Behavior Team of New York City
Welcome to the Behavior Team of New York City!

Are you a New York City resident looking for professional training or care for your pet?
You’ve come to the right place!
The Behavior Team of New York City takes a community-focused approach to training and caring for your pets. Our team members were brought together by a shared philosophy and code of ethics and are dedicated to working in concert to support you and your pets with the highest level of care.
We recognize that helping pet owners requires a village of professionals they can trust—from behavior experts and pet care providers to the veterinary community. Each of our team members is dedicated to bringing their own unique skills and specialties to best support you and your pets.
Find a Professional
Click on the team members’ bios to learn more about them and their areas of expertise. You may reach out to a team member directly using the contact information in their bio or, if you’re unsure which team member is the best fit for your needs, simply click on “Find a Professional” and we will find your perfect match.
Michelle Grace Danahy, CFTBS, CAFTP
Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist, Certified Advanced Feline Training Professional
View BioMichelle Grace Danahy, CFTBS, CAFTP
Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist, Certified Advanced Feline Training Professional
Michelle Grace Danahy is a Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist with additional certification in Advanced Feline Training from the Animal Behavior Institute. Based in New York City, she is the founder of The Cat Behavior Studio, where she helps cats and their families overcome behavior challenges using gentle, evidence-based methods tailored to each home.
Her clients often say “she speaks cat,” a reflection of Michelle’s deep empathy, patience, and lifelong understanding of feline behavior. She specializes in issues such as aggression, anxiety, litter box avoidance, and multi-cat tension, helping cats feel safe and families regain harmony. Michelle is also certified in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and advocates for compassionate, fear-free care for all cats.
Michelle offers in-home appointments, as well as online and telephone appointments.
Specialties:
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Litter box avoidance
- Multi-cat tension
Contact details:
The Cat Behavior Studio
Julia Specht is a feline behavior consultant and founder of Park Slope Paws, based in Brooklyn, New York. She is on the board of Artemis Animal Rescue, a non-profit rescue operating in Central New Jersey. In addition to being a PPG member, Julia is a member of the IAABC and is working toward her Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (CCBC) certification. She is also Fear Free Certified through Fear Free’s shelter program.
Julia began her work with cats through rescue in Brooklyn, where she provided behavioral support to fosters and adopters. Through that work, she became keenly aware of the limited resources many people have to solve behavior issues, and so she prioritizes accessibility and practicality when formulating training plans. She specializes in house soiling and aggression, and has a deep passion for consent-based socialization.
Julia offers both in-home and virtual consultations.
Specialties:
- House soiling
- Socialization
- Aggression
- Cat-cat introductions
- Cat-human conflicts
Contact details:
Park Slope Paws
Join Our Team
Are you a pet professional in New York City? Come join us! Please click “Join Our Team” and tell us a bit about yourself, and we will reach out to schedule an orientation call.
Check out the Behavior Teams “Working Together” agreement here.
Helpful Articles for Pet Owners
Quick Cat Behavior Tip: Petting-Induced Aggression
By the Pet Professional Guild Cat Committee Petting-induced aggression is a commonly reported feline behavior issue whereby adoring owners often find themselves at a loss to understand why their beloved kitty is so accepting of their affection one moment, only to go completely on the offensive the next. Important reminders about the behavior: As both a predator and prey species, cats need to be highly sensitive to their environment to survive, which includes being sensitive to touch. Cats have touch receptors all over their bodies, some of which are continually… Continued
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