Kristen Petrie, Author at The Community Cats Podcast

April 18, 2023

Women Helping Cats in West Michigan with Janet Vormittag, Author and Founder of Cats and Dogs, a Magazine

“That’s the cool thing. Some of these older groups are closing, but we have a whole new crop of young women who are starting rescues and taking over.” Listen to Episode #504 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy sits down […]

April 25, 2023

Partnering For-Profit Business and Nonprofit Causes with Yvethe Tyszka, Vice President Marketing for H&H Group and Zesty Paws

“We are passionate about cats. That’s what we live for. If we can help other companies, other nonprofits that are helping pet parents do things that we don’t do directly, I think that’s a great way to support pet parenting overall, especially for cats.” Listen to Episode #505 Now […]

April 27, 2023

The Community Cat Pyramid and Kitten Season-Strategy

Without fail I approach spring and summer with trepidation. I will be honest and ever since I became involved in animal welfare, “kitten season” was never a time of the year I looked forward to. February has become my favorite month. Unfortunately, we do have “kitten season”. Some parts of […]

May 2, 2023

Inspiring Compassion for Animals with Nancy Robison, Author and Animal Advocate

“Don’t say, I wish somebody would help them. Go out and do it.” Listen to Episode #506 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy speaks with individual animal rescuer and advocate, Nancy Robison. After receiving […]

May 9, 2023

Cats and Common Ground with Ashley Byrne, Associate Director of Campaigns, PETA

“It’s empowering to realize that you can actually make a difference just by making different choices in the things that you do every day.” Listen to Episode #507 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy […]

May 16, 2023

Dispelling Myths About Black Cats with Linda Malik, Author of Willow’s Tale

“Willow’s mission is to show that black cats are adorable, fun, and magical and they need to be loved just as much as any other cat.” Listen to Episode #508 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this […]

May 23, 2023

Increasing Spay-Neuter Access for Cats with Robert Murtaugh, DVM, and Robert Weedon, DVM.

“I firmly believe that spay-neuter is an essential element of access to care.” – Dr. Weedon Listen to Episode #509 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats with veterinarians Dr. Robert Murtaugh and Dr. […]

May 26, 2023

Remove Barriers to TNVR: Create a Community Cat Guide for Your State!

Contributed by Cheri Storms, Executive Director of Pet Friendly Services of Indiana Elected officials are tasked with making a multitude of decisions, many that they’d never contemplated. When it comes to Community Cat programs, most elected officials are unfamiliar with the topic and don’t understand the solutions. Instead, they are […]

May 30, 2023

Saving Kittens with Nancy Peterson, Board Member of the National Kitten Coalition

“The National Kitten Coalition believes that every kitten deserves a chance to survive and thrive.” Listen to Episode #510 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy chats with Nancy Peterson, Board Member of the National […]

June 6, 2023

Return-to-Field and Targeting Part 1 with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“How do you organize a TNR program on a very large scale and get the best results…” Listen to Episode #511 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, we are proud to bring you the audio […]

June 13, 2023

Return-to-Field and Targeting Part 2 with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“This brings us to one of the hot-button issues happening right now in return-to-field…what about friendly cats?” Listen to Episode #512 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s podcast, we are proud to bring you the audio […]

June 20, 2023

A Mass Trapping Powerhouse with Dawn Benefiel, Executive Director of Indy Neighborhood Cats

“You don’t have to be a cat person to support TNR.” Listen to Episode #513 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy chats with Dawn Benefiel, the executive director of Indy Neighborhood Cats (“INC”), a […]

June 27, 2023

Picking, Protecting, and Pampering Cats with Justin Donne, Founder of The Kitty Boss

“There’s a lot of people that really need a cat and they don’t realize they do. So if I can marry up those two, I think that’d be a really great thing.” Listen to Episode #514 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, […]

June 27, 2023

Low-Cost Enrichment Ideas to Keep Your Cats Healthy & Happy

Contributed by Allison Hunter-Frederick, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and Trainer, Allison Helps Cats Thinking of new ways to enrich the lives of our cats is a fun part of being a cat owner. Enrichment is also good for our cats. It provides them with opportunities to express species-appropriate behavior, which […]

July 4, 2023

Mobilizing the Community to Make TNR Happen, Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“How do you manage TNR on a much larger scale…as more of a program manager?” Listen to Episode #515 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s podcast, we are proud to bring you part one of the […]

July 11, 2023

Mobilizing the Community to Make TNR Happen, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“We’re not going to the with a sense of entitlement…that’s not going to get you very far…you have to let organizations move at a pace they’re comfortable with and realize things can accelerate once they get involved.” Listen to Episode #516 Now This episode is sponsored in part by […]

July 18, 2023

Tracking the Stats for Cats with Stephanie Filer, Executive Director of Shelter Animals Count

“There’s a lot of tools that we offer to make really understanding the data easier and start to identify where the need still exists.” Listen to Episode #517 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy […]

July 25, 2023

Felines, Forensics and Affordable Care with Dr. Michelle Gonzalez (aka Dr. G), Owner of the Rascal Unit

“As veterinarians, we have to educate people.” Listen to Episode #518 Now This episode is sponsored in part by The Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy chats with Dr. G, owner of the Rascal Unit, which consists of two mobile veterinary hospitals that provide […]

July 27, 2023

A Feline Forward Business Model: The Community Cat Clinic in Woodstock, GA

Story submitted by Kristen Petrie, Tech Tabby, The Community Cats Podcast. When it comes to caring for our feline friends, the Community Cat Clinic in Woodstock, GA, stands out as a beacon of hope and compassion. This unique veterinary clinic has begun to make waves in the community for its […]

August 1, 2023

Targeted TNR & Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck, Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“…if you do it in this concentrated way, where you’re focused on one part of the community…by in larger you’ll have defeated the vacuum effect.” Listen to Episode #519 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s podcast, we are […]

August 8, 2023

Targeted TNR & Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“You also want to know your community so your outreach is effective.” Listen to Episode #520 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s podcast, we are proud to bring you part two of the audio version of “Targeted TNR […]

August 15, 2023

Shifting the Mindset in Municipal Sheltering with Heidi Williams, Director of the Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter

“Have integrity, do the right thing, and the rest of it falls into place.” Listen to Episode #521 Now This episode is sponsored in part by The Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. This week, Stacy sits down with Heidi Williams, director of the Ingham County Animal Control […]

August 22, 2023

Reporting on Resources with Daniel Spehar, Co-Founder of the Together Initiative for Ohio’s Community Cats

“We really need to explore the unique needs and challenges that exist in the different parts of the state . . . so that when potential remedies are offered or additional resources are created, they can be targeted.” Listen to Episode #522 Now This episode is sponsored in part […]

August 29, 2023

Fostering Relationships with Niki Cudsworth, Board Member of the Visalia Feral Cat Coalition

“One cat at a time, we can make a difference.” Listen to Episode #523 Now This episode is sponsored in part by The Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy chats with Niki Cudsworth, a board member of the Visalia Feral Cat Coalition (VFCC), an […]

August 31, 2023

Unveiling the Flatbush Veterinary Clinic: Tackling Cat Overpopulation in Brooklyn, New York

Story submitted by Kristen Petrie, Tech Tabby, The Community Cats Podcast. I was delighted to visit the bustling heart of the Flatbush neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY, to check out the exciting development of the Flatbush Veterinary Clinic. The brainchild of the Flatbush Cats organization, this new vet clinic will surely […]

September 5, 2023

Strategies for Reducing Cat Populations, with Stacy LeBaron, Host of The Community Cats Podcast

“First and foremost, before me telling them [why they should neuter their indoor/outdoor cat], I want to find out what will move the needle for them.” Listen to Episode #524 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s special podcast, […]

September 19, 2023

Finding Cat-Loving People with Audrey Stratton, Clinic Supervisor at Feral Cat Coalition

“We need more people that are eager and willing to help see a problem and want to be a part of the solution.” Listen to Episode #526 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy talks to Audrey […]

September 21, 2023

Starting Off On the Right Paw: A Guide to Cat Introductions

Contributed by Allison Hunter-Frederick, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and Trainer, Allison Helps Cats When the time comes that you decide to add an additional cat to your home, one of the most important foundations you can give all of your cats is a solid introduction. Most of the time when […]

September 26, 2023

In Case of Emergency with Janice Cobb, Creator of the Save My Pet ID Tag

“Pets make us human.” Listen to Episode #527 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy is joined by Janice Cobb, creator of the Save My Pet ID Tag and former guest of the show (CCP Episode 478). […]

October 3, 2023

Your Path to the Perfect Multi Cat Lifestyle with Melody Kwan, MeloCat

“[There is] nothing that love, patience, time, and effort cannot fix.” Listen to Episode #528 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy is joined by Melody Kwan, aka MeloCat, a cat rescuer, foster, and volunteer-based in Hong […]

October 10, 2023

Cat Pawsitive 360 with Jackson Galaxy, Star of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell and Founder of The Jackson Galaxy Project, and Steve Kaufman, Vice President of Operations for the GOODS Program at Greater Good Charities

“It’s just the willingness to go where it takes you. And it will always take you somewhere.” Listen to Episode #529 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this special episode, the Cat Daddy himself, Jackson Galaxy, returns to the […]

October 17, 2023

Boosting Your Cat-Centered Organization’s Board with Sonia Saleh, Founder of Uplifting Nonprofits

“It’s really important to show that the Board is invested in the organization.” Listen to Episode #530 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy talks with Sonia Saleh, the founder of Uplifting Nonprofits and creator of the […]

October 24, 2023

The New Breed of Animal Control Pros with Daniel Ettinger, Animal Control Supervisor in Colorado, and Host of the Animal Control Report Podcast

“We help protect people from animals, and animals from people.” Listen to Episode #531 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy sits down with Daniel Etitnger, host of The Animal Control Report podcast for an interesting conversation […]

October 26, 2023

Checking In: Tomahawk Trap Winners

Article contributed by Brianna Lovell Myers, Administrative Director, United Spay Alliance & Community Cats Podcast’s Hospitality Cat. National Feral Cat Day is officially recognized on October 16 – but we can celebrate cats and trappers all month long! This year, we circled back with some of the folks who won […]

October 31, 2023

Wine, Dine, and Rescue with Nicole Smith, Co-Owner of Whiskers and Wine Bar

“If we can make a small dent in helping save kitties’ lives and making people happy, . . . to us, that’s so meaningful.” Listen to Episode #532 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy talks with […]

November 7, 2023

Starting at Grassroots and Sharing Our Spay/Neuter Skills with Becky L. Morrow, DVM, MS, CAWA, Assistant Teaching Professor, Penn State University; Adjunct Faculty, UF College of Veterinary Medicine; President and Medical Director, Frankie’s Friends Cat Rescue; Medical Director, Vetenari (Molecular Diagnostics)

“It’s a matter of starting from the ground up; not having the resources, but still getting it done.” Listen to Episode #533 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats with Dr. Becky Morrow, a shelter veterinarian and professor […]

November 14, 2023

Paying for it All Because the Cats Can’t with Sandy Rees, Founder of Fundraising TV, Chief Encouragement Officer at Get Fully Funded

“Everybody has what it takes to go raise the money they need, to fully fund their organization, to grow, to help more cats, to save more lives, to do what their mission is all about. It’s all doable.” Listen to Episode #534 Now This episode is sponsored in part […]

November 21, 2023

Oops! We Need to Fix the Veterinary Shortage with Amy Newfield, MS, CVT, VTS (ECC), Owner of Veterinary Team Training

“We’ve got to use veterinary technicians. And here’s what happens – I feel so good getting to help a pet owner and increase that pet owner-animal bond, and my veterinarian can go do doctor things! If you utilize your technicians more, you get to be a doctor more.” Listen to […]

November 28, 2023

Cats and Eternity with Allia Zobel Nolan, Best-Selling Author

“Little things like that…If everybody does some little thing, it will work to our benefit with the cats.” Listen to Episode #536 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Meow Cat Lounge, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats with Allia Zobel Nolan, an international best-selling […]

December 1, 2023

Conference Reviews of The Ohio Community Cat Summit and CARE’s The Gathering

It’s been a busy fall at The Community Cats Podcast! Both Stacy, our venerable host, and Kristen, our technical tabby, have been speaking at or attending events. Here’s a quick summary of their experiences. From Stacy: On November 4th I had the honor of being the kickoff speaker at the […]

December 5, 2023

Calming Your Anxious Cat with Joan Ranquet, Animal Communicator, Energy Healer, Author, Speaker and Educator

“Anybody could sit down and get quiet for a moment…then just get a sense. Like, is my household stressful? Is my cat living her best life? What have we got going on here that I could do that could make it easier for the cat?” Listen to Episode #537 Now […]

December 12, 2023

It’s a special episode! Mike Phillips, LVT and President of Urban Cat League, interviews Stacy LeBaron.

“The cats are a vehicle for us to all get our act together and take responsibility for every part of the community.” Listen to Episode #538 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Meow Cat Lounge, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this special episode, Mike Phillips of UrbanCatLeague.org […]

December 19, 2023

It’s a special episode! Part One of The Drop Trap: A Trapper’s Best Friend Presented by Neighborhood Cats

“It’s great to have the cat you’re after, see another cat come in, have a bite to eat, and then leave. Nothing happens. Nothing dramatic. That can help persuade them that it’s just fine to go in; nothing to worry about here.” Listen to Episode #539 Now This episode […]

December 26, 2023

It’s a special episode! Part Two of The Drop Trap: A Trapper’s Best Friend Presented by Neighborhood Cats

“Another specialized use of the drop trap is when you’re trying to catch a mom and her kittens…” Listen to Episode #540 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund. This is part two of a special audio presentation of a free webinar offered to trappers earlier […]

December 28, 2023

Preparing for Winter: Shelter and Care for Outdoor Cats, Especially Seniors

As the chill of winter approaches, our thoughts turn to outdoor cats, particularly those without a dedicated home or owner. For those who face cold, hard, and long winters, now is the perfect time to start thinking about winterizing outdoor cat shelters. In this article, we’ll explore how to prepare […]

January 2, 2024

Spurring Change for Cats from the Top Down with Jonlyn Freeman, Founder of NYC Cat Rescuer Alliance and Meagan Licari, President of Puppy Kitty NY City

“I wanted to go into city hall and say, “We need millions of dollars now.” Apparently, that’s not how it works.” Listen to Episode #541 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and Tomahawk Live Trap. Ever wondered about the hurdles faced by animal rescuers in […]

January 9, 2024

Eliminating Economic Euthanasia with Steven Mornelli, Founder of Waggle.org

“…that $1 that you give turns into $2, and it goes directly to these veterinary hospitals. To me, it’s the conduit, the backbone, and the lifeblood of our work. And I can’t speak enough to how the generous community that participates in that forever fund is allowing us to do […]

January 16, 2024

With Enthusiasm We Work Together with Donna Brown, Founder of Garden City Community Cats Project

“It’s been always about the passionate people that gave up more than they had to simply keep these cats alive. And that is what gave me the drive and gives me the happiness to go on without depression and with enthusiasm.” Listen to Episode #543 Now This episode is […]

January 23, 2024

Sharing Adoption Secrets for Hard to Adopt Cats with Halle Hamilton, Cat Adoption Manager, Austin Pets Alive

“We want to empower other shelters to do what we do and be able to run their own feline leukemia adoption programs, their own ringworm adoption programs. We want to help them figure out how to place incontinent cats in homes. For us, we don’t want to keep any of […]

January 25, 2024

5 Ways to Turn your Passion for Cats Into Action in 2024

We have so much going on and it feels like we are all busier than ever. Here are 5 quick things that you can share with friends on Facebook, the public, etc to make a difference in the lives of cats. I look forward to seeing all of you at […]

January 27, 2024

A Special “Because We Love It” Episode! Check Out the Kindred Podcast with Kate Coffin, Jenn Asplundh, and Dr. Kristyn Vitale

“I feel like so much of why cat’s get a bad rap is because they seem to be juxtaposed to dogs and dog behavior.” Listen to Kindred’s Episode Featuring Dr. Kristyn Vitale Now Today we wanted to share an episode of Kindred, a podcast hosted by sisters Kate Coffin and Jenn […]

January 30, 2024

Less Price, More Purr with Rick DuCharme, Owner of RLD Consulting and Managing Partner of The Community Cat Clinic

“We like to say that we’re a fear free clinic for the cats, the cat owners, and the staff.“ Listen to Episode #545 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and Tomahawk Live Trap. Join the transformational journey with Rick DuCharme, a former heavy equipment industry […]

February 6, 2024

Facing Feline Leukemia with Facts, Not Fear with Margaret Tompkins, Founder of the Tompkins Foundation

“I’m used to digesting scientific information, so to me data speaks to everything, and there just didn’t seem to make sense to euthanize these cats. And now the world seems to have pretty much come around to our way of thinking…so that’s good!” Listen to Episode #546 Now This […]

February 13, 2024

The Free Feral Fix in Texas with Tiffany Ditto, Director of Marketing and Communication at Texas Coalition for Animal Protection

“I think the number one thing that’s missing is probably a deeper understanding of the unique needs of feral cats and just cat colonies in general.” Listen to Episode #547 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, Tomahawk Live Trap, and United Spay Alliance. Have you […]

February 20, 2024

The Surprising Language of Community Cats with Sarah Brown, Cat Behavior Consultant and Author of “The Hidden Language of Cats: How They Have Us at Meow”

“The question was, when you neuter a colony, does that remove all the need for social interaction and, you know, all that purpose? So I was trying to see whether neutered colonies still had some social life if you like, and yes, they do, is the answer.” Listen to Episode […]

February 22, 2024

Strategies To Help Community Cats If You’re Doing All The Work Yourself

What do you do when it seems you are the only person willing to help community cats in your neighborhood? Maybe you helped trap a few cats in your backyard, your neighbor saw you doing this, and now you are the cat rescuer in town? I think we can all […]

February 27, 2024

Tech That Plays Fetch with Chris Roy, Founder of Doobert.com

“There’s just so much information, as you said, in your pyramid to go through and collect and get. If we could do that in the blink of an eye, we would be able to get more organizations to do it because it takes a lot of time, and effort, and […]

March 5, 2024

Rethinking the Shelter with Erin-Claire (EC) Michaels, Executive Director of the Cat Care Society

“I think one of the things that is incredibly important about cat sheltering is allowing people into the experience of what a cat shelter may look like versus what may be the concept they have in their head.” Listen to Episode #550 Now This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s […]

March 12, 2024

Picking Up Pizza and Saving Cats with Nadia Oseguera, Program Manager for the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program and Chris Ramon, Chief Program Officer for Pasadena Humane

“I pulled up to the parking lot and I baited the trap and watched a cat go in, and oh my gosh, the endorphins and the goosebumps simultaneously going off because it was that moment, I was like, “Oh my gosh, I’m going to fix the world one cat at […]

March 19, 2024

Return-to-Field: How Shelters Save Community Cats, Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“I think it’s important to acknowledge that there’s a reason we’re trying to solve community cat over population because this is, ya know, not always a great situation for the cats. When it comes to return to field, we’re looking at animals coming into the shelter…they have good body condition […]

March 26, 2024

Return-to-Field: How Shelters Save Community Cats, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“This is just a crucial stage when the cat is first brought in and it’s really important to train your staff to be able to gather as much information as possible because that’s the moment, you may never see the finder again.” Listen to Episode #553 Now This episode […]

March 27, 2024

Cat Culture in America – Unraveling History at The Civil War Tails Museum in Gettysburg, PA

Story submitted by Kristen Petrie, Technical Tabby, The Community Cats Podcast. Tucked into a colonial-style building in the heart of historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, lies a truly unique and educational experience for history enthusiasts and cat lovers of all ages: Civil War Tails at the Homestead Diorama Museum. This hidden gem […]

April 2, 2024

Just Getting Started with Bonney Brown, President of Humane Network and Options Veterinary Care

“If you think you can’t start a clinic all on your own, you may be right, but you can absolutely partner with other people, and find people with the skills and talent that is needed and approach them and ask them to help play a roll in making the clinic […]

April 6, 2024

A Special “Because We Love It” Episode! Check Out the United We Spay Podcast with Stacy LeBaron and Dr. Philip Bushby

Listen to United We Spay’s Episode Featuring Dr. Philip Bushby Now Today we wanted to share an episode of The United We Spay Podcast. It’s a new monthly show from the United Spay Alliance and it’s hosted by the one and only Stacy LeBaron. In each episode, they delve […]

April 9, 2024

Colony Caretaking Tips & Tricks Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“Often, people who are tolerant of the cats, not particularly cat lovers, they end up not wanting them around not because of the cats themselves but because of the people and the people not showing respect for the neighborhood, and the number one way people are disrespectful when they aren’t […]

April 16, 2024

Colony Caretaking Tips & Tricks Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“How do you keep cats healthy? So you don’t reach a point where they need veterinary intervention? It doesn’t have to be, you know, costly or difficult and if you do some of these simple preventative things, you might save yourself some big vet bills and some difficult trapping.” Listen […]

April 23, 2024

Keeping an Open Mind to Reduce Stress and Pain in Cats with Stacy McVicker, DVM, CVA, CCRT, Veterinarian & Crazy Cat Lady

“I love this family, who took the time to thoughtfully dive in and roll around with, “Why are they [their two cats] spatting?” I would love to clone them as people in the world and say, “Yeah I’d like everyone to be a detective,” and say, “Hey my cats seem […]

April 24, 2024

Empowering Veterinarians to Combat Pet Overpopulation: Insights from Brother Wolf Animal Rescue’s Mobile Clinic

This article was contributed by Kendall Wapner, Social Cat at the Community Cats Podcast In the ongoing battle against pet overpopulation, innovative solutions like mobile veterinary clinics are proving to be game-changers. Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with Leah Craig Chumbley, the Executive Director at Brother Wolf Animal […]

April 30, 2024

Fine Tuning TNR Clinics with Cameron Greig, Community Cat Coordinator at the Humane Society of Huron Valley

“Something that a lot of people don’t necessarily know about staffing challenges in the shelter space is that not all veterinarians are trained in TNR.” Listen to Episode #558 Now This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and Tomahawk Live Trap. Get a glimpse of what it’s like on the […]

May 7, 2024

Dr. Kimberly Mann, Medical Director & Surgeon of the York County SPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic, and Steven Martinez, Executive Director of the York County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

“So we really got pretty good at communicating with our audience and part of means we became transparent with our audience. So we just let them know “We’re having problems. Here’s our problem. But we also have ideas. Here’s our ideas for saving more animal lives. Are you in?” Listen […]

May 14, 2024

Earning Ferals’ Faith and Trust, with Caitlin Porter, Executive Director of From Feral to Family

“It’s really special to go through that process, to start with a cat that is hissing at you, growling at you, sometimes lunging at you trying to scratch you, bite you, being very defensive. And then to, over time, have that cat sometimes turn into a lap cat, those are […]

May 21, 2024

Special Episode! From the Backyard to the Front Page: Building a TNR Movement, Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“You want to be strategic in the beginning. Choose your projects. Don’t let your projects choose you. They are all deserving cats.” Listen to Episode #561 Now This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund. Unlock the secrets behind the transformative Trap-Neuter-Return movement with Neighborhood Cats’ Bryan Kortis as we […]

May 28, 2024

Special Episode! From the Backyard to the Front Page: Building a TNR Movement, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“Our ultimate clients are the cats and we want to make and we want to make sure we’re maximizing the positive impact on them.” Listen to Episode #562 Now This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund. Join us as we continue our exploration of the transformative power of Trap-Neuter-Return […]

May 30, 2024

From Grooming to Advocacy: A Journey of Compassion in Animal Welfare

This article was contributed by Colette Resnikoff, Virtual Volunteer I found myself injured in 2019 in a car accident that broke my dominant wrist in 3 places. I was diagnosed with early arthritis, and with repetitive motion injuries to wrists, back, and shoulders from dog grooming, I was in chronic […]

June 4, 2024

Nuggets of Hope, with Kim Lengling, Author and Host of the Let Fear Bounce Podcast

“I love to hear people talk about the love they have for their pets and hope much joy their pets bring and how much they enrich their lives. I just love hearing them. It just fills your heart right up.” Listen to Episode #563 Now This episode is sponsored […]

June 11, 2024

Blending the Head and Heart to Help Animals, with Stephanie Mathers, Founder of Grants 4 Animals

“Just the nature of grants overall is no matter how good you are you’re going to hear nos and you’re going to have different foundations and organizations that aren’t perfect fits.” Listen to Episode #564 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and The Community Cat Clinic. […]

June 18, 2024

Trappers Tips and Tricks, Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“Now we can say, six months later, that there were over 600 cats who survived the fire and were living in the burn zone.” Listen to Episode #565 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The Community Cat Clinic, and Tomahawk Traps. What if you could […]

June 25, 2024

Trappers Tips and Tricks, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“If you have a lot of tools in your tool kit you can start getting really creative.” Listen to Episode #566 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and The Community Cat Clinic. How can you outsmart even the wariest of community cats? Join us for the […]

June 26, 2024

Drive Change with Every Mile: How the Georgia Pet Foundation License Plate Program Supports Community Cats through TNR Initiatives

This article was contributed by Jackie Van Loan, Content Writer, and Marketer at Helps2 for Non-Profits and Purpose-Driven Brands. The 2024 Georgia Pet Foundation plate was designed by popular Georgia street/folk artist Kyle Brooks seen above. In the heart of Georgia, a unique initiative by the Georgia Pet Foundation is […]

July 2, 2024

From Advertising to Advocacy with Tracy Dean, Director of Community Cats of Reno

“Everybody that I speak with, I just emphasize that we are the answer. We are the solution and they need to be part of the solution.” Listen to Episode #567 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The Community Cat Clinic, and Tomahawk Traps. When Tracy […]

July 9, 2024

Catalyzing Change in Community Cat Care with Dawn Benefiel, Executive Director, Indy Neighborhood Cats

“Without dreaming big and showing people what we think is needed, we’ll never get that dial changed and we need that to change mightily.” Listen to Episode #568 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The Community Cat Clinic, and Tomahawk Traps. Join us for an […]

July 16, 2024

Collaboration is Curbing the Cat Population in Fresno with Brandi Sherman, Co-Founder, Fresno TNR

“We were trying to rescue our way out, which is never going to happen.” Listen to Episode #569 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The Community Cat Clinic, and Humane Canada’s Summit for Animals. Step into the world of Brandi Sherman as she shares her remarkable […]

July 23, 2024

Enhancing Feline Welfare in the Community and Shelters through Behavior Insights and Socialization Techniques with Dot Baisly, Executive Director, IAABC

“Understanding a cat’s socialization history can be the key to determining the best outcome for community cats in shelters.” Listen to Episode #570 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The Community Cat Clinic, and Tomahawk Traps. Join us for an insightful conversation with Dot Baisly, […]

July 25, 2024

Tough Questions (and Answers) from Online Feline Leukemia Day

At the 2024 Online Feline Leukemia Day we had a new session, called Tough Questions panel where we had presenters Margaret Tompkins, president of the Tompkins Foundation for FeLV Advocacy, and Dr. Nathalie Dowgray, head of the International Society of Feline Medicine at icatcare.org, responded to some of the “tough […]

July 30, 2024

Connecting with Cats to Bridge the Communication Gap with Nancy Mello, Animal Communicator and Evidential Medium

“Animals were my friends, and even before I had words for it, they understood me and gave me comfort and love in a way that I didn’t feel in my life, in my family.” Listen to Episode #571 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The […]

August 6, 2024

Creative Solutions for Rural Cats in Canada with Dr. Savannah Howse, Veterinarian and RJ Bailot, Executive Director, Canadian Animal Task Force

“The community building aspect of this is so key…that interconnectedness is really what allows us to have the impact that we do.” Listen to Episode #572 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The Community Cat Clinic, the Keeping People and Pets Together Pet Food Pantry, […]

August 13, 2024

Improving the Lives of Cats Through Logistics and Legislation with Danielle Bays, Senior Analyst for Cat Protection and Policy, HSUS

“Think about all the things that cats go through…they’re smart, they’re clever and we can learn from them.” Listen to Episode #573 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, Humane Canada, and The Keeping People and Pets Together Pet Food Pantry. Are you curious about the […]

August 20, 2024

Targeted TNR: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck, Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“Understanding the environment and how we approach the ecosystem with community cats is essential, not just for the cats but for the overall health of the communities they inhabit.” Listen to Episode #574 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, Humane Canada, and The Keeping People […]

August 27, 2024

Targeted TNR: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“Collaboration between animal welfare groups and local governments is the key to creating sustainable, humane community cat programs that work for everyone.” Listen to Episode #575 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The Keeping People and Pets Together Pet Food Pantry, and Tomahawk Traps. In […]

August 29, 2024

three human hands placed on top of each other with an orange cat paw on top symbolizing teamwork

August 29, 2024

A Unified Effort to Tackle Pet Overpopulation – Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support (MASS) Coalition

The Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support (MASS) coalition was born out of a deep commitment to collaboration among animal welfare organizations in the state. The idea emerged through ongoing conversations about the growing challenges in the field of animal welfare. The participating organizations, already familiar with working together, recognized that the […]

September 3, 2024

Are Cats the Underdogs in Municipal Politics with Stuart Kroll, Animal Rights Advocate, Port Washington, Long Island

“Our goal is to put as much public pressure on the town representatives as possible and to spread as much awareness as we can, because the more people that are aware of the problem, the more people are going to ask the town to do something about it.” Listen to […]

September 10, 2024

Mastering Feline Behavior and Enrichment, with Ingrid Johnson, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, Fundamentally Feline

“Don’t underestimate your cats. Elevate your expectations of them, and you’ll be amazed at what they can achieve.” Listen to Episode #577 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and The Acatemy . What if your cat’s behavior problems could be solved with just a few […]

September 17, 2024

Mastering the Drop Trap: Essential Skills for Feline Trapping – Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“The drop trap is the most humane and effective way to trap those hard-to-catch cats, and once you’ve mastered it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.” Listen to Episode #578 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, The Acatemy, and Tomahawk Traps. Join Bryan […]

September 24, 2024

Mastering the Drop Trap: Essential Skills for Feline Trapping – Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

“When you’re down to the last few cats and time is running out, the drop trap can be your saving grace.” Listen to Episode #579 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund, and the Whisker Tracker app. In the second part of this special webinar series, […]

September 26, 2024

Transforming Outdoor Spaces: A Celebration of Catios

Article and Photos Contributed by Kendall Wapner This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a captivating catio tour, presented by the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, Bird Alliance of Oregon, and Bird Conservation Oregon. The event showcased a diverse array of catios, each reflecting the creativity and dedication of […]

October 1, 2024

3500 Cats and Counting: A Two-Woman TNR Success Story with Dr. Christine Monroe, Owner/Veterinarian & Rhonda Shaffer, Assistant/Trapper, Spay + Neuter Northwest

“We will not spay and neuter ourselves out of the problem…the education is the lasting part of it, and that will go from person to person.” Listen to Episode #580 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and Tomahawk Traps. In this episode of the Community Cats […]

October 8, 2024

A Reproductive Revolution: Reframing TNR in Urban Landscapes with Katja M. Guenther, Professor at the University of California, Riverside

“The reproductive justice framework is really useful for thinking about community cats and TNR because it opens us up to engaging with the lives of the cats both personally and before sterilization, but also afterwards.” Listen to Episode #581 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund […]

October 15, 2024

Taking Rescue to New Heights with Michael Schneider, Founder of Pilots to the Rescue

“Giving back is way more powerful than receiving. The benefits are tenfold, and they come back to you in ways you can’t explain.” Listen to Episode #582 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and the Whisker Tracker App. In this inspiring episode of The Community […]

October 22, 2024

From Fearful to Fearless and the Push to Protect Canada’s Cats with Natalia Hanson, Marketing & Communications Consultant Humane Canada

“Shelters across the country are in crisis… sometimes keeping a pet at home where they’re loved and safe is as simple as providing them with a bowl of food.” Listen to Episode #583 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund. In this insightful episode of the […]

October 29, 2024

Matt the Cat Guy Took Up a TNR Torch in South Dakota and He’s Not Stopping with Matt Tougas Founder and President, Sioux Empire TNR

“I didn’t want to start another rescue that was going to fill up.” Listen to Episode #584 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Maddie’s Fund and the Whisker Tracker App. In this episode of The Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron chats with Matt Tougas, also known […]