PROFESSIONAL MINDSET

THINK LIKE A CAT

Anna Dobbie considers why independent judgment matters more than obedience in modern aesthetic practice

"Be loyal. Walk to heel. Sit. Shake. Beg. Lie down. Play dead. Good boy."

My fluffy friend, Mr Pickle, and I exchange sideways glances. We have a silent agreement: that independent judgment, and the ability to make decisions based on rational evidence, rather than blind compliance, are crucial to navigating a modern aesthetic landscape shaped by trends, commercial pressure, fake information, and even faker smiles.

THE POODLE PROBLEM

Lap dogs are dependable, well-intentioned, and want to do a good job, but in professional settings, they seek approval before acting and avoid disagreement, even when clinical instinct or experience suggests something is off. Their success is measured by how pleased patients, peers or suppliers appear in the moment, and they wait to be chosen, rather than making active decisions themselves.

The issue isn’t loyalty, it’s dependence. Lap dogs need constant direction. Instead of thinking for themselves about what matters, when told to jump on board with a new product or protocol, instead of asking ‘why’, they say ‘how high?’.

In stable professional environments, this can work fine. However, I have recently made the career side-step into the ambiguous, high-stakes environment of freelancing, where decisions carry reputational and ethical weight, and, in this new world, I am finding that blind obedience can be a liability.

THE SCIENCE OF SELECTIVE COOPERATION

Scientific research into domestic cats has increased significantly in recent years, to match the growth in ownership, sparking a desire to better understand these tiny apex predators we invite to share our lives and homes.

Recent studies have overturned long-held beliefs about how cats and humans came to a mutually agreeable living situation, and behavioural psychologists frequently use our feline friends as models for studying decision-making and sensory processing – traits that reward discernment over reflex.

LANDING ON YOUR FEET

Cats observe before they act. They conserve energy and don’t chase every validation signal or wind-up mouse. They assess risk, context and consequences, and only move when they decide it’s worth moving.

In practice, cat people don’t need constant reassurance to deliver good outcomes. They set boundaries on how they allocate their time and attention, and selectively engage only when it matters.

Let’s dispel another common piece of anti-feline propaganda – cats aren’t lazy, they’re efficient.

INDEPENDENCE AS A PROFESSIONAL SKILL

One of the most underrated clinical skills is independent judgment.

Cat-like professionals don’t wait for permission to think; they form opinions, test ideas and take calculated risks. When everything changes, and lap dogs freeze, cats land on their feet because they were never relying on orders from above in the first place.

CONFIDENCE WITHOUT PERFORMANCE

A cat doesn’t prove its worth by constant, unfounded enthusiasm; it consciously assesses where to place value and demonstrates it quietly and consistently.

In clinical settings, this can translate as only speaking when you have something tangible to add, not just to be seen, letting results speak for themselves, and being calm and emotionally reserved where others are rolling over to impress.

This kind of confidence is rare, authentic and magnetic; patients trust it.

ANTI-CAT PROPAGANDA

To be clear, being a cat is not the same as being difficult. It doesn’t excuse arrogance, disengagement or autonomy at the expense of patient safety or teamwork.

A cat still shows up; it just doesn’t beg. Cats actively choose cooperation, rather than needing it to feel safe.

HOW TO BE MORE CAT AT WORK

If you’re used to begging to be thrown a bone, this shift can feel uncomfortable, so here are a few titbits to get you started.

Stop asking for permission to think. Question protocols that don’t align with your anatomical knowledge and decide which patients, treatments and trends deserve your energy. Invest in your own judgment, and sometimes let “no” be the complete sentence.

STOP HIRING LAP DOGS

The best leaders don’t want blind obedience; they want clear thinkers. Clinics built entirely of lap dogs become fragile. They look aligned until the moment real uncertainty hits; then, no one knows how to move without the alpha’s instructions.

Cats create resilient systems. They question new information, rather than accepting it blindly, and self-correct accordingly. A team of cats won’t always do what it’s told, but it will flag risk, question assumptions, and self-correct early. Loyalty, collaboration, and kindness matter, but so does independence.

The professional world ultimately rewards those who think for themselves, adapt quickly, and act with confidence. Ignore the trained lap dogs; the future of aesthetic practice is feline.

ANNA DOBBIE

Anna Dobbie is a freelance editorial consultant and former editor of Aesthetic Medicine magazine. She studied Biological Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, with a focus on comparative cognition and animal behaviour. She is also the proud cat mum to Mr Pickle, whoseopinions (like Anna’s) are strong andlargely unrequested.