Chirrups and Chatter

Chirrups and Chatter . She grew up with cats, dogs, turtles, rabbits and more. She began volunteering with animal rescues in high school. She is one of only 30 in the world currently!

For as long as she can remember, Tabitha has had a strong connection with animals and knew that she wanted to work with them in her professional and personal life. Once she graduated high school, she wanted to continue to help animals and she went to school to become a veterinary technician. She graduated from Stautzenberger College and passed her board exam, becoming a Registered Veterinary Te

chnician in 2010. As a veterinary technician, Tabitha worked with animal rescue organizations and in general practice. Her work in these fields shed light on repeated occurrences of animal euthanasia and re-homing due to behavior issues, misreading of animal body language, and the suffering that animals and humans endured due to them being misunderstood. This is what first inspired her to become more interested and knowledgeable about animal behavior and training. She quickly became dedicated to learning about the root causes and permanent solutions to feline and canine behavior concerns. She began to teach herself about behavior through continuing education, workshops, speaking to experts, completing her Low Stress Handling and Elite Fear Free Certifications, obtaining her KPA-CTP through the Karen Pryor Academy , and became a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant through the IAABC . She has also received her Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behavior Designation . Keeping animals in their loving homes is her utmost goal – this reduces euthanasia as well as displacement of animals from their homes, where they often end up in stressful shelter environments. Helping people better understand and relate to their pets leads to a stronger bond and a more gratifying relationship between animal and human. Tabitha enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge and experience to help clients resolve, manage, and prevent many types of dog and cat behavior issues, such as house soiling, attention seeking behaviors, destructive behaviors, aggression, fear-based behaviors, tension between pets, introducing new pets, leash pulling, and fear and stress associated with handling and grooming. Tabitha also offers educational lectures and workshops to the general public, veterinary professionals, training, and shelter professionals. Tabitha revels in educating others through writing, behavior consulting, and lecturing on all things related to cats and dogs. This includes reducing the fear, anxiety, and stress animals and their owners often experience with veterinary visits, handling, travel, and medical procedures, socialization, preventing behavior issues, fear free handling, shelter enrichment and behavior programs, and more.

🐾 Do you love cats? Whether you’re a caregiver, animal welfare professional, veterinary professional, or anyone passiona...
09/24/2025

🐾 Do you love cats? Whether you’re a caregiver, animal welfare professional, veterinary professional, or anyone passionate about feline welfare, Feline Focus is for YOU!

Join me and TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions -TrapKing Inc November 8th and 9th for two days of learning designed to help cats and the people who care for them thrive.

😻Share this post & tag your favorite cat advocate for a chance to win one FREE admission to Feline Focus, the virtual cat conference all about elevating cat care. Winner will be announced October 15th

📌 Space is limited to 150 attendees, and if you can’t make it live, recordings and resources will be available for a month afterward.

This isn’t just a conference—it’s a chance to join a growing community of cat advocates, learn, grow, and make a real difference.

💻 Register now at https://chirrupsandchatter.com/events/feline-focus-a-virtual-learning-event-for-cat-lovers-caregivers-professionals/ and secure your spot!

Let’s help cats everywhere thrive together. 🐾💛

This client update made me tear up 🥹Ziggy is the best and it’s been awesome working with him and his caregiver PSA: as ©...
09/23/2025

This client update made me tear up 🥹
Ziggy is the best and it’s been awesome working with him and his caregiver
PSA: as ©glitterburned13 his caregiver said, never be afraid to ask for help❤️

Cats don’t “freak out of nowhere.” They’ve been communicating with us all along. 🐾In this episode of PurrPodcast , I joi...
09/21/2025

Cats don’t “freak out of nowhere.” They’ve been communicating with us all along. 🐾

In this episode of PurrPodcast , I joined Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn to talk all things feline behavior, Fear Free handling, and why so many veterinary professionals feel underprepared when working with cats.

From reading body language to simple strategies that lower stress for patients AND staff, you’ll walk away with tools you can put into practice right away.

If you’ve ever felt nervous about treating cats or wanted more feline-friendly skills, this conversation is for you. Hit play and let’s make cat visits calmer, safer, and better for everyone.

Cats don’t lose it out of nowhere. We’re just not taught to see the signs. Managing intercat tensions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pUxJMmTbLI&t=360sCats...

Pain management isn’t one-size-fits-all. 🐾Want to see my go-to pain ID and management resources for veterinary professio...
09/19/2025

Pain management isn’t one-size-fits-all. 🐾

Want to see my go-to pain ID and management resources for veterinary professionals? Check out the post!

The most effective care comes from a multimodal approach, using a thoughtful combination of different strategies to address pain from multiple angles. This means blending pharmacological options (like NSAIDs, opioids, or adjunctive meds) with non-pharmacological support (such as weight management, rehab, acupuncture, behavior support, and environmental changes).

By tailoring care to each individual, we can improve comfort, mobility, and quality of life. ✨ And thankfully, veterinary medicine is giving us more and more tools to do just that.

👉 What’s your go-to pain management resource? Share below and follow for more hopeful, practical ways to help pets live their best lives.

Happy

I’ve learned so much from Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Jolle Kirpenstein over the years, so being invited to join them on Th...
09/18/2025

I’ve learned so much from Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Jolle Kirpenstein over the years, so being invited to join them on The was truly an honor. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous, due to me being such a fan of their work, but they were awesome and it was so much fun chatting cats with them!

Do you know how to decode cat behavior? 🐱✨
We dive into feline enrichment (hint: it’s not “extra”—it’s essential!), how to recognize fear and anxiety in cats, and ways to better support both feline patients and their people.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

🐾✨ Helping cats thrive takes all of us ✨🐾If you’ve ever struggled to give your cat medication, wondered why the litterbo...
09/17/2025

🐾✨ Helping cats thrive takes all of us ✨🐾

If you’ve ever struggled to give your cat medication, wondered why the litterbox is suddenly an issue, or wished you could just understand what your cat is trying to tell you—you’re not alone.

Join us November 8th and 9th to get tools and insights you can start using right away

Join us for Feline Focus, a virtual learning event for cat lovers, caregivers, and professionals!
📅 November 8–9 | 11am–5pm EST
💻 Live + 1 month of recordings included

Whether you’re a devoted cat caregiver, a veterinary professional, or part of the rescue & shelter world—this event is designed to give you the skills, tools, and confidence to support cats with compassion and care.

🌟 Expect engaging sessions, practical strategies, inspiring panels (with special guest TrapKing Humane Cat Solutions -TrapKing Inc and others!), and resources you can put to use right away.

🎤 Led by Tabitha Kucera, RVT, VTS (Behavior), CCBC, one of the leading voices in feline behavior and caregiver support.

💡 Can’t make it live? No problem—you’ll have 1 month of access to all recordings!

👉 Register today and be part of a growing community making a difference for cats everywhere.

🔗 https://chirrupsandchatter.com/events/feline-focus-a-virtual-learning-event-for-cat-lovers-caregivers-professionals/

09/16/2025

Most pets with feel safest with their caregiver present, while a few may do better without them. The key is individualized care, context, paying attention to the patient’s history, bond with their caregiver, and body language.

Transparency and communication are essential so caregivers understand why certain choices are made—whether that means staying nearby, stepping out, and using tools like pre-visit medication along with handling plans.

💡 Challenge the “to the back” approach
• “The back” often leaves caregivers imagining the worst.
• Avoid removing pets during non-emergent procedures—keep them with their people whenever possible.
• Communicate openly: ask if caregivers are comfortable with needles/blood, and offer alternatives like a coffee break or a quieter room.
• Prioritize comfort: reduces fear, builds trust, and supports emotional wellbeing.
• Practical benefits: lowers stress, minimizes triggers, and keeps workflow smooth.

✨ Imagine if your child’s doctor said, “We’ll just take them in the back” for a routine wellness visit…

Behavior is just as important as physical exam findings. By observing and sharing these cues, veterinary teams can adjust their approach to support both the physical and emotional wellbeing of each patient.

🎧🐾 Listen to my full episodes of Cone of Shame with Dr. Andy Roark for the complete story!

I was so excited to join the Vet Life Reimagined podcast to share my journey from general practice to specializing in be...
09/15/2025

I was so excited to join the Vet Life Reimagined podcast to share my journey from general practice to specializing in behavior and creating Chirrups and Chatter. We talk about burnout, building sustainable careers, and why behavior is at the heart of the human–animal bond.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1961666/episodes/17838100

09/10/2025
At Chirrups and Chatter, I believe every pet caregiver deserves access to resources that make recognizing and addressing...
09/09/2025

At Chirrups and Chatter, I believe every pet caregiver deserves access to resources that make recognizing and addressing pain easier. 🌟

That’s why I’ve created a comprehensive library of free educational tools, including:
✨ Helpful handouts 📝
✨ Informative podcasts 🎙️
✨ Insightful blogs 📖

For Animal Pain Awareness Month, I’m highlighting my pain resources, including Recognizing Pain & Advocating for Your Pet, to help you identify subtle signs of discomfort in your pets. 🐾
Even small changes in behavior or activity can signal pain, knowing what to look for helps you step in sooner, advocate for your pet, and support their well-being. 💕

💬 I’d love to hear from you! What topics or resources would you like me to cover next?

Follow for ongoing pet pain education and practical tips! 🩺
Explore handouts, podcasts, and articles to support your pet at chirrupsandchatter.com → Resources

I’m back with Dr. Andy Roark to dive into handling, this time focusing on a large dog showing fear-aggressive behaviors....
09/04/2025

I’m back with Dr. Andy Roark to dive into handling, this time focusing on a large dog showing fear-aggressive behaviors. 🐶 Always a blast to chat, and I love seeing how much interest these discussions have sparked!

Handling is a skill, and there’s always more to learn. Be sure to check out my other Cone of Shame episodes including The Art of Handling episode, and keep an eye out for my upcoming handling lectures and hands-on workshops.

Listen or watch at link below
https://drandyroark.com/managing-the-lunging-dog/?fbclid=IwY2xjawMmqepleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHr8phku5jEPy5MXWfZZno7n3O2smM5NWcf838yQvQxsUrjYGpGvPhPv5KaJi_aem_ZzqbtFjeL7AEgR0kbXyRDQ

Once you know what to look for, signs of pain are not subtle, they are loud and clear! Learn body language signs that co...
09/03/2025

Once you know what to look for, signs of pain are not subtle, they are loud and clear!

Learn body language signs that could note your cat is in pain!

Check out the post for more details! 🐾

Like and follow for more tips and resources, and explore our free resources at: Chirrupsandchatter.com

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Our Story

For as long as she can remember, Tabitha has had a strong connection with animals and knew that she wanted to work with them in her professional and personal life. She grew up with cats, dogs, turtles, rabbits and more. She began volunteering with animal rescues in high school. Once she graduated high school, she wanted to continue to help animals and she went to school to become a veterinary technician. She graduated from Stautzenberger College and passed her board exam, becoming a Registered Veterinary Technician in 2010. As a veterinary technician, Tabitha worked with animal rescue organizations and in general practice. Her work in these fields shed light on repeated occurrences of animal euthanasia and re-homing due to behavior issues, misreading of animal body language, and the suffering that animals and humans endured due to them being misunderstood. This is what first inspired her to become more interested and knowledgeable about animal behavior and training. She quickly became dedicated to learning about the root causes and permanent solutions to feline and canine behavior concerns. She began to teach herself about behavior through continuing education, workshops, speaking to experts, completing her Low Stress Handling and Elite Fear Free Certifications, obtaining her KPA-CTP through the Karen Pryor Academy, and became a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant through the IAABC. I continue to learn from the animals and clients I work with as well as by attending behavior workshops and conferences. Tabitha is also currently working towards her veterinary technician specialty in behavior.

Keeping animals in their loving homes is her utmost goal – this reduces euthanasia as well as displacement of animals from their homes, where they often end up in stressful shelter environments. Helping people better understand and relate to their pets leads to a stronger bond and a more gratifying relationship between animal and human.

Tabitha enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge and experience to help clients resolve, manage, and prevent many types of dog and cat behavior issues, such as house soiling, attention seeking behaviors, destructive behaviors, aggression, fear-based behaviors, tension between pets, introducing new pets, leash pulling, and fear and stress associated with handling and grooming.

Tabitha also offers educational lectures and workshops to the general public, veterinary professionals, training, and shelter professionals. Tabitha revels in educating others through writing, behavior consulting, and lecturing on all things related to cats and dogs. This includes reducing the fear, anxiety, and stress animals and their owners often experience with veterinary visits, handling, travel, and medical procedures, socialization, preventing behavior issues, fear free handling, shelter enrichment and behavior programs, and more.