Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurelyn Flowers.
Hi Laurelyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Laurelyn Flowers, Owner of No Bad Cats, LLC, and my mission is to bring hope and help to cat guardians who are struggling with their beloved cat’s behaviors.
The first cat with whom I ever fell truly in love was Sophie. Sleek and black, she not only looked heartbreakingly elegant and sophisticated, but she also had an incredible sense of humor. Yes, a cat with a sense of humor! As my best friend, Mandy’s cat, she was not mine, but I loved her just as much as if she were. She opened my eyes to the wonder, the joy and the depth of love cats can offer us in this world, and I was hooked. As I started out in the workforce as a new college graduate, she stayed on my mind, and every single black cat I saw brought a smile to my face. I thought of how she would leap into the air at seemingly nothing at all, just to see her human audience laugh. And I swear she did it just for that…to see us laugh.
The years passed and the opportunity to join a team of animal welfare heroes as the Volunteer Manager at my local municipal shelter came knocking on my door. I knew I had found a job I would love for years to come.
That job was the most wonderful and the most challenging job I had ever had. Seeing so many loving, needy animals go home with their sweet, new families brought more joy to me than I have ever experienced in my career. I also saw far too many surrendered or abandoned, and my heart would sink as I knew of the stress that being in this strange place, separated from their familiar humans, would bring upon them.
But I noticed that the cats often seemed to take it the hardest. And I noticed that many cats were showing up at the shelter, being surrendered due to behavior problems. Behavior problems that *maybe*, just *maybe* someone could have helped the families work through if help had been available. So many people, people who truly loved their cat, at least once-upon-a-time, before whatever the problem was had begun.
And then I experienced my own, first-ever behavior challenge in one of my cats at home. He had begun fighting with one of our other two. And I could understand the dilemma of the deep love I felt for him, but also the frustration and the challenge his behavior was to my patience. I loved him so, and I was willing to spend my time and my money to do whatever it took to resolve the problems he was having. But, I could not find anyone to help me. No pet owner should ever feel like there is no hope.
And so, I decided, maybe I could be that hope. Maybe I could make a difference, not only in my own cat’s life by resolving the problems at hand, but also in the lives of all cats. Heck, even better…maybe I could help reduce the number of cats being surrendered to animal shelters!
My new passion quickly became apparent to my colleagues at the shelter, and soon my office became known as the place where cats who were struggling behaviorally could receive help. I hungrily read, studied, and watched webinars about feline behavior. I learned how increasing a cat’s enrichment was directly linked to reducing his stress, so I trained the shelter volunteers and staff on how to better provide enrichment to the cats in our care. Slowly but surely, I could see a change in the general vibe in the cat adoption area. Cats’ were being played with! Cats were getting adopted!
And every single cat who was brought to my office for special intervention thrived. Got adopted. I had never been happier.
Then, my Dad was diagnosed with a blood cancer, Plasma Cell Leukemia Multiple Myeloma.
The thought of leaving my job at the shelter had never been one I would truly entertain until then. But nothing was more important to me than seizing upon however much time with him as was possible.
Those years that I spent mostly going back and forth between my home here in VA to my parents’ in SC were exactly what I was meant to do at the time. And it gave me time to reevaluate my future, my career. I realized that, whatever I was to do next had to be something where I could make the world a better place…for cats.
And, No Bad Cats, LLC was born.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is no such thing as a “simple” case! Preexisting notions about cats, along with client/family member reluctance can make my mission feel like an uphill battle at times. The fact itself that cats can be trained and their behavior problems resolved, is perceived as a myth to some. And sometimes the look on a person’s face when I tell them what I do is that of a skeptic. It may even be followed by an awkward silence, especially if said person is “not really a cat person”. This is why every one of my Google reviews is so important in building buy-in from the community!
Client reluctance to do their “homework” can make achieving resolution more challenging. I always provide the research backing my advice and the proven benefits. I am an educator and a guide. I will give them the tools…It’s up to them to use them! Additionally, the frustration and stress that moved cat guardians to contact me can compound their reluctance. They have “already tried everything”. They have been “dealing with this for years”. I have to help them see the “why” behind their cat’s aggravating behaviors. I want to help them replace their frustration with understanding and a renewed compassion for their beloved, furry family member.
I am not one to back down from a challenge. Each case is an opportunity for me to grow and be even more effective, with cat behavior problems *and* with humans.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about No Bad Cats, LLC?
My mission is to restore the bond between cats and their families by providing an empathetic approach combined with the education and the tools necessary for remediation of the problem(s) at hand. Compassion and empathy are always my first priorities! I can often relate personally to their feelings, whether it’s a new, plush bathmat that just got ruined by cat urine, or feeling helpless and frustrated by two cats fighting who were once bonded. My clients often comment about how much they appreciate not only my knowledge and expertise, but also my ability to listen to them…to really hear them. And I love that my ability to help people has no limits as far as location…We can have just as much success in our outcomes in virtual meetings as we do in-person!
With a membership to the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Certification as a Fear Free Animal Trainer, and over two decades of working with felines, I have dedicated my career to decoding their often misunderstood behaviors. My method focuses on identifying the root cause of problem behaviors and building realistic, sustainable plans that bring peace back to the home.
The foundations of my work are positive reinforcement, multimodal environmental modifications and alternatives to punishment. I believe that behavior interventions should never rely on fear or force, but rather on clear communication, compassion, and environmental adjustments that reduce stress for both the cat and their families.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I have learned to allow time to just listen, and to understand my clients. I may see or hear things in the home set-up or the discussion that I am anxious to critique. But, hearing comes before educating. Everyone who seeks my help is tired, frustrated, and needs a chance to “vent” to someone who gets them. They don’t need a judge. Besides, it was the deep love for their cat that ultimately drove them to reach out for help. I can absolutely appreciate that! Every single family’s and every single cat’s unique dynamics and needs must be considered. The goals we set, the actions I recommend to achieve those goals, and the pace at which we move are never the same across the pool of clients. I see clients who have roommates, families with small children, single cat guardians, families with multiple pets, etc. Living conditions, personalities, and varying levels of experience with cats are additional variables that serve as reminders that my being organized, maintaining compassion, and keeping up with recent research findings and trainings are all essential to my ability to make my interventions relevant and achievable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nobadcats.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nobadcatsllc
