Stephen Quandt, CFTBS | Fear Free Certified Cat Behaviorist - Nationwide
Specializing in cat on human and cat on cat aggression, I am dedicated to understanding and transforming your cat's behavior with empathy and expertise. I am a certified feline training and behavior specialist (CFTBS) and Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP), and I proudly serve as New York City's sole private-practice feline behavior consultant with an active background in municipal animal shelter work. With over 25 years of experience, I bring a deep understanding of the evolutionary and adaptive forces shaping cat behavior, combined with a compassionate approach to even the most challenging cases.
My commitment to compassionate, educational, and non-judgmental service ensures that every cat and human is respected as an individual. Certified by the Animal Behavior Institute, I specialize in tackling complex issues such as cat introductions and aggression, cat-on-human aggression, inappropriate elimination, fearfulness, anxiety, and socialization. By focusing on each cat’s unique journey, I provide heart-centered, step-by-step guidance that adheres to scientific best practices while maintaining a fear-free environment for your feline friend.
Whether you're dealing with a new cat introduction or behavioral challenges, I am here to help you navigate these issues with understanding and care. My approach is rooted in compassion and science, ensuring a positive outcome for both you and your cat. Ready to get started on a transformative journey for your feline companion? Book me through Petworks today!
- Certified
- Online Sessions
- Mobile Services
Pricing Packages
45 Minute Virtual Session
Pre-Session Guidance when applicable
Written Report and Behavior Plan
30 days of email support
Not intended for cat-on-cat aggression or litter box issues
Up to 60+ Minute Virtual Session with Up to 30 Minutes of Follow Up Time for 90 Minutes of Total Session Time
Pre-Session Guidance when applicable
Written Report and Behavior Plan
60 Days of Email Support
The Standard Virtual Consultation is intended for all behavior problems but the cat-on-cat aggression package adds value for that particular challenge
How do you serve precious pets?
- Cat Behaviorist
- Animal Behaviorist
What training tools do you use?
- Barriers
- Clicker
- Toys
- Treats
What part of the animal kingdom do you serve?
- Cats
Which training type do you employ to encourage paw-sitive behaviors?
- Pet Behavior Modification
Pet Certifications
- Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist (CFTBS)
- Fear Free Certified Professional
Proud member of...
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
- Pet Professional Guild (PPG)
Education
Which part of the country do you serve pets?
What year did you begin serving pets?
How did you hone your craft?
Cat-astrophes happen! What is your cancellation policy?
Distinction
Customer Reviews
I highly recommend Stephen to anyone who is introducing a new cat into their home. We’ve tried introducing our furry orange, Pretzel, to several cats in the past, and it’s always been unsuccessful. When we got Val, we really wanted it to work out but the first few weeks were rough. Any time pretzel approached her, she’d hiss and swat at him, even though we tried the “slow introduction” approach. Stephen talked us through additional techniques that you don’t typically see in the more popular cat behavior YouTube videos, and it made all the difference. Stephen also viewed videos of Pretzel and Val’s interactions and helped give clarity to what was actually happening, and how to work through it. A few months later, I can happily say that Pretzel and Val are good friends. They look out the window together, play/hang out together, and just yesterday we caught Val grooming Pretzel! I’m just so so happy. 10/10 would recommend Stephen. You won’t regret it.
- Diane SStephen took me and my boyfriend from hopeless to overjoyed and our cats from enemies to friends. We'd moved in together earlier this summer and spent two fruitless months following Jackson Galaxy's method for cat introductions, which failed, leaving us with no choice but to keep our cats separated to avoid aggressive encounters. We were despondent when we got a referral to Stephen. He immediately helped us understand why the first introduction had failed, and spent the next two months providing detailed plans and support to try again, suggesting strategies we never would have put together just by searching online. After many hours of behavior work (which Stephen mentally prepared us for), we can now leave our cats unsupervised and often find them playing together, which we did not think would be possible when we started working with Stephen. His expertise and deep understanding of cats is invaluable—as is his patience with nervous and distraught cat parents. Can't recommend him highly enough!
- Zoey BStephen is incredibly knowledgeable! He was so helpful and supportive when we were very much in need. One of our cats was experiencing feline non-recognition after our other cat returned from the vet. The entire experience was extremely upsetting. Stephen helped get our little guys back on track and back to their loving selves! And, not only is he knowledgeable but so soothing (and reassuring) during the process!
- Rachel PWhere do we start... Stephen helped with our three cats at different times, each with very specific needs. Lily was feral. Stephen gave us clear behavioral instructions. She graduated in 4 days and has been a lap cat every since. Fritz was having litter box issues. Through his brief questionnaire, Stephen discerned that it was a "positioning" problem, not a behavioral problem. A different litter box solved it. And most recently, our devil kitten, Milo. Stephen taught us about the play, eat, sleep cycle and how to wear Milo out before bedtime. We recommend Stephen to family, friends, and colleagues without hesitation. He's such a great human...we are grateful beyond words!
- Kari BStephen is incredible, his knowledge base and ability to articulate complex ideas in a digestible and applicable way are incredible. He was a great help in brokering peace between my two cats and even with just a week and a half of applying his positive reinforcement techniques I have seen progress in the little ones that is shocking and amazing! Thank you Stephen!
- Jordan AOwning only dogs all my life , I got 2 very young kittens. I was sure I was sending them back to the shelter. They were in hiding and they never came out and I never saw them. I read so many different books, received conflicting advice from many people. I decided to reach out to a cat specialist before I gave up on them. That’s when I set up a consultation with Stephen. I trusted his years of experience. He gave me a lot of information, especially stressing how important it was that I socialized these young kittens and the best way to do it, as the window was small and time was running out. So I followed his advice. And before I knew it, not only were they not hiding anymore, but they were actually coming to me and sitting on my lap all on their own accord! I play with them every morning and evening and they come and sit with me every morning and every evening, and we are so bonded, the three musketeers !! Needless to say, I never took them back to the shelter. These boys are staying right here with me. Thanks to Stephen and his help, advice and support. I am a proud cat mom I cannot imagine my life without them! Thank you Stephen!
- Maria GThere's so much to be said about Stephen's kindness and expertise in regards to cats, but what's rarer is the truly special level of care he puts into the people taking care of those cats. I first met Stephen after adopting a cat from the ACC that was actively (and I do not say this lightly) ruining my life. This cat was attacking me whenever I opened the door to my room, turning my legs red and purple with scratches and bruises. Stephen Quandt went out of his way to do calls with me, as well as frequent text and email advice, to try to fix the situation. When it still didn't work out, he offered me real empathy in regards to my guilt and helped me find my current cat, who is truly everything to me. Normally, that would already have been far above and beyond anything I would have ever expected from someone, but Stephen has also offered his expertise with my family cat, diagnosing a GI tract sickness based on a short list of symptoms, giving us a few more months with the cat I first got when I was 8 years old. There are few people who care this much, and fewer still that extend that care to people they've only ever met one or two times. I wish I could leave a review of higher than five stars, as he is truly deserving of the highest recommendation I could possibly give.
- Thilo WStephen helped me decode my cat's needs in a way that really challenged me to be a better cat mom. I am really grateful for his patience and his timely dedication to answer all of my 100,000 questions and help even teach me things about cats (and my own!) that I had never knew before. He is excellent - book the call!
- Catherine FYou may think that you need to rehome your favorite furball, for whatever behavioral issues have arisen. But please think twice, Stephen is fantastic at troubleshooting a cat’s behavioral needs so that you and kitty can live more harmoniously. Having decades of cat experience, Stephen is very experienced and comes up with doable plans that work. I volunteer as the cat coordinator for a rescue group. We hire Stephen regularly, so that we can keep our cats in their foster homes and with their adoptive pet parents. He has helped turn around attack cats, cats going outside of the litter box, cats that resource guard, cats that are bored and bonkers, cats that yowl at night etc. No issue is unusual to Stephen. His work has also been very informative in helping us to adopt out our cats to appropriate homes. Too many cat parents feel hopeless and upset when kitty is behaving in a way that disrupts family life, but Stephen mitigates these issues and offers solutions and hope. Five out of five paws!
- Be SStephen is an incredible behaviorist and human being. Compassionate to his core, I’m so grateful to have been able to work with him to find a solution to a difficult situation. He gave me hope when mine ran out and I can’t thank him enough! He is so knowledgeable and dedicated to what he does - I’ll be singing his praises for years to come.
- Allison DHow do you serve precious pets?
- Cat Behaviorist
- Animal Behaviorist
What training tools do you use?
- Barriers
- Clicker
- Toys
- Treats
What part of the animal kingdom do you serve?
- Cats
Which training type do you employ to encourage paw-sitive behaviors?
- Pet Behavior Modification
Pet Certifications
- Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist (CFTBS)
- Fear Free Certified Professional
Proud member of...
- International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC)
- Pet Professional Guild (PPG)
Education
Which part of the country do you serve pets?
What year did you begin serving pets?
How did you hone your craft?
Cat-astrophes happen! What is your cancellation policy?
Customer Reviews
I highly recommend Stephen to anyone who is introducing a new cat into their home. We’ve tried introducing our furry orange, Pretzel, to several cats in the past, and it’s always been unsuccessful. When we got Val, we really wanted it to work out but the first few weeks were rough. Any time pretzel approached her, she’d hiss and swat at him, even though we tried the “slow introduction” approach. Stephen talked us through additional techniques that you don’t typically see in the more popular cat behavior YouTube videos, and it made all the difference. Stephen also viewed videos of Pretzel and Val’s interactions and helped give clarity to what was actually happening, and how to work through it. A few months later, I can happily say that Pretzel and Val are good friends. They look out the window together, play/hang out together, and just yesterday we caught Val grooming Pretzel! I’m just so so happy. 10/10 would recommend Stephen. You won’t regret it.
- Diane SStephen took me and my boyfriend from hopeless to overjoyed and our cats from enemies to friends. We'd moved in together earlier this summer and spent two fruitless months following Jackson Galaxy's method for cat introductions, which failed, leaving us with no choice but to keep our cats separated to avoid aggressive encounters. We were despondent when we got a referral to Stephen. He immediately helped us understand why the first introduction had failed, and spent the next two months providing detailed plans and support to try again, suggesting strategies we never would have put together just by searching online. After many hours of behavior work (which Stephen mentally prepared us for), we can now leave our cats unsupervised and often find them playing together, which we did not think would be possible when we started working with Stephen. His expertise and deep understanding of cats is invaluable—as is his patience with nervous and distraught cat parents. Can't recommend him highly enough!
- Zoey BStephen is incredibly knowledgeable! He was so helpful and supportive when we were very much in need. One of our cats was experiencing feline non-recognition after our other cat returned from the vet. The entire experience was extremely upsetting. Stephen helped get our little guys back on track and back to their loving selves! And, not only is he knowledgeable but so soothing (and reassuring) during the process!
- Rachel PWhere do we start... Stephen helped with our three cats at different times, each with very specific needs. Lily was feral. Stephen gave us clear behavioral instructions. She graduated in 4 days and has been a lap cat every since. Fritz was having litter box issues. Through his brief questionnaire, Stephen discerned that it was a "positioning" problem, not a behavioral problem. A different litter box solved it. And most recently, our devil kitten, Milo. Stephen taught us about the play, eat, sleep cycle and how to wear Milo out before bedtime. We recommend Stephen to family, friends, and colleagues without hesitation. He's such a great human...we are grateful beyond words!
- Kari BStephen is incredible, his knowledge base and ability to articulate complex ideas in a digestible and applicable way are incredible. He was a great help in brokering peace between my two cats and even with just a week and a half of applying his positive reinforcement techniques I have seen progress in the little ones that is shocking and amazing! Thank you Stephen!
- Jordan AOwning only dogs all my life , I got 2 very young kittens. I was sure I was sending them back to the shelter. They were in hiding and they never came out and I never saw them. I read so many different books, received conflicting advice from many people. I decided to reach out to a cat specialist before I gave up on them. That’s when I set up a consultation with Stephen. I trusted his years of experience. He gave me a lot of information, especially stressing how important it was that I socialized these young kittens and the best way to do it, as the window was small and time was running out. So I followed his advice. And before I knew it, not only were they not hiding anymore, but they were actually coming to me and sitting on my lap all on their own accord! I play with them every morning and evening and they come and sit with me every morning and every evening, and we are so bonded, the three musketeers !! Needless to say, I never took them back to the shelter. These boys are staying right here with me. Thanks to Stephen and his help, advice and support. I am a proud cat mom I cannot imagine my life without them! Thank you Stephen!
- Maria GThere's so much to be said about Stephen's kindness and expertise in regards to cats, but what's rarer is the truly special level of care he puts into the people taking care of those cats. I first met Stephen after adopting a cat from the ACC that was actively (and I do not say this lightly) ruining my life. This cat was attacking me whenever I opened the door to my room, turning my legs red and purple with scratches and bruises. Stephen Quandt went out of his way to do calls with me, as well as frequent text and email advice, to try to fix the situation. When it still didn't work out, he offered me real empathy in regards to my guilt and helped me find my current cat, who is truly everything to me. Normally, that would already have been far above and beyond anything I would have ever expected from someone, but Stephen has also offered his expertise with my family cat, diagnosing a GI tract sickness based on a short list of symptoms, giving us a few more months with the cat I first got when I was 8 years old. There are few people who care this much, and fewer still that extend that care to people they've only ever met one or two times. I wish I could leave a review of higher than five stars, as he is truly deserving of the highest recommendation I could possibly give.
- Thilo WStephen helped me decode my cat's needs in a way that really challenged me to be a better cat mom. I am really grateful for his patience and his timely dedication to answer all of my 100,000 questions and help even teach me things about cats (and my own!) that I had never knew before. He is excellent - book the call!
- Catherine FYou may think that you need to rehome your favorite furball, for whatever behavioral issues have arisen. But please think twice, Stephen is fantastic at troubleshooting a cat’s behavioral needs so that you and kitty can live more harmoniously. Having decades of cat experience, Stephen is very experienced and comes up with doable plans that work. I volunteer as the cat coordinator for a rescue group. We hire Stephen regularly, so that we can keep our cats in their foster homes and with their adoptive pet parents. He has helped turn around attack cats, cats going outside of the litter box, cats that resource guard, cats that are bored and bonkers, cats that yowl at night etc. No issue is unusual to Stephen. His work has also been very informative in helping us to adopt out our cats to appropriate homes. Too many cat parents feel hopeless and upset when kitty is behaving in a way that disrupts family life, but Stephen mitigates these issues and offers solutions and hope. Five out of five paws!
- Be SStephen is an incredible behaviorist and human being. Compassionate to his core, I’m so grateful to have been able to work with him to find a solution to a difficult situation. He gave me hope when mine ran out and I can’t thank him enough! He is so knowledgeable and dedicated to what he does - I’ll be singing his praises for years to come.
- Allison DAbout Stephen Quandt — Cat Behaviorist in New York, New York
Stephen Quandt is a cat behaviorist serving New York, New York County, and surrounding areas including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island, Newark, Jersey City, Yonkers, Paterson, Elizabeth, dedicated to helping cats and their families resolve challenging behaviors and build a calmer, more harmonious home. Using compassionate, science-based methods tailored to each cat's unique personality, history, and environment, Stephen helps uncover the root causes of feline behavior — not just the symptoms.
❤️ The best cat behaviorists don't just change cat behavior — they help you understand your cat on a deeper level. Stephen brings that philosophy to every session, working alongside you to build insight, consistency, and real, lasting results for both you and your feline companion.
What Stephen Can Help With
Litter box problems — addressing avoidance, accidents, and inappropriate elimination. Aggression & reactivity — toward people, other cats, or other pets in the home. Anxiety & stress — reducing fear, hiding, overgrooming, and stress-related behaviors. Scratching & destructive behavior — redirecting and resolving unwanted habits. Multi-cat dynamics — managing introductions, territorial tension, and household conflict. New cat transitions — building confidence and good habits from the start.
Why Book Stephen on PetWorks?
Verified cat behavior professional with credentials you can trust. Personalized one-on-one sessions — virtual, in-home, or mobile depending on availability. Force-free, positive reinforcement methods that are humane and proven effective for cats. A compassionate, judgment-free approach focused on the wellbeing of both you and your cat. Backed by real reviews from cat owners across New York County and Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, The Bronx, Staten Island, Newark, Jersey City, Yonkers, Paterson, Elizabeth.
🦔 How Booking Stephen on PetWorks Works
Booking Stephen is secure and straightforward.
Review Services: Browse Stephen's packages and services listed on this page and choose the one that best fits your cat's needs.
Click "Book Now" or "Request Quote": If you see a package that fits, you can book directly by clicking "Book Now". If your cat's situation is unique, or you'd like to discuss their specific challenges first, click "Get Custom Quote" or "Send Message" to start a conversation with Stephen.
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Connect & Schedule: Once your booking is initiated, you'll use the PetWorks Inbox to coordinate the best time for your session and share any details about your cat that will help Stephen prepare — including behavior history, environment, and any specific concerns.
Ready to get started? Browse Stephen's verified reviews, compare credentials, and book confidently on PetWorks — serving New York, NY and the surrounding New York County area.