In short: Ingrid is a phenomenal wealth of information, kindness, and true compassion for cats and their humans, and if ever we need help again, I will not hesitate to reach out to her. We felt truly supported in our journey with our cat, and knew Ingrid was a partner in figuring it all out with us - we were no longer alone!
More detail: I reached out to Ingrid in February 2025 ahead of renovations that were scheduled to happen, and we were going to live in the house during construction. We had worked with another behavioralist a few months prior but were left needing much more support and applicable advice, and I was even more thorough and cautious about who to work with next. Ingrid fit the bill! She is a rare blend of no nonsense, deep deep knowledge, and truly empathetic to an array of kitty-human needs.
Previously our cat had stress-induced cystitis and we needed help to make sure the months’ long renovation would be as stress-free and cystitis-free as possible. Long story short: it was!
With Ingrid’s support and guidance, I learned about some of the possible challenges our cat could be facing - due to a combo of environment, us humans, and her unique personality – and, just as important, what to do to help her. Ingrid offered an array of activities and suggestions to ensure physical and mental stimulation, ways to reduce any environmental stressors, provide safe spaces, and opportunities to build our bond and trust. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! (She also introduced us to the BEST toys, our cat goes wild for them.)
Ingrid was also empathetic to the fact that our cat, because she is an older rescue, does not exhibit some cat-like behaviors, and offered modifications and other considerations rather than forcing her to fit into some sort of box. Last but not least, Ingrid equipped me with the right questions to ask of the vet AND offered one-on-one guidance as I learned to pill our cat.
It is fair to say that we made it through construction without incident! And we’ve had other wins along the way thanks to us now better understanding and meeting our cat’s needs. Our cat actually seeks out affection from my husband, she’s slept in the bed with us a handful of times, and she will come lay next to me on the sofa. As a former undersocialized stray, these are huge milestones! Maybe one day she’ll even get into my lap. 😉 This is all thanks to Ingrid! Whatever new challenges we may face, I know we’ll turn to Ingrid.
Chelsea Christofer
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
