Quarantine with Cats
During this time of self quarantine and social distancing, Michelle Fern chats with the world's most in demand cat behaviorist, founding owner of Clubhouse Cattitude, JFCATS.com, and author Rita Reimers to share her clever and practical solutions on how cat owners, kids, and families can happily ride out the days together with their feline companions, and why now is the perfect time to adopt or foster a furry new friend.
BIO:
Cat behavior expert, Rita Reimers, has always been drawn to animals, cats in particular. And they have always been drawn to her. Rita possesses a unique ability to communicate with and understand the tender nature of cats. Rita has been a cat communicator since she was a child, and she now shares her home with cats of all ages and temperaments.
“I never met a cat I couldn’t help,” says Rita. “I understand cats and their subtle ways of letting us know what they want, and it’s become my mission to help cat owners understand and communicate better with their felines.”
Rita’s “cat magic” comes from her over 30 years of experience as a multi cat owner and cat rescue worker. Understanding cats and their behaviors is a natural ability for Rita, and she considers it her “calling” in life. Her Multi Cat Behavior Counseling services have helped people better understand their cat companions, and find solutions to issues that might otherwise cause a cat to be surrendered to a rescue or shelter.
Rita currently writes a cat behavior help and advice column called “A New Cattitude,” which is featured in every issue of Catster, previously known as Cat Fancy. She also writes regularly for such respected websites as Chewy.com, Pet MD, and Pet Central. She is also a sought-after guest writer, providing her advice for pet care companies such as Litter Genie, Meow Mix, and 9Lives.
In addition, Rita is also contributing cat behaviorist for Petcha.com, appearing in Cat Behavior Videos, as well as authoring many articles about cat care. Rita has been interviewed for and quoted in Cat Fancy, as well as in the CATS USA ANNUAL, and KITTENS USA. She has also been a contributor to websites such as Pet360, Catster.com, Vocativ, and Mental Floss, to name a few. Rita has also been seen on Inside Edition, as their Cat Behaviorist for news stories such as Man Held Captive By Nasty Cat. She shares her multi cat behavior expert knowledge with as many people as she can, to help keep cats in their homes with happy owners.
Rita is also a member of the Animal Behavior Society, and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, as well as the Cat Writers Association.
Pet love runs deep in Rita’s family. Her mother, Mary Reimers, is founder and president of The Humane Society of Lancaster, South Carolina, where Rita is a board member. Rita’s long-held dream of starting her Senior Cat Sanctuary, The Carolina Senior Cat Haven, is also in the process of being formed. More details to follow as they become available!
As if all that doesn’t keep her busy enough, Rita is also the Founding Owner and President of Just For Cats Pet Sitting, with locations in Charlotte, NC, and Rock Hill, SC. Rita recently merged her Beverly Hills, CA, location with Meowtel, where is is now an Advisor.
Interesting Fact about Rita: From 2005 until 2008, Rita was heard live weekly as an on-air personality and Associate Producer of the “Lighten Up with Richard Simmons” show, heard exclusively on Sirius Satellite radio station Stars 102. You can also see her in Richard’s “Party Off the Pounds” workout DVD, and his “Love Yourself and Win” DVD, which she also Associate Produced. You can also see Rita in Richard Simmons’ last video series entitled Project Hope.