FAQs

Behavior concerns often have underlying medical contributors. Only a licensed veterinarian can fully assess both the physical and behavioral health of your cat.

Your initial, in-home cat behavior consultation includes:

• Detailed behavioral history

• Comprehensive medical record review

• Physical assessment (as your cat’s comfort allows)

• Evaluation for pain or illness contributing to behavior changes

• Individualized medical and behavioral treatment plan

As a veterinarian, Dr. Julie Liu is also able to prescribe when indicated — including behavioral medications, pain management, prescription diets, probiotics, and other therapies that support overall wellbeing.

Addressing medical and behavioral health together leads to safer, more effective, and more sustainable outcomes.

Initial in-home consultations start at $400, with an additional housecall travel fee based on distance. View full pricing and services.

My Family Cat’s primary focus is supporting the behavioral health of your cat, and does not provide “traditional” medical services such as vaccinations, nail trims, blood draws, or emergency care. Our services are intended to complement the services offered by your primary vet, not replace them.

If your cat experiences significant stress traveling to a clinic, we are happy to recommend mobile veterinarians in the Austin area who can provide in-home medical services.

We love dogs, but we’re proud to be the only veterinary practice serving the Austin area centered exclusively on feline behavior. This singular focus allows us to provide depth, time, and species-specific expertise.

For canine behavioral concerns, we recommend Dr. Kenneth Martin, a veterinary behaviorist through Veterinary Behavior Consultations.

There are also multiple humane trainers in the Austin area who can help with positive reinforcement-based dog training. Great places to start are trainers with certifications from the Karen Pryor Academy (KPA), the IAABC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, or CDBC), or Fear Free. This excellent handout from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior can help guide you on choosing a dog trainer.

We provide behavior consultations for domestic cats only. Hybrid or wild-classified breeds, such as Savannah, Chausie, Serval, or early-generation Bengal, fall outside the scope of our practice services, so we're unable to take them on as patients. If you're unsure whether your cat's breed qualifies, please reach out before booking and we're happy to confirm.

Multicat dynamics are one of the most common and complex behavior concerns we address.

If your cat family is experiencing tension between:

• Two cats → select the two cat, initial in-home consultation option

• Three cats → select the three cat, initial in-home consultation

• More than three cats → please contact us directly

A separate behavioral history form will be completed for each cat to ensure their individual needs are understood.

Behavior is complex, and follow-up visits are an expected part of every consultation to further implement and refine the treatment plan.

We guarantee that we will:

• Listen carefully and without judgment

• Approach your case thoughtfully

• Provide evidence-based medical and behavioral guidance

• Treat your cat with compassion and respect

However, behavioral outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Improvement depends on factors including:

• Duration and severity of the concern

• Underlying medical contributors

• Consistency in implementing recommendations

• Individual temperament and household dynamics

In feline behavioral medicine, progress is typically gradual. Quick fixes are rare. Our goal is steady, meaningful improvement over time.

Texas law requires an in-person exam to establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR).

Without a VCPR, veterinarians cannot legally diagnose, prescribe, or treat a patient.

At this time:

• Initial consultations must be conducted in person

• Virtual visits are available for established patients only

• An in-person visit is required annually to maintain an active VCPR

These standards ensure safe, ethical, and medically appropriate care.

All services are non-refundable after purchase.

We understand that illness and emergencies arise. We offer:

• One-time rebooking per household

• Cancellations must be made at least 72 hours prior

• Rescheduled appointments must be completed within one month

Appointments cancelled fewer than 72 hours prior and no-shows require a new booking.

Please review our full Terms & Conditions for complete details.

To protect the health of our clients and families:

• Masks may be worn during housecalls depending on current conditions. We are also happy to mask based on client request.

• If you are ill or have tested positive prior to your appointment, please contact us to discuss next steps

Dr. Julie Liu is a general practice veterinarian with a focused practice in feline behavioral medicine. She is not a veterinary behaviorist specialist.

Veterinary behaviorists complete advanced residency training and board certification through the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

My Family Cat serves as an important bridge between general practice and specialty care.