Kristen Petrie, Author at The Community Cats Podcast

March 25, 2017

Interview! Part Two – Cheryl Fernandes, Shelter Care Representative, PetLink

“The microchip is the silent voice for the animal.” In part two, Stacy and Cheryl Ann dive into the complexities of microchipping once microchips have been placed—how do you scan a newly-trapped feral cat? What are best practices for animal control officers when recovering an animal afield whose microchip turns […]

March 27, 2017

We went to Cat Camp NYC

If you passed by the Metropolitan Pavillion in New York City a couple of weekends ago, you probably noticed more than a few people wearing cat ears and excitedly waiting to get out of the chilly weather and into Cat Camp NYC. That’s right… We went to Cat Camp NYC! The […]

March 28, 2017

Interview! Anna Murrin and Valerie Kajko, Project Manager and TNR Coordinator, Metro Denver CAT Project

“Having a physical location in the community builds up trust.” Anna Murrin and Valerie Kajko are the project manager and TNR coordinator, respectively, of Metro Denver CAT Project in Denver, CO. CAT, or Cats Around Town, is a unique project in that it provides resources for all cats in a targeted area […]

March 30, 2017

Interview! Julie Bank, President and CEO of Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA

“I saw the animal shelter as a living museum.” Julie Bank is the president and CEO of Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA. She approaches running an animal shelter from the unique perspective of curating a museum—in fact, she enrolled in a museum education program purely to bring the tools of […]

April 1, 2017

Interview! Sara Kent, Director of Shelter Outreach for Petfinder

“Video is a great way to let cats speak for themselves…and they don’t have to say a lot.” Petfinder has brought the world of technology to shelters and potential adopters. Sara, who’s been there for 17 years, speaks with Stacy about the visibility it brings to hundreds of thousands of […]

April 3, 2017

How Shelters and Rescues Can Work Better Together For Cats

There are many ways on How Shelters and Rescues Can Work Better Together For Cats. Over the last 20 years, thousands of small cat rescue organizations have started all across the country. Many of these groups focus on foster, adoption, and trap, neuter and return. In the early days, many […]

April 4, 2017

Interview! Laura Baughman, Director of Operations, National Kitten Coalition

“You’re going to get a whole lot more kittens when you start a nursery.” As we enter “kitten season,” Stacy talks to Laura about “kitten nurseries,” a new and hot concept for management of neonatal kittens. Laura recently researched and wrote a manual for organizations thinking about starting their own […]

April 6, 2017

Interview! Jocelyn Bouchard, Executive Director, Yavapai Humane Society

“How do we elevate the status of cats?” Jocelyn’s work in animal welfare began as a vet tech in a spay/neuter clinic in Vancouver BC in the 1980’s, when high volume clinics were cutting edge. Twenty years’ experience living in Maui fueled her belief that managing colonies, including feral kitten […]

April 8, 2017

Ask Stacy! Stacy LeBaron, Host of The Community Cats Podcast

“This is all about being a family.” As kitten season approaches, guest host Lisa Finkel talks with Stacy about creatively managing community kittens. Describing kitten fostering as a “pre-program” to the adoption process, Stacy offers insight on productive ways to set up a healthy and sustainable foster care program. Many […]

April 10, 2017

Preparing for Kitten Season and Trapping

Unfortunately kitten season either is upon us or will soon be here. I thought I would pass along some tips you can use for Preparing for Kitten Season and Trapping. I want you to have a successful year! For the Foster Home Coordinator 1. Check-In If you are a foster […]

April 11, 2017

Interview! Beth Clifton, Photographer and Social Media Editor for Animals 24-7

“Take Personal Responsibility with Animals in Need” Beth Clifton is the photographer and social media editor for Animals 24-7. She is also the wife of previous CCP guest Merritt Clifton, and she cites him as one of the people who changed her thinking around TNR and community cats. Beth has […]

April 13, 2017

Interview! Merritt Clifton, Editor at Animals 24-7

“These days, shelters probably see only a fraction of the real numbers of cats in the community.” In this episode, Stacy revisits Merritt Clifton, the editor of the Animals 24-7 news site. This time, Merritt gives an in-depth look at the use of statistics and data in animal welfare. He gives some inside […]

April 15, 2017

Interview! Brad Shear, CEO of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society

“We are not here to be exterminators.” When it comes to animal sheltering, Brad Shear has run the gamut of shelter needs and sizes. He started his career in the local shelter of a small city in Colorado, and since then has moved around the country to several different cities to share […]

April 17, 2017

Community Cats Grants Equals More Money to Spay it Forward

The First Community Cats Grants group is just about to finish up their fundraisers and raise thousands of dollars to help fund spay/neuter for cats in their communities! I just love how Community Cats Grants Equals More Money to Spay it Forward! I wanted to share a listing of who participated […]

April 18, 2017

Interview! Sara Pizano, Program Director for Target Zero

“You are doing this on behalf of the cats. Put the nerves on the back burner; it’s about saving cats.” Stacy revisits with Sara Pizano, the program director for Target Zero and the podcast’s guest of episode 56. Sara shares with us an innovative way that Target Zero was able […]

April 20, 2017

Renee Harris, Founder of PAWS to Success Program at the San Diego Humane Society

“If individuals took responsibility for their pets, then there would be no indiscriminate breeding.” Renee Harris has been volunteering and working in animal welfare since the tender age of twelve, and over her 30+ year career she has seen the field change enormously. She pioneered the Paws to Success program […]

April 22, 2017

Interview! Carter Luke, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA)

“Fall in love with a cat…find a cat and try to help it.” Luke reflects on some of the changes he’s seen for cats in his 40 years in animal welfare. His approach is based on building coalitions of different groups who can jointly bring different talents to the table […]

April 24, 2017

How to Handle Volatile Volunteers and Negative Nellies

Volunteerism is what drives our profession in animal welfare. We wouldn’t be able to do 90% of our work without volunteer help! Most of our boards of directors are run by volunteers, along with our cat caretakers and trappers being volunteers, too. Our foster homes are volunteers and fundraisers and […]

April 25, 2017

Interview! Dr. Theo Capaldo, President and Executive Director of the New England Anti-Vivisection Society

“We really try to fight science with science.” Dr. Theo Capaldo is the president and executive director of the New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS). NEAVS is committed to ending the use of animals as test subjects, and in fact spearheaded the successful campaign to the use of chimps in biomedical research […]

April 27, 2017

Interview! Jackson Galaxy, Star of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell, and Founder of the Jackson Galaxy Foundation

“I was used to not following rules and cats don’t follow rules for the most part.” It’s the Cat Daddy himself in this special episode of the podcast! Stacy has a fascinating conversation with Jackson Galaxy, the once-musician whose special bond with felines catapulted (sorry!) him to fame as a […]

April 29, 2017

Interview! Rebecca Jewell, Executive Director of the National Kitten Coalition

“Foster programs are my first love by far.” Rebecca Jewell is the executive director of the National Kitten Coalition. Her family fostered many pregnant cats and litters when she was growing up in Ohio, which inspired in her a love of foster programs. In fact, she built her own foster […]

May 1, 2017

No-Kill Shelters Versus No-Kill Communities

It seems like this month has been filled will lots of conversations about the word “No-Kill” and what it means. How will all of the data that we are collecting to create a country full of No-Kill shelters impact the overall wellness of our communities for Community Cats? So, when […]

May 2, 2017

Interview! Robin Olson, Blogger at CoveredinCatHair.com and founder of Kitten Associates

“I love telling these stories because every single cat that we bring into our rescue always has something we can learn from.” Robin Olson is the writer behind the award winning “Covered in Cathair” blog, which chronicles the stores of the 500 cats she’s rescued over the years. She also […]

May 4, 2017

Interview! Steve Lawrence, Co-Director of The Cat Rescuers, and Tara Green, TNR volunteer of Brooklyn Animal Action

“I think it’s important for viewers to understand the kind of dedication and commitment that’s required to do this work.” When Steve Lawrence moved to Brooklyn with his wife Helen, he didn’t know the first thing about community cats. However, after individuals of a backyard colony started showing up at his […]

May 6, 2017

Interview! Harold Rhee, Host of This is Pawprint Podcast

“Your volunteers may have skills that you never knew about. You don’t really know unless you truly empower people to share their talents.” Harold Rhee is the creator and host of This is Pawprint, another animal welfare podcast! With his wife Nancy, he interviews the “heroes of animal rescue,” such […]

May 8, 2017

Cat Adopters Need to Install a Backyard Cat Fence and Here’s Why

Join us for a guest blog post this week from Jennifer Smith of EasyPetFence! She provides her thoughts on why providing a Backyard Cat Fence is a good option for all of your cats. Cat Adopters Need to Install a Backyard Cat Fence and Here’s Why! When I talk to cat […]

May 9, 2017

Interview! Jonathan Rosenberg, Founder of Tabby’s Place

“I wanted to do something for the cats nobody wanted.” Jonathan Rosenberg wasn’t very interested in animal welfare—or even considered himself a “cat person”—until he met Tabby. When a stray cat showed up on his porch one day, begging for food and a place to sleep, Jonathan and his wife […]

May 11, 2017

Interview! Bonney Brown, Founder and Principle Consultant of the Humane Network

“Engaging the public in our work is the key to making it sustainable.” Stacy has once again invited Bonney Brown from the Humane Network back on the show! Bonney fills Stacy in on what the Network’s been up to in the past year, such as helping rescue groups to better […]

May 13, 2017

Interview! Susan Linker, Co-founder of Our Companions Animal Rescue

“We’ve come a long way with spay and neuter in our area.” Susan is the co-founder of Our Companions Animal Rescue, a forty-three acre sanctuary in Ashford, CT. A non-profit organization with 400 volunteers, 2,500 donors and plans to double in size, Our Companions Animal Rescue prioritizes creating a low-stress […]

May 15, 2017

Feline Fix by Five and Why This Would Make a Huge Difference

This week I want to discuss the Feline Fix by Five and Why This Would Make a Huge Difference! The program, created by Marion’s Dream and inspired by Esther Mechler, has always seemed like such an easy thing to do. All it asks is that we get our cats spayed or […]

May 16, 2017

Interview! Mike Fry, Founder and Senior Consultant at No Kill Learning

“The killing that takes place is harmful and costly and damaging.” Mike was raised in a family of animal welfare activists who opened the first no-kill shelter in Minnesota in 1977. After working for Fortune 500 companies in the technology field, he decided to dedicate his shelter experience to end […]

May 18, 2017

Interview! Tracie Hotchner, Author, The Cat Bible and Radio Pet Lady

“The point is to reach people and influence their hearts and minds in ways that are really meaningful.” Tracie is a premiere podcast presence, supporting the education and wellness of cats. She is the author of The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know as well as producer […]

May 20, 2017

Interview! Rosemarie Crawford, Director of Educational Programs, National Kitten Coalition

“Having protocols in place as a starting ground is really helpful for the whole staff.” After her first experience fostering bottle babies with acute health issues, Rosemarie’s colleagues realized she was a natural and nudged her towards a career in animal welfare. She worked as a vet tech in Illinois, […]

May 22, 2017

Feline Leukemia Positive Cats and Why to Adopt Them Out

Before we talk about Feline Leukemia Positive Cats and Why to Adopt Them Out, I want to give a big thank you to everyone who participated in the Annual Survey! I had some fantastic responses and it is clear that you all enjoy the podcast. We’ve also got some great […]

May 23, 2017

Interview! Tina Traster, Award-winning Filmmaker, Writer, and Documentarian of “Catnip Nation”

“There are people taking care of community cats, but it begs the question: who is taking care of those people?” Tina Traster is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. Her written pieces have been featured in a multitude of publications, including a regular segment for the New York Post, and her […]

May 25, 2017

Interview! Laura Mullen, SPORE Program Director at San Francisco SPCA

“Ringworm is nothing worth dying for.” Laura Mullen has worked in the shelter medicine department at the San Francisco SPCA for 15 years. Her current project is the SPORE Program, or Shelters Preventing Outbreaks of Ringworm through Eductation. Ringworm is a pesky fungal infection that lives on the keratin in animal […]

May 27, 2017

Interview! Susan Rosenberg, Director of International Animal Programs at GreaterGood.org

“I am working to save everything from ants to elephants.” One could say that Susan Rosenberg has been managing animal shelters since she was 8 years old—at that age, she was covertly caring for abandoned animals in her backyard and using her allowance to do so! She has received two […]

May 29, 2017

Hug A Cat Day

Join us for out Guest Blog Writer this week, Brendalyn Drews! International Hug a Cat Day is coming up this weekend on June 4th, and it’s a holiday close to her heart. We hope you enjoy reading her take on how to hug a cat! I once won a school prize for a […]

May 30, 2017

Interview! Bianca Leos, Student at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University

“Animals lives are going to depend on me one day, so I need to know all this information.” Bianca Leos is a student at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She intends to become a shelter veterinarian working in a high quality, high volume spay-neuter program. When […]

June 1, 2017

Ask Stacy! Stacy LeBaron, Host, The Community Cats Podcast

“Oftentimes, these folks are not upset about the cats in general, but the fact that they’re not being cared for.” In this, the seventh (!) Ask Stacy episode, Lisa and Stacy leave the world of cat lovers behind for a moment to take a look at “cat opponents”—whether those be […]

June 3, 2017

Interview! Deanna Sanvi, Spay-Neuter Coordinator, Gateway Pet Guardians Community Outreach Program

“We help people keep their pets in their homes.” Deanna Sanvi is the spay-neuter coordinator for Gateway Pet Guardians Community Outreach Program, a 501(c)3 organization serving about 65,000 people in East St. Louis, IL. Many of these people live below the poverty line, which means that Gateway offers a variety […]

June 5, 2017

FIV Cats and Why We Need to Stop Testing

I know many of you enjoyed my comments about Felv+ cats and I want to thank everyone for the great responses. I thought today I would get up on my FIV+ soapbox and advocate for this great group of FIV Cats and Why We Need to Stop Testing! My own […]

June 6, 2017

Book Review! Stacy LeBaron, Host, The Community Cats Podcast

“Get ready for the tissues…” Stacy is back with her book review show. In today’s episode she reviews, Redemption, by Nathan Winograd; Call of the Cats, by Andrew Bloomfield; Cat Daddy, by Jackson Galaxy; and Homer, The Ninth Life of a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper. Redemption is a […]

June 8, 2017

Interview! Jennifer Smith, EasyPetFence.com

“With an Easy Pet Fence, cats are able to walk around the backyard safely without worrying about attacks from birds and wildlife.” Jennifer Smith is a representative for Easy Pet Fence, an e-commerce store dedicated to the outdoor safety and wellness of animals. Easy Pet Fence has different fencing kits […]

June 10, 2017

Interview! Elizabeth Feldhausen, Founder of Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary, Green Bay, WI

“You would think that there would be nose prints all over the windows, but it’s actually people face prints! Everybody that walks by presses their face up against the glass, and the cats love it.” Elizabeth Feldhausen is the founder of Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary in Green Bay, WI, a […]

June 12, 2017

What Food Makes Cats Throw Up

Please join me in welcoming Diana Hutchinson to the blog today, to talk about What Food Makes Cats Throw Up! We’ve all been there and we all don’t enjoy it. Narrowing down the culprit can be a very lengthy process. There are many reasons as to why a cat will […]

June 13, 2017

Interview! Part One, Monica Frenden, Cat Program Manager, Austin Pets Alive!

“We let the public decide what they want rather than assuming what they want.” When Monica Frenden lived in rural Illinois, she didn’t expect to start a TNR program. What started as a commitment to getting her own cats spayed and neutered exploded into a community-wide support and demand for […]

June 15, 2017

Interview! Part Two, Monica Frenden, Cat Program Manager, Austin Pets Alive!

“This is the safest large city in the country to be a cat.” In part two of this two-part episode, Stacy interviews Monica Frenden about the various cat programs available at Austin Pets Alive! She describes the “Fel-V fever” that spreads once people in the community start adopting feline-leukemia positive […]

June 17, 2017

Interview! Shawn Flynn, Author, The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him

“He had a huge impact on my life, and that’s why I decided to write a book about it.” Shawn Flynn is the author of The Kitty Who Rescued Me After I Rescued Him, a current finalist in the 2017 International Book Awards. It tells the story of Shawn’s newfound best friend […]

June 19, 2017

It’s all about Spay/Neuter Baby

Today I am jumping back up on my spay/neuter soapbox and share with you some great statistics that I have. It’s all about Spay/Neuter Baby! The stats prove that high volume and accessible spay/neuter is what will truly make a difference in lives saved in your community. In 2008 a […]

June 20, 2017

Community Cats Podcast Anniversary Show, The Podcast Team

“I’m learning so much about the talents and passions it takes to make the world a better place for cats.” Community Cats Podcast celebrates it’s first year online! In the Anniversary Show, Stacy shines the spotlight on the ‘behind the scenes’ talent that has made this past year a success. […]

June 22, 2017

Interview! Jim Tedford, President and CEO of SAWA

“The strength of SAWA is in its network.” Jim Tedford is the president and CEO of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA). In the early 1980s, fresh out of college with a degree in animal science, he found his first job in animal welfare at a tiny humane society […]

June 24, 2017

Interview! Katie Lisnik, Director of Cat Policy and Protection, Humane Society of the United States

“TNR is not a cruel act; it is a humane population management tool, and it should be defined as such.” Katie Lisnik is back for another round of “Policy Jeopardy” on the Community Cats Podcast! This time, we get the scoop on animal welfare initiatives in Illinois, New York, Nevada, […]

June 26, 2017

How To Understand The Body Language Of Your Cat

Are you anxious to know what your cat wants to tell you? If it talks to you, would you be able to understand it? Learn How To Understand The Body Language Of Your Cat! Of course, you won’t know everything. But, you can definitely know about its mood from its body […]

June 27, 2017

Interview! Erin Berry, Executive of Marketing and Communication, BoardSource

“You have to think, “What is most important for this organization, not for myself?” Erin Berry is the executive of marketing and communication at BoardSource, an organization that helps strengthen the boards of non-profits. Erin has twelve years of experience in non-profit management, and she’s no stranger to volunteering, either—by […]

June 29, 2017

Interview! Karen Hollish, Director of Development and Marketing, Pima Animal Care Center

“The community cats project has not only helped us save outdoor community cats; it’s helped us provide a better experience for the cats inside our shelters.” Karen Hollish is the director of development and marketing at Pima Animal Care Center. In March 2014, she started a development program for the […]

July 1, 2017

Interview! Erika Kelly, founder of Operation Git-Meow

“The Navy has always been tied to cats, and that’s how the cats got to the base in the first place.” Only a year after graduating college, Erika Kelly is already well on her way to making waves in the animal welfare community—she started Operation Git-Meow in December 2016, a […]

July 3, 2017

5 Tips for Keeping Sane During the Summer with Kittens Everywhere

Hey everyone, Happy Summer! When I would hear those words I would just dread what I knew was going to come my way, lots and lots of requests for help with kittens and foster care. So these 5 Tips for Keeping Sane During the Summer with Kittens Everywhere will help! It […]

July 8, 2017

Interview! Anthony Amos, Owner, HydroDog and Founder of the Bathe to Save Tour

“If you want to become a part of HydroDog, you’re not just part of a franchise; you’re committing to a long-term partnership with the animal rescue world.” Anthony Amos is the owner of HydroDog, a mobile grooming salon in Australia that travels from house to house bathing beloved household pooches. […]

July 10, 2017

Fundraising For the Injured Community Kitty

It is the middle of the summer and we are up to our eye balls in requests for help! Kittens need trapping, people are complaining and we are all hot! Inevitably, when all of these requests pile up we get that call that an injured cat has been found and […]

July 15, 2017

Interview! Meredith Hippert, Director of Field Operations, Animal Balance

“Through this work, I recognized my passion for serving the underserved, and working with communities to implement change for animals.” Though largely self-educated in the field, Meredith Hippert holds an impressively broad resume in animal welfare, from admission guidelines and outreach to foster programming and TNR. Her journey started when she began […]

July 17, 2017

How to Introduce Cats to New Environments

Introducing your new cat to your home can be very stressful not only on you, but also the cat. So How to Introduce Cats to New Environments? Stress levels can become more elevated if there are other animals or small kids involved. Introducing your new feline friend to your home […]

July 22, 2017

Interview! Kate Benjamin, Designer, Blogger of Hauspanther, Part 1

“I’m not just writing about cool-looking stuff. I’m writing about stuff that’s going to make a difference in these cats’ lives.” Kate Benjamin has combined her professional knowledge of design and product development with her love of cats to fill a unique niche—she blogs about cat products designed with the […]

July 24, 2017

Applying Broken Window Theory to Prevent Hoarding Situations

I know that many of my recent blog posts have focused on the fact that we are overwhelmed with kittens. We also have so many requests for assistance, along with many more things going on. Today I am going to continue on that trend by discussing Applying Broken Window Theory […]

July 29, 2017

Interview! Kate Benjamin, Designer, Blogger of Hauspanther, Part 2

“Not only does the design of the room at the shelter make it very functional and enjoyable, but it’s a showcase for what people can do when they get home.” In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Kate delves into how user-centered design theory can be applied to shelters, in […]

July 31, 2017

My Love-Hate Relationship with Social Media – Part 2

It has been about a year since I have covered this topic and I have to say that I still have a love-hate relationship with Social Media. Below is a listing of my five points about social media that I think we all need to think about and how I […]

August 5, 2017

Interview! Nathan Winograd, Executive Director, The No-Kill Advocacy Center, Part 1

“It’s actually the policies and procedures of the shelter that are responsible for whether animals die in shelters.” It’s hard to name a field of animal welfare that Nathan Winograd doesn’t have experience in: his animal advocacy work started while attending Stanford Law School, and since then he has worked […]

August 12, 2017

Interview! Nathan Winograd, Executive Director, The No-Kill Advocacy Center, Part 2

“We had to come to the realization that just because you work at an animal shelter doesn’t mean you are passionate about cats and saving their lives.” In Part 2 of this two-part episode, Nathan describes the current animal welfare legislation he is working on—namely the Companion Animal Protection Act […]

August 14, 2017

Ten Reasons Why We All Love Black Cats

My favorite holiday of the year is August 17th, which happens to be Black Cat Appreciation Day! For those of you that know me, you know of my love of black cats! I have only owned one black cat in my life (which seriously needs to be changed!), but I […]

August 19, 2017

Interview! Pat Brayer, Clinic Director at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona

“The adopters that are drawn to the shy feral kittens are the ones that are going to make them blossom the most.” Pat Brayer is the clinic director at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. In her shelter work, she has pioneered some of the field’s most innovative programs, such […]

August 21, 2017

The Summer Time Blues – When Volunteers Leave at the End of the Summer

The end of August is always bitter sweet in the shelters. We are full to the brim with lots and lots of cats and kittens. Our foster homes are tired, trappers are tired and to top it off… our summer volunteers are leaving us to go back to school. It […]

August 26, 2017

Interview! Lorrie Shaw, Owner, Professional Pet Sitting & Blogger, Animals Unfolded

“Cats’ needs for enrichment are only becoming more understood.” Lorrie Shaw is the owner of Professional Pet Sitting and specializes in helping families care for hospice and special needs pets. Through her work, she has observed that medical issues and behavioral issues are very often linked—inappropriate elimination, for example, is the most […]

August 28, 2017

A Call to Action for Creating Statewide Community Cat Networks

Since 2004 there has been a network of cat trappers and rescuers who have worked together to help curb feline over population in Massachusetts. It is called Masscats and is a simple yahoo group that follows the framework of freecycle. This is where folks can post requests for assistance and help each […]

September 2, 2017

Interview! Maribeth Decker, Intuitive Animal Communicator, sacredgrove.com

“It’s a connection between two souls on a non-physical level.” Maribeth Decker is an intuitive animal communicator, whose dogs first began communicating with her after she became a Reiki Master. She herself only realized her gift when she adopted Tibor, a young fear-aggressive rescue dog, who sent her images of […]

September 4, 2017

Watch HubCats Chelsea for Tips and Tricks for Cat Care

Take a second and Watch HubCats Chelsea for Tips and Tricks for Cat Care below! I was lucky enough to host an episode of CCTV’s original programming for HubCats Chelsea and I’ll be doing a few more as time allows, which I’m looking forward to! This particular episode addresses needs and behaviors […]

September 9, 2017

Interview! Anna Skaya, CEO and Founder of Basepaws

“The bigger database, the more associations and discoveries we can make.” Anna Skaya is the CEO and founder of Basepaws, a commercial company that conducts feline genetic testing and research. Using the results from genetic testing, we can analyze an individual cat and assess her probability of contracting certain diseases. […]

September 11, 2017

Hurricane Harvey and our Future

The last couple of weeks has been incredibly tragic with the onslaught of Hurricane Harvey on Southern Texas. My thoughts have been with the families and the animals in community and hope that they have overcome the challenges that this storm brought along, with Hurricane Harvey and our Future. Seeing […]

September 16, 2017

Interview! Britt Collins, Author and Journalist, “Strays: A Lost Cat, a Homeless Man, and Their Journey Across America”

“Being a writer can be a lonely, hard process at the best of times.” Britt Collins is a writer, journalist, and animal activist, who has written investigative journalism on animal cruelty and has volunteered at animal rescues and sanctuaries around the world. Her most recent book, Strays: A Lost Cat, a Homeless […]

September 18, 2017

We Care For Animals, a Small Rescue with Big Results!

Guest Post by Molly H. Mednikow I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Linda Muse, a Board Member of We Care for Animals (W.C.F.A.). We Care for Animals is a small nonprofit organization that works in Mesquite, NV, and surrounding communities. The Mesquite Animal Shelter does not have a feral […]

September 23, 2017

Interview! Esther Mechler, Founder of Spay USA

“What’s the tipping point? What’s the age that we could get the veterinarians to agree? The answer seemed to be, by five months.” Esther is back for another episode of the Community Cats Podcast, in which she shares more information on the Feline Fix By Five campaign, an initiative to encourage […]

September 24, 2017

Cats and Crossfit

So I have recently been on a big campaign to exercise more and eat better. I am now doing Pilates with the Barre along with my beloved tennis every week and I am weight lifting. I am trying to stay away from those pesky carbs and sugars and keep myself […]

September 30, 2017

Interview! Dr. Nels Rasmussen, Animal Chiropractor and Spiritual Animal Healer

“Everyone else is saying ‘There’s just no hope anymore,’ and I’m here to say there is.” Dr. Nels Rasmussen is a third-generation animal chiropractor who now works as a spiritual animal healer in neuroenergetic balancing. In the early days of his practice he worked with paralyzed and injured horses, restoring […]

October 2, 2017

Operation Paw’s Parody Music Video

This week, we have something particularly fun for you! Operation Paw’s Parody Music Video, with parodies Rick Ross’ “Trap Trap Trap” is hot, hot, hot! Catherine Duarte has been a cat lover for many years, but only recently learned about TNR. Since than, she’s been volunteering with Operation Paw, a Miami […]

October 7, 2017

Interview! Cathy Unruh and Chad Thompson, Board President and Executive Director, Meow Now, Inc.

“My ultimate vision is that there really are no more community cats, because the entire United States has bought into TNVR.” Cathy Unruh and Chad Thompson are the founding board president and executive director of Meow Now, Inc., respectively. Meow Now is the first and only non-profit organization providing TNVR […]

October 9, 2017

Time to Think About Winterizing Feral Cat Shelters

For those of us that face cold, hard and long winters, October is the month where it is Time to Think About Winterizing Feral Cat Shelters. We need to go around to our feeding stations and shelters and give them a good cleaning. It’s time to fill them with new […]

October 14, 2017

Interview! Bryan Kortis, Director of National Programs for Neighborhood Cats

“It feels like we are starting over in Maui. We are having fascinating on-the-ground experiences!” Stacy catches up with Bryan Kortis today to cover a wide range of topics from what is happening in Hawaii with pending legislation that would help community cats, to an update on the group’s work in Jersey […]

October 16, 2017

Top Online Resources for Volunteer Management

When I sent out a survey asking listeners what their greatest pain points were many of you answered that recruiting and keeping volunteers were big challenges. So I thought I would have Jamie (a CCP staffer and social media guru) do some research on some of the Top Online Resources […]

October 21, 2017

Interview! Katie Lisnik, Director of Cat Policy and Protection, Humane Society of the United States

“We’re trying to package these bills in a media-friendly way, a legislator-friendly way, and an advocate-friendly way. Everybody has to be on board.” Ready for Round 5 of Policy Jeopardy? Katie Lisnik once again updates us on the various changes and new initiatives in community cat policy across the US. […]

October 23, 2017

What To Do When a Cat Knocks on Your Door

What To Do When a Cat Knocks on Your Door and comes into your back yard? Many folks still don’t know what to do. Unfortunately, the steps for helping community cats aren’t the same in all parts of the country, either! We ultimately want what is best for the cat. […]

October 28, 2017

Interview! Sarah-Jane Farrell, Multi Sensory and Forensic Medical Intuitive

“The trust process is the first step in our ability to trust that we are enough. It is as ancient as humankind.” Sarah-Jane Farrell is a pragmatic psychologist who specializes in healing trauma through utilizing the animal relationships in our lives. Sarah-Jane grew up in Zimbabwe, where she always felt […]

October 30, 2017

Trick or Treat… Tips for Your Cats on Halloween

Tomorrow night is Halloween and many towns have trick or treating. It is a time for everyone to get dressed up (as their favorite cat) and enjoy going door to door getting lots of treats (I don’t think we do many tricks anymore). So today let’s discuss fun Trick or Treat… […]

November 4, 2017

Interview! Dr. Mike Greenberg, Program Director for Target Zero

“We want to teach people to set goals, and then to use metrics to measure their progress towards them.” Dr. Mike Greenberg is the program director for Target Zero, a project that helps municipal shelters achieve live release rates of 90% or above for community cats. He is also the […]

November 6, 2017

Feline Nutrition 101 – A Simple Guide to Eating Well

Feline Nutrition 101. It’s more straightforward than the marketing would like for you to believe! To understand your cat’s nutritional needs, there are just a couple of basics you need to wrap your head around. 1. Cats are Obligate Carnivores This means that their diets should consist almost entirely of […]

November 11, 2017

Interview! Adam Myatt, The Cat Man of West Oakland

“These cats are street smart, tough as nails, and have definitely seen some stuff, but they are our neighborhood cats and are softies at heart.” Cats have been taking over this amazing guy’s life for the last eight years! What started as a small photography hobby has turned into a […]

November 13, 2017

Why November Should Be National Spay/Neuter Month and the 10-1 Rule

If I could have it all, I would make November a month where anyone could get their cat spayed or neutered for free during this month. So Why November Should Be National Spay/Neuter Month and the 10-1 Rule? This is a time of the year where many communities are wrapping […]

November 18, 2017

Interview! Matt Michelson and Calvin Bohn, Co-Founders, Smalls

“58% of cats are overweight, and 28% of those are considered obese. This is up 7% since just 2011 and something clearly needs to change.” Matt, the Master Business Person, and Calvin, Head Chef, are taking a fresh look at feeding felines after seeing just how many cats are overweight, […]

November 20, 2017

Sorry, This Clinic is for Cats Only

I continue to be amazed at how our sheltering community believes that programs that serve dogs can also serve cats equally well. Today, I would like to advocate around the notion that we need many, many more low cost wellness clinics for cats only. To be able to say, without […]

November 25, 2017

Interview! Jim Tedford, President and CEO for the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, SAWA

“Our role is to make connections between people who need relief versus the members we know who can provide relief.” Jim is a returning guest who has been actively engaged in the animal welfare movement for over 30 years. He was involved in the professional association of leaders in animal […]

November 27, 2017

A Step-By-Step Guide To Moving With Kids And Pets

Moving into a new home can be one of the most stressful scenarios of your life. You’re not just moving all your belongings, you’re changing your complete life. It’s no wonder that some people believe moving into a new home is more taxing than getting a divorce. As stressful as […]

December 2, 2017

Interview! Cameron Moore, Program Manager, Million Cat Challenge

“Hurricane Irma’s reach was intense for shelters across Florida, but it will only help us to plan for future incidents.” Cameron Moore is a return guest (head to Episode 61 for information on how she got started in the business) who is here today to discuss the hurricane relief efforts […]

March 25, 2017