September 2, 2018
In early July, I had the opportunity to attend the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D)’s 6th International Symposium on Non-Surgical Contraceptive Methods of Pet Population Control, held this year in Boston, MA. Below are a few of my takeaways from the two days of presentations. If you […]
August 26, 2018
Do you know what the Five Freedoms are? I find that any time I go to a conference and there are hard questions asked about our work, everyone seems to fall back on the Five Freedoms They are: Freedom from hunger and thirst Freedom from discomfort Freedom from pain, injury […]
August 19, 2018
Volunteer coordination, recruitment and management are some of the most challenging issues that we face in this business. Below are a few points to consider when you are setting up your program — or doing a wellness check on an existing program. When someone expresses interest in volunteering with your […]
August 12, 2018
In lieu of our regular weekly blog post, join us in having a little end-of-summer fun with Trapper Bingo! We hope you’ll enjoy playing along with other trappers you know—and be sure to email stacy@communitycatspodcast.com when you get BINGO! Do you have other ideas for squares to include on our […]
August 5, 2018
I recently scanned the Feline Fix by Five Website and I am wondering why we don’t have more veterinarians and humane societies signed up in support of this effort. So I am asking our listeners/readers for comments. Below are some of the issues that I think might hold us back from […]
July 29, 2018
Okay, I am really excited about the Pet Forum platform that the folks at Maddie’s Fund have put together. You can read more about it at maddiesfund.org. I believe that this forum could potentially be the next generation of technology that can help take us to the next level for cats. It […]
July 22, 2018
Everyone is full, full. We are clearing the shelters with adoption events, we are debating the merits of fee waived adoptions, and our small programs can’t TNR because we are backlogged with “way station” cats and kittens waiting to find placement. The wheels stop turning in our community cat machinery […]
July 15, 2018
Even though I am doing the Community Cats Podcast, Community Cats grants, and running an online conference, I still stay as involved as possible with small organizations trying to do the best that they can for community cats. Many of you know I do a lot of work with a […]
July 8, 2018
I know it’s early in the season, but I know many of you out there are just about at the point of falling in love with one of your fosters. We have all been there. Up until now you have been strong and let those fosters kittens go up for […]
July 1, 2018
I recently have been having a lot of conversations around the issue of birds and cats and how they impact one another. I have to be honest — I really didn’t think of this as that “hot” of a topic while working on TNR, adoptions and spay/neuter for owned cats […]
June 24, 2018
So kitten season is here in full force around the country. Based on my sampling of what I am hearing from listeners, it appears that this summer is worse than past summers. I am hearing about areas with a 10% increase in kittens, and shelters in the southeast and southwest […]
June 17, 2018
When you are speaking with someone, asking them to do something or to make a change in how they are doing something, do you ever feel like you are talking to a brick wall? Do you wonder why you’re even wasting your time? Well, I just may have a new […]
June 10, 2018
This suggestion has been presented to me many times and I feel the need to share this idea with all of you! Based on the data, there are many areas of the country where we seem to have cat overpopulation under control. These successful areas have offered community low-cost spay/neuter […]
May 27, 2018
Over my years in animal sheltering, I started to dread Memorial Day Weekend. What used to be a time of family get-togethers and days at the beach, now begins a season of emergency rescues and calls about emergencies with our fosters. Compared to many areas of the country, we aren’t […]
May 20, 2018
I recently got an email that Shelter Animals Count had released their summary of statistics collected from 2016. I took a look at those numbers and found some very interesting trends. If you want to take a deep dive into the report, feel free to visit https://shelteranimalscount.org/data/data-reports/2016-animal-sheltering-statistics. I want to commend […]
May 13, 2018
This week’s post comes to you from guest blogger Kristen Petrie. If you’d like to know a little more about what Kristen does at the podcast, check out episode 198 of the podcast. This past Sunday, at the crack of dawn, I left New Hampshire and headed for New York […]
May 6, 2018
I want to first go on the record and say that I am not an expert in transporting cats and kittens around the country. I have never participated in an out-of-state transport of cats, and I will admit that I was always pretty adamant about helping the cats and kittens […]
April 29, 2018
I am a person who likes to do things efficiently, with the biggest possible bang for the buck! One thing that I am not sure we think about enough is how to strategically operate spay/neuter programs within an adoption agency. With these programs, it is often all about just getting […]
April 22, 2018
In late March I saw several posts by large organizations in Massachusetts sharing the fact that they didn’t have any dogs available for adoption (T.J. O’Connor Animal Control) and only three cats (MSPCA Boston). This is so incredibly amazing … I really didn’t think we would see something like this […]
April 15, 2018
Happy Tax Day! I hope everyone made the deadline with filing their personal taxes. Mid April is a time that I dread every year. Many of us need to track our mileage, expenses, and a million health certificates for all of the cats we trapped over the past year. How […]
April 8, 2018
For as long as I have been involved with animal welfare (which is going on twenty-four years), there has always been a discussion about the term “no-kill.” Many organizations have “no-kill” in their mission statements and proudly state that they embody this philosophy — and then there are others who […]
April 1, 2018
This week’s post comes to you from guest blogger Liz Pease. If you’d like to know a little more about Liz and her experience in non-profit management, TNR and cat care, check out episode 51 of the podcast. One of the best ways to get to know your community—and get […]
March 25, 2018
Are you interested in making a significant reduction in the numbers of cats in your community? If the answer is yes, then I think the Community Cat Pyramid will be of interest to you. I hope this graphic will illustrate just how important certain programs are to impacting cat numbers. […]
March 19, 2018
As spring approaches (we hope!), so does kitten season — and with kitten season comes added costs for spay/neuter, food, and supplies. One popular current fundraiser that may be able to help you and your group is Kitten Yoga. Below is a tip sheet written by Julie Jacobson on how […]
March 11, 2018
March is one of my favorite months, as it is usually the calm before the spring and summer storm of trapping, fostering, and transporting. In March, many communities hold town-sponsored rabies vaccination clinics. These clinics are a good way for the community to come together to care for and celebrate […]
March 5, 2018
Our guest blogger this week is Brianna Grant, Communications Associate at Alley Cat Rescue in Mt. Rainier, Maryland. Alley Cat Rescue’s May Spay Challenge has become a powerful program to engage local veterinarians in the battle against feline overpopulation. Here’s Brianna’s take: Back in 2010, we were looking for creative […]
February 26, 2018
Is there anything more intimidating than fundraising? If you feel that way, you’re not alone. You can have all of the passion in the world, but asking people for money can be scary. That’s the beauty of our Community Cats Grants program: it rewards your organization for experimenting with a new […]
February 19, 2018
We’re back with Wisdom from a “Master Trapper – Part 2, with Stephanie Gillis, Cat Care Coordinator at Alley Cat Advocates! Today, Stephanie offers some advice for those who get discouraged when trying to trap, a few of her best “war stories,” and some final advice that will give you […]
February 12, 2018
Trapping: It’s the core skill that anyone who wants to help community cats needs to learn. The more skilled a trapper you are, the more cats you can impact. But trapping cats is an art and a science, so in Wisdom from a “Master Trapper” – Part 1, we asked […]
February 5, 2018
It’s every cat parent’s worst fear. You put out Shadow’s breakfast,just like you do every morning, but there’s no sign of Shadow. Whether your catis strictly indoor only, or goes outside on a regular basis, it’s incredibly upsetting to have your cat disappear. Don’t just sit back and wait for […]
January 29, 2018
Building a sustainable fostering program can be one of the most powerful ways for organizations to be able to help more cats. I interviewed Bryn Rogers, Assistant Director of Adoption Center Programs and Katie Armour, Project Coordinator, of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA). We […]
January 22, 2018
If you had uttered the words “feline behaviorist” as little as 20 years ago, people would have looked at you oddly. Cats do what they do…because, well, they’re cats. Fast forward to today. We’re living in a golden age of feline behavior advice and guidance with many Favorite Kitty Lover Resources. […]
January 15, 2018
We are so excited to welcome Dina Zawaski, Director of Digital Strategy, MSPCA-Angell this week, to give us some advice on 8 Easy Social Media Tips for 2018! This advice assumes you are a lone wolf – you’re running the digital show for your group or organization all by yourself, and […]
January 8, 2018
The past two years may prove that It Could Finally Be a Turning Point for Cats and their welfare! Why? Because at the start of 2016 a veterinary task force was formed with the goal of improving cat welfare. By the middle of 2017, all major national veterinary organizations had endorsed […]
January 1, 2018
With the rising popularity of cats as our companion animals — combined with the feline dominance of the Internet — a whole new array of opportunities have arisen! It is bringing together cat fans and celebrates the general awesomeness of our feline friends with The Increase in Community Cat Learning […]
December 25, 2017
I’ve heard a song that says “Christmas comes this time each year”—but for me, it comes every day. You see, I’m a community cat, you can call me C.C. When my caretakers stop by with food and fresh water, every day feels like Christmas (or whatever the best day you […]
December 18, 2017
In future blog posts, we are going to feature some “top tips” on an array of different types of topics we hope are of interest to you. If there is a topic you’d like to see featured, please let us know and we’ll find the right “expert” to share their […]
December 10, 2017
There are so many great ways to spoil your cat this holiday! Designer pet products are everywhere, with more things available for cats than ever before. Many offer function that your cat can’t resist and style that you will love. Check out these fab finds to pamper your kitty this […]
December 4, 2017
We welcome our new guest blogger, Liz Pease, who is the former Executive Director of Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society! We hope you love her take on Kids, Cats and Books as much as we do! Cats have always been a popular subject for children’s books, stories, and nursery rhymes. […]
November 27, 2017
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 […]
November 20, 2017
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 13, 2017
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 6, 2017
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 […]
October 30, 2017
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… […]
October 23, 2017
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 16, 2017
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 9, 2017
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 2, 2017
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 […]
September 24, 2017
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 18, 2017
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 11, 2017
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 4, 2017
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 […]
August 28, 2017
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 […]
August 21, 2017
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 14, 2017
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 […]
July 31, 2017
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 […]
July 24, 2017
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 17, 2017
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 10, 2017
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 3, 2017
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 […]
June 26, 2017
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 19, 2017
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 12, 2017
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 5, 2017
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 […]
May 29, 2017
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 22, 2017
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 15, 2017
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 8, 2017
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 1, 2017
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 […]
April 24, 2017
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 17, 2017
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 10, 2017
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 3, 2017
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 […]
March 27, 2017
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 20, 2017
I have long been a great fan of return to field programs. Without even knowing what return to field was, MRFRS was running free spay/neuter clinics for feral cats. Anyone could bring a cat in a trap to our monthly clinics and get them spay/neutered, vaccinated and ear tipped for […]
March 13, 2017
The Nuts and Bolts of a Donation Jar Campaign is something many of our groups in The Community Cats Grants ponder during their fundraising efforts. We currently have 40 groups from 18 different states working hard to raise money for their spay/neuter programs that help community cats! More info to […]
March 6, 2017
Can you believe we have already hit the month of March? It seems crazy how quickly the year is going by, but we’re excited because March is Microchipping Madness Month! How do you feel about microchipping your cat? It’s definitely not as prevalent as microchipping in our canine counterparts, but […]
February 27, 2017
Over the years, I have gotten many emails about How to Set Up a Trap Bank that Works effectively. You want to make sure equipment is returned clean and in a timely manner. I find this to be one of the hardest programs for groups to manage. It takes time, […]
February 20, 2017
Over the last couple of weeks, Merritt Clifton’s online publication has had several guest posts about why spay/neuter is the solution to our pet overpopulation problems around the world! Yes, folks, we are going to start addressing this issue on a worldwide scale. What perfect timing, as today is Love your […]
February 13, 2017
Happy day before Valentine’s Day! I hope you and your loved ones have a good day filled with Chocolate and Catnip. When we think about Valentine’s Day we think about couples. Today I would like to list some of the many reason why adopting two cats or kittens are better […]
February 6, 2017
Managing grant applications can be a nightmare if it isn’t done right! The foundations you potentially work with are prospects that can mean bringing in real dollars to your organization. But it is an incredible challenge to track your potential funders, those organizations that you have applied too and then […]
January 30, 2017
If you are new to running a non-profit, part of a small group, or just joining a group, thinking about fundraising can be overwhelming! I began my fundraising journey back in 7th grade, when I became treasurer of my class. We had to raise money to help pay for a […]
January 23, 2017
This week I would like to cover My 13 Favorite (Mostly Free) Online Tools that I use to help manage people, time, and programs. For those of you who know more personally you know this is a favorite topic of mine. I think that technology is the best thing that […]
January 16, 2017
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. day and a time to reflect on all of the efforts of the Civil Rights movement that he did. But, Martin Luther King and… Community Cats? Have I lost my mind? There are many ways to honor Dr. King and his legacy. I, for one, […]
January 9, 2017
As promised I wanted to add to my previous blog and take A Deeper Dive on How to Start a Coalition. If you didn’t read my first part I would recommend you check out my earlier blog on the topic. Much of that blog covered why we need to have a […]
January 2, 2017
Happy New Year! First off, I want to thank everyone who participated in our holiday slide show. We have over 40 cat pictures profiled! If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, I recommend you do! Share it with others! Take a look at our Year In Review […]
December 26, 2016
With 2016 coming to a close… …it’s the time of year that we reflect on what we’ve accomplished both as organizations and as individuals. Our listeners have been very busy in 2016! Check out our video containing the pictures they’ve submitted to showcase their community cat and animal welfare efforts […]
December 19, 2016
Happy Holidays from the Community Cats Podcast! In this week’s blog, I wanted to talk about the Greatest Hits line up, Being Thankful and Thoughts about Cats in Aleppo. I can’t believe we are already at the end of December. It seems like just last June when we were launching our […]
December 12, 2016
Well, the snow is finally here in Vermont and everything is looking very festive! This week, we’re going to discuss How to Retire an Old Feral Cat. But between Christmas and New Year’s we will be replaying our greatest hits from the 2016 season. You will be hearing from Hannah […]
December 5, 2016
As many of you know, sandboxes are places that cats often use as litter boxes and many caregivers need to negotiate possible ways to keep cats out of sandboxes in communities. It’s time for Playing in the Sandbox! 10 Reasons For Coalitions and How To Do It is what I […]
November 28, 2016
Happy Cyber Monday! I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday and was able to enjoy their family and loved ones. If you are doing your online shopping this fine Monday morning, feel free to take a quick look at our Community Cats Podcast Store. All proceeds go […]
November 21, 2016
I am sitting here listening to the snores of my two kitties, Misha and Hooch, and they both look so content! How could I not help but be thankful for having these two odd mush balls in my life?! Many of you might feel the same way and it is […]
November 14, 2016
Raising Money for Community Cats. It’s not a lot different than what happened the day the furnace died! I will never forget this day! It was early November about 5 years ago. I was at the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society adoption center in Salisbury, going about my usual day. […]
November 7, 2016
This week, the news will be focused on our elections. I don’t know about you, but I will be happy when this is over! Every election season I am continually amazed by how much money goes into campaigns. So much fundraising is done by powerhouse agencies trying to get folks […]
October 31, 2016
With today being Halloween, I thought I would mention a few Tips and Tricks for Community Cats at Halloween. These will ensure that you, your community cats and house cats stay safe during this favorite holiday for kids! For the Community Cats: If you feed cats at night between 5-8pm, you […]
October 24, 2016
The past couple of weeks has been very tough on the little community that I live in, in Vermont. Some of you may have heard about the terrible accident that happened over Columbus Day weekend, killing five teenagers. While I didn’t know the kids personally, my son is a seventh […]
October 17, 2016
Happy National Feral Cat Day! On this day I want us to take a moment to focus on what National Feral Cat Day means to us. I specifically want to focus on the word “Feral”. We’ve gotten a bit away from identifying our free-roaming cat populations and just putting all cats […]
October 10, 2016
I must admit that I have been remiss over the years when it came to neglecting the importance of Community Cats Education. What about Kids? Ideas and Tips for Community Cat Education is such an important hurdle. We need the next generation to get excited about Community Cats! Over the […]
October 3, 2016
On September 23, I had the opportunity to attend the Agents of Change (#AOC2016) conference in Portand, Maine. This was an all day “love in” for all things social media. For me, this was a great opportunity to learn from the experts about some of the best practices in the […]
September 26, 2016
I often ask myself why is it such a challenge for us all to do the right thing for Community Cats. Why do we pass by a situation when we know that we can all help? It really does take a village in order to make sure the cats in […]