Hi, I’m Jennifer Van de Kieft

​​For as long as I can remember, cats have been the heartbeat of my home. I grew up in South Brooklyn watching my father—a social worker who carried cat food to every job site—treat neighborhood strays with the same compassion he showed his clients. That legacy of advocacy stayed with me.

 

In 2018, I left a long career in social services and law to advocate for cats full-time. I founded Cat Advocate to turn my lifelong passion into a professional mission. Today, I combine my background in Psychology with advanced feline certifications to help guardians navigate complex behavior issues.

 

While I am trained in all aspects of feline behavior, I specialize in nutritional/feeding issues and the often-stressful challenge of house soiling. My goal is to bring harmony back to your home using evidence-based techniques and a calm, mindful approach.

 

I live in Brooklyn with my husband, my son, and our five "enlightening" rescues: Luke, Lily, Josh, Maya, and Oscar. When I’m not consulting, you can find me on a yoga mat (got certified as a yoga teacher in 2024) or volunteering as a behavior expert for Brooklyn Animal Action.