatment
    • Nice Smells
    • Getting Used to a Cage
    • Managing Climbing
  8. Operating a Cat Business
    • PBL Project

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Understand cat psychology and apply that knowledge to manage and influence the behaviour of cats.
  • Describe how cats think, and discuss the relevance of understanding cat psychology to people.
  • Explain how cats communicate; and formulate an understanding of possible ways that a human may communicate with a cat.
  • Understand behaviours that are natural, hence predictable in cats; and learn to read signals that cats give.
  • Explain how cats develop behavioural characteristics throughout stages of their life.
  • Describe commonly occurring behavioural problems in cats.
  • Describe techniques for training cats
  • Implement measures to manage the behaviour of cats.
  • Develop knowledge on running your own cat business.

Behaviour can be managed

It has been said that “nobody owns a cat” (Ellen Perry Berkeley), but cats are extremely popular pets. It is thought that around 34% of American homes own a cat. 

Cats are known for their relative independence however humans and cats have lived together for thousands of years. 

A cat’s jawbone was found in Cyprus that was around 8000 years old. As it is unlikely that anyone would have taken a wild cat on a boat, it is suggested that domestication of cats occurred around 8000 years ago.   But a later finding from 9500 years ago was a cat buried with a human, suggesting domestication was even earlier than thought.  But even further than that, in the Near East it is thought that domestication began nearly 12000 years ago.

The Ancient Greeks revered cats. There was a death sentence for anyone caught killing a cat.  The Ancient Romans held cats as a symbol for liberty.  But during the Middle Ages, cats were demonised as they were thought to be linked to the devil and witches – the witch’s familiar and so on.  Many were killed as a way to fight off evil. This unfortunately was not a clever thing to do as some researchers think that this helped to spread the plague as the cats were not there to kill the rats carrying the plague.

 

Why Study this Course?

Some study this course purely because they have a great passion for cats. Others take this course to give them the knowledge and skills to work with cats.

Through these studies, your knowledge and understanding of cat behaviour will grow, and your ability to respond appropriately in order to manage cats will increase.

You are likely to find yourself looking at cats differently, analyzing what they do and postulating how humans should or should not interact with them.

This course can be very useful for:

  • Cat owners
  • Pet shop staff and retail managers 
  • Veterinary assistants and other animal health professionals
  • Breeders, groomers and boarding cattery staff
  • Animal control officers, animal welfare officers 
  • Project managers, learning and development workers and business owners

 


How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

You can see the course price at the top of this page. Click 'enrolment options' to see any payment options available.

You can pay by Credit Card, PayPal, Afterpay or bank transfer.

Yes! We have payment plans for most courses. Click 'enrolment options' to see the available payment plans.
We also have Afterpay that will allow you to pay for your course or payment plans in four instalments (if you are in Australia).


What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
If you are under 18, we need written permission from your parent/ guardian for your enrolment to continue, we can arrange that after you have enrolled.

You don’t need to purchase any additional resources to complete our courses.

We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
We recommend that you have access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, so that you can easily complete and submit your assignments.

You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

Yes, if you are enrolling in a Certificate or Advanced Certificate, you might be eligible for credits if you have evidence of your previous studies or relevant experience. More information is here.

We recommend that you are able to browse websites, send emails and conduct online research. You will need to be able to type and submit your assignments.
If you have limited computer skills, we can make special arrangements for you.

This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

Yes, your tutor is here to help you. Simply post any questions you have in your login.training portal or contact the office and we can pass on a message to your tutor.

We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

You can bundle the short courses to create your own customised learning bundle, Certificates or Advanced Certificates. More information is on this page.

Yes, our courses are built to be applicable for people living anywhere in any situation. We provide the fundamentals, and each student can apply their own unique flair for their own interests, region and circumstances with the one-on-one guidance of a tutor. There is also a bit of student directed research involved.

Employers value candidates with industry skills, knowledge, practical skills and formal learning. Our courses arm you with all of these things to help prepare you for a job or start your own business. The longer you study the more you will learn.

ACS has an arrangement with OAMPS (formerly AMP) who can arrange Professional Indemnity from Australian and New Zealand graduates across all disciplines. Ph: 1800 222 012 or email acs@oamps.com.au.


Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
We are focused on developing innovative courses that are relevant to you now and what you will need to know in the future.
We are focused on helping you learn and make the most of your experience.
You can enrol at any time, you can work on your course when it suits you and at your own pace.
We are connected to many industry bodies and our staff participate in continuous improvement and learning activities to ensure that we are ahead of what learning is needed for the future.

Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.


How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

Yes, you can do a request for a bulk enrolment and request an invoice on our Invoice Request Form

We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.


What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.


What if I change my mind?

Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

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If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.




Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Jade Sciascia

Biologist, Business Coordinator, Government Environmental Dept, Secondary School teacher (Biology); Recruitment Consultant, Senior Supervisor in Youth Welfare, Horse Riding Instructor (part-completed) and Boarding Kennel Manager.
Jade has a B.Sc.Biol, Dip.Professional Education, Cert IV TESOL, Cert Food Hygiene.

Alison Pearce (Agri & Animal)

Alison brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to ACS students.

She has worked as a University Lecturer, has also run a veterinary operating theatre; responsible for animal anaesthesia, instrument preparation, and assistance with surgical techniques and procedures. She has worked in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

She has extensive experience of handling, husbandry, and management of a wide range of both small and large animals and has a particular love for nature and wildlife.

Alison has a BSc (Hon) Animal Science.

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