Feline First Certification Course

The Feline First™ Certification Program is a feline exclusive certification created for anyone who works with or cares for cats, including groomers, boarding professionals, breeders, rescue personnel, veterinary support staff, pet sitters, and dedicated cat owners.

Across six comprehensive modules, participants will learn and apply The CAT Method™, a feline first curriculum grounded in anatomy, physiology, behavior, safety, and real life application. Students will strengthen their decision making skills, learn how to create feline centered environments, and develop practical adaptations that reduce fear, increase tolerance, and support each cat as an individual.

Full attendance and active participation are required to complete the Feline First™ Certification Program. Interactive and written assessments are conducted at the conclusion of each module, providing participants with meaningful opportunities to demonstrate their understanding in ways that support different learning styles and abilities. This program is not built around standardized testing or easily memorized multiple choice questions. It is designed to help participants internalize the material so they can move forward with greater knowledge, confidence, and purpose. This certification is intended to represent genuine understanding and demonstrated competency. It means something.

Upon successful completion of the Feline First™ Certification Program, participants will receive the Feline First™ Certification credential, verifying demonstrated competency in feline specific health and safety, anatomy and physiology, fear reduction, emergency preparedness, risk reduction, and compassionate care practices.

The program includes approximately five hours of in person instruction, interactive participation, a workbook for reflection and assessment, along with additional self paced study using the program curriculum and textbook. This time frame is dependent on the learning needs of the individuals present in each cohort.

Every two years, Feline First Certification Course must be renewed in order to continue utilizing that credential. Renewals will require: 

• A short module covering updated research, terminology, safety recommendations, program standards, and any changes made to The CAT Method™ during the previous two years.
• Written concise review of the most important principles involving anatomy, physiology, stress reduction, environmental adaptation, handling, emergency preparedness, and risk reduction.
• Credential holders reaffirm that they will represent the certification accurately and continue following the program’s feline first safety and welfare standards.
• Minimum of four hours of feline related continuing education during each credentialing period.

***Renewals will be offered online for accessibility purposes. 

The Association of Holistic Feline Specialists is a globally recognized organization committed to advancing safe, effective, and whole cat care throughout the world. The Feline First™ Certification Program is the first holistic certification program dedicated exclusively to feline health, safety, stress and fear reduction, as well as compassionate care.