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About Us
Dr Cathy
BSN(Hons) BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
Director, Veterinarian and Veterinary Behaviourist
Dr Cathy Lau is an experienced veterinarian and accredited vet behaviourist with special expertise in animal behaviour, low-stress handling, and cooperative care. Based in Perth, she has worked since 2012 across general practice clinics and emergency departments in both Adelaide and Perth, practicing veterinary medicine and surgery while supporting pets with complex and distressing mental health conditions. Apart from clinical practice, Dr Cathy also lectured in small animal behaviour at Murdoch University, where she helped educate the next generation of veterinarians on pet mental health, behaviour modification, and cooperative care.​
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Before entering veterinary science, Dr Cathy worked as a registered nurse in human medicine, where she provided compassionate care to those in need—a foundation that continues to shape her empathetic approach to animals.
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Dr Cathy is also a certified yoga teacher (YTT200), having undergone intensive training that deepens her understanding of breathwork, body awareness, and the physiological effects of stress—insights she brings into her work with anxious pets and their caregivers.
Her training in yoga and eastern philosophy fosters a holistic perspective, allowing her to approach behaviour challenges with empathy, presence, and balance. She understands many ways to reduce emotional stress, and often integrates mindfulness, movement, and calming techniques to support both pets and people. These principles align seamlessly with her emphasis on cooperative care, helping clients build calm, connected relationships with their animal companians while promoting emotional wellbeing for all involved.
Dr Cathy is a respected animal behaviour expert and the go-to professional for a large variety of pets in need of a behaviour consultation. She has been accredited with a number of speciality qualifications in behaviour medicine and low stress animal care. She is operating her own business, offering her services to individuals and professionals by referral.
Above all, Dr Cathy is dedicated to improving the mental wellbeing of pets. She is a strong promoter of daily enrichment and is passionate about increasing the quality of life of animals and their owners.
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Our Philosophy
Why “Positive Elements”
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Our name reflects the heart of our philosophy. We believe in the power of positive reinforcement as the most effective and compassionate method for behaviour modification. Reward-based training not only fosters learning—it strengthens the bond between humans and animals, without the damaging side effects often associated with punishment.
Every consultation we offer is designed to be positive, respectful, and stress-free—for both pets and their people. Whether we’re helping manage mental health problems in pets—such as anxiety disorders, excessive barking, separation anxiety, or aggression—or supporting their overall well-being, our goal is always to create a safe, positive, and stress-free experience.
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Understanding and shaping behaviour is both an art and a science. The name “Positive Elements” draws inspiration from visual arts, where space and balance matter, and from chemistry, where elements form the foundation of everything. Similarly, we approach behaviour by breaking down complex patterns into their essential components, guided by the latest scientific research.
Dr Cathy is deeply committed to ongoing education. We regularly study current research journals and seek out learning opportunities to stay at the forefront of behavioural science. Beyond our own growth, we’re passionate about sharing knowledge—through training sessions, seminars, and workshops.
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​We also place a high value on collaboration. We work closely with vets and dog trainers, accepting referrals and offering them in return. Their practical experience, combined with our behavioural expertise, allows us to provide holistic, well-rounded care. We believe that understanding how animals communicate, learn, and behave requires both scientific insight and hands-on experience—and that progress is best achieved together.
Continuing Professional Education
Veterinary behavioural medicine is an ever-evolving field. Behaviour professionals need to keep themselves updated with continuing education, and be aware of the latest scientific recommendations, to provide evidence-based treatment plans to their clients.
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Dr Cathy regularly attends veterinary conferences from Australian and overseas institutes. Some conferences and lectures to note include:
​2025
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Webinar "Cooperative Care: Giving our Patients Agency" by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
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Webinar "Separation-Related Distress: A New Diagnostic Framework" by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
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Webinar "What's the Link Between Chronic Pain and Changes in Behavior?" by Lap of Love
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Webinar "Taming the Tension: How to Apply Behavior Modification for Cat Conflict." by the American College of Veterinary Behaviourists
2023
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American College of Veterinary Behaviorists Veterinary Behavior Symposium 2023
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Webinar "Behavior Euthanasia" by Lap of Love
2022
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Webinar: Biome, Brain and Behavior: An exploration of the guy microbiome-behavior relationship by Behavior Vets
2021
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Cooperative Care Conference by Zoospenfull
2019
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World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Congress Behaviour Stream
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Stress Free Pet Certificate
2018
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Sydney University Centre for Veterinary Education (CVE) Behaviour Medicine 12-Month CVE Course
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Australian Veterinary Association Behaviour Interest Group (AVBIG) quarterly webinars 2018-2020
2017
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Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference Behaviour Medicine Stream
Nurse Kristy RVN
All our clients had heard Kristy’s friendly and cheerful voice when she called them to check in.
Kristy and Dr Cathy first met in 2015. They worked together at a vet practice south of Perth and since they’ve become good friends!
At work, they studied and completed Low Stress Handling Silver Certificate together back in 2017. Creating a fear free environment for pets in vet clinic is something they both strive to achieve.
They both aim to provide a high level of patient care and build meaningful bonds with the pets and their owners. They are both passionate about being a voice for animal wellbeing and making the lives of pet more fulfilled by educating pet owners about their needs.
Kristy has been in the vet industry since 2010. She started nursing in a small rural vet clinic in Exmouth, Western Australia. She has many years of vet nursing experience and practice management experience.
Kristy’s greatest joy is being a mum to her awesome son. Kristy and her family love the beauty of nature, so they moved to a home in a rural setting. They enjoy sitting outside watching the wildlife, such as kangaroos that come up to the door and the amazing various birdlife!
Dr Cathy is very grateful to have Kristy helping her out.