Tips and Tricks Archives - The Community Cats Podcast

May 27, 2018

The Silly Season- Happy Memorial Day!

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 […]

June 17, 2018

Motivational Interviewing…Huh?

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 […]

July 22, 2018

How to Adopt out Cats and Kittens Without the Help of Your Local Shelter

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 […]

August 5, 2018

Feline Fix By Five – I need your input!

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 […]

August 19, 2018

The Volunteer Program Wellness Check

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 26, 2018

Five Freedoms and Community Cats, I wonder?

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 […]

October 14, 2018

Adopting Out the Last Kitten of the Litter

For those of us with organizations in the northern climates, the summer kitten season is finally coming to an end. Most of our youngest kittens are long-since adopted and romping around their new homes. But what about those kittens that didn’t get snatched up right away? Maybe they were the […]

October 21, 2018

Get Inspired by this Community Feral Cat Shelter Building Project!

In response to our September 24th post about preparing your community cat shelters for the winter, we got a great email from Chris Bralick of Indiana’s Elkhart County Feral Cat Coalition. Chris wanted to share their “Community Build” feral/community cat shelter-building project with us (called 4 Paws 4 Walls), and […]

November 5, 2018

Goal-Setting for 2019 —Why Is It Important?

The next two months are going to be a whirlwind of activities. Between Thanksgiving and the holidays in December, I have never felt like I could really enjoy myself during these months. Family and work pull me in way too many different directions. It isn’t fun. Before you enter into […]

November 18, 2018

Creating a Fundraising Plan for 2019

Over the next two weeks I am going to touch upon two areas of our organizational goal setting that are often overlooked: the fundraising/development plan and the operations plan. Ughhh, you say. Who has time for this? I will agree that fall is a very busy time for fundraising, but […]

November 26, 2018

Creating an Operations Plan for 2019

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. Last week your assignment was to think about your fundraising plan for 2019 while enjoying family and friends! This week are going to think about our operations for 2019 and what sort of goals we would like to set for next […]

December 9, 2018

Seasonal Sanity in a Feline-Filled Household

This week’s guest post comes to us from Liz Pease, former Executive Director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who was featured on Episode #51 of the podcast. It’s hard to believe it’s December again, but here we are! With the holiday season come Christmas trees, Hanukkah & Kwanzaa candles, […]

March 25, 2019

Trapper Tips & Tricks Profile: Charlotte Fox

This week, we have the next installment in our occasional series called Trapper Tips & Tricks, which profiles folks who are involved in trapping community cats. This week we bring you tips from Charlotte Fox, Field Coordinator at Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC. Charlotte has been trapping cats since […]

May 19, 2019

Trapper Tips & Tricks Profile: C5’s Keith Williams

This week, we have the next installment of our occasional series called Trapper Tips & Tricks, which will profile folks who are involved in trapping community cats. This week we bring you tips from Keith Williams, President and Founder of C5 (Community Cat Coalition of Clark County) in Las Vegas, Nevada, […]

May 26, 2019

‘Tis the Season…for Catios!

This week’s guest post comes to us from Liz Pease, former Executive Director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who was featured on CCP Episode #51. You’ve probably heard about catios (or “cat patios”). Maybe your cats are even lucky enough to have a one! If not, it might […]

June 17, 2019

Trapper Tricks & Tips – Liz Pease

This week, we have the next installment of our occasional series called Trapper Tips & Tricks, which will profile folks who are involved in trapping community cats. This week we bring you tips from Liz Pease, former executive director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who has been trapping […]

June 23, 2019

Rabies Vaccination and Microchip Clinics – Why You Need Them in Your Community

Many of you know that I am part of a small volunteer group in Chelsea, Massachusetts that, with the help of fundraising and a local foundation, is committed to making life better for cats and dogs in the community. The group, HubCats Chelsea, offers free spay/neuter services for owned, stray […]

July 1, 2019

Are You Ready for Kitten College?

Just about a week ago now, CCP partnered with the National Kitten Coalition (NKC) to hold the first-ever online kitten conference. We had twelve fantastic speakers with a lot of incredible information. There were many nuggets of cool information, but one thing that I found especially intriguing was the “Kitten […]

July 8, 2019

Foster Program Profile Series: Siamese Cat Rescue Center

Today’s blog is the first installment of a new series: the Foster Program Profile Series, in which we ask foster program directors a series of questions about their program and then share their answers with you. This week, we’re talking to Siri Zwemke of Siamese Cat Rescue Center. We hope […]

July 15, 2019

July 15, 2019

Guest Post: Saving the Aggressive Cats

Today’s post comes from guest blogger Allison Hunter-Frederick, a pet blogger, cat consultant, and cat trainer. Allison is also mom to three rescue cats. This post originally appeared on Allison’s blog site, Lincoln Pet Culture. We thought it was so great that we reached out to Allison to ask if we […]

July 22, 2019

San Francisco Feral Kitten Frenzy

Last week I read an article about some policy changes at the San Francisco SPCA and San Francisco Animal Care and Control regarding their policies on trapping feral mother cats and kittens. In a nutshell, the groups “have instituted a new policy that allows the mothers and kittens to stay together […]

August 15, 2019

CCP Drops in on Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw’s Book Tour

This week’s guest post comes to us from Liz Pease, former Executive Director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who was featured on CCP Episode #51. This past week, fellow CCP staff member Kristen and I (Liz Pease) were lucky enough to see Hannah Shaw (better known as Kitten Lady) on […]

September 5, 2019

It’s National Preparedness Month—Is Your Pet Emergency Kit Ready?

This week’s guest post comes to us from Liz Pease, former Executive Director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who was featured on CCP Episode #51. Every year, as soon as Labor Day passes, I know it’s about that time again: time to update my household emergency kits—including the […]

September 12, 2019

Disaster Preparedness Resources, Tips, & Tricks for Shelters

This week’s guest post comes to us from Liz Pease, former Executive Director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who was featured on CCP Episode #51. As you know from last week’s post, September is National Preparedness Month here in the U.S. Last week, we talked about setting up […]

September 19, 2019

My Visit to Treehouse Humane Society

At the end of August, I had the privilege of driving my daughter Rachel and her cat Maggie out to Chicago, where Rachel is starting graduate school this month. It was two days of nerve-racking driving, but Maggie was actually an awesome traveler, so the anticipation ended up being worse […]

October 31, 2019

Halloween and International Black Cat Awareness Month

October is Black Cat Awareness month due to the fact that many people worry that folks are going to do terrible things to black cats around Halloween. While this has largely proven to be a myth, black cats are already 50% less likely to be adopted than other cats in […]

November 7, 2019

Webinars Reviews: What I’m Watching

I have been binge-watching lots of webinars lately. Webinars are a great way to learn new information without loading up the car or getting on a plane to go to a conference. This week, I’ll share my thoughts on some of the webinars I have been watching recently. ASPCA Pro: Leadership […]

November 14, 2019

It’s Goal-Setting Time

When I first started the Community Cats Podcast, I had big dreams of being able to provide tip sheets every week on all parts of taking care of community cats. I had big dreams and high goals. Yes, I said goals. I have hit some of the goals that I […]

November 21, 2019

Book Reviews

These are some of the books that I have been reading lately and my thoughts about them. Several of them would be great holiday gifts. Rescue Meez – Siri Zwemke This is a wonderful book and anyone who is thinking about starting a nonprofit organization should definitely read it. I hadn’t […]

November 29, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving + Something for Those Who Don’t Like Football

Happy Thanksgiving! I want to thank everyone for being part of the CCP family this year, whether as a listener to the show, a conference or webinar attendee, or a Community Cats Grant program participant. Thank you all for your support and for sharing the Community Cats Podcast with others. […]

December 5, 2019

Webinars That Will Blow You Away!

It is getting cold and snowy outside, so it is a good time for more webinar reviews. Here are a couple Maddie’s Fund Webinars that were of interest to me: Toolkit for the Time-Starved Leader: A Practical Guide to Hiring and Retaining Engaged Employees Presented by Jocyeln Kessler, MBA, Senior […]

December 12, 2019

The Cat Rescuers- A Review

I recently had an opportunity to watch The Cat Rescuers, a documentary by Rob Fruchtman and Steve Lawrence. I have had the opportunity to interview Steve (CCP Episodes 178 and 307) about his experience making the film and following the main characters, Clare, Sassee, Tara, and Stuart around. We follow […]

December 17, 2019

Lizz Whitacre, Pawlytics

“We’re really excited about the ability to share these resources so that, as a community, we can have a much bigger impact on the feral cat community.” Listen to Episode #330 now In this episode, Stacy is joined by Lizz Whitacre, founder and CEO of Pawlytics, a technology solution to […]

December 19, 2019

This Blog Is for You! The 2019 CCP Listeners Survey

I would like to find out from you, our listeners, some of your thoughts about the Community Cats Podcast and our programs. If you can take a few minutes to answer these questions, it will help us improve our programs next year. If you can fill this quick survey out […]

December 24, 2019

John Boone, Wildlife Biologist at Great Bay Bird Observatory

“We tried very hard to focus objectively on the questions that we’re asking and accept the answers that we’re getting …” Listen to Episode #331 now John Boone, a wildlife biologist previously interviewed on CCP, joins Stacy to discuss new research on how we can use the tools we […]

December 31, 2019

Julia Grosz, Cat Hustler

“Marketing is not adoption counseling … [it’s] the highlight reel.” Listen to Episode #332 now This episode is sponsored by Dr. Elsey’s Veterinarian Formulated Quality Products for Cats, makers of “litter we’re so confident you’ll love, your first purchase is on us.” Learn more! Julia Grosz earned the nickname […]

January 2, 2020

Community Cats Podcast Goals for 2020

Many of you know that goal-setting is one of my favorite things to do. I usually start to think about goals in the fall, but unfortunately this year I just haven’t had a chance to sit down and really focus on our goals here at CCP until now. I can’t […]

January 9, 2020

Fundraising TV: What It Is and a Review

I had the opportunity to spend some time this weekend checking out Sandy Rees’s Fundraising TV program. Many of you know Sandy from her presentations at the 2018 Online Cat Conference and the 2019 Online Kitten Conference. I have also had Sandy on the Community Cats Podcast as a guest […]

January 14, 2020

Hasara Lay, Catexplorer

“Cats are capable of more than we give them credit for.” Listen to Episode #334 now In this episode, Stacy speaks with Hasara Lay, founder of Catexplorer, a community, movement, and lifestyle brand for people who explore the world with their cats. Hasara, who is located in Australia, began […]

January 16, 2020

Double your adoptions in 2020 – here’s how!

This is a guest post from Kristen Auerbach, Director of Pima Animal Care Center. Kristen Auerbach has been making some dramatic changes since joining the Pima Animal Care Center in Tuscon, AZ. I have been following her and I found the post below very interesting and valuable. Kristen has kindly allowed […]

January 21, 2020

A Best of CCP Episode! Dr. Sara Pizano, DVM, Team Shelter USA

“Ending euthanasia doesn’t take years, and it doesn’t take millions of dollars.” Listen to Episode #335 now Stacy sits down with Dr. Sara Pizano (a previous CCP guest on Episode 56, Episode 171, and Episodes 246 and 247) to discuss Dr. Pizano’s new book, The Best Practice Playbook for […]

January 24, 2020

Stacy’s Podcast Reviews – Part 1

As a podcaster, I thought I would share some of the other animal-focused podcasts that I listen to. Maybe you listen to podcasts on your commute, or maybe at work or just while out walking. Whether you have lots of time for podcasts or just a little time, we all […]

January 28, 2020

A Best of CCP Episode! Will Zweigart, Flatbush Cats

“Five to ten years from now, I want to be able to look at my neighborhood … and say that we’ve made a measurable impact.” Listen to Episode #336 now In this episode, Stacy sits down with Will Zweigart, founder of Flatbush Cats, a nonprofit focused on reducing the […]

January 30, 2020

CCP Goes to Jackson Galaxy’s Total Cat Mojo Live Tour

This week’s guest post comes to us from Liz Pease, former Executive Director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who was featured on CCP Episode #51. Last week, on behalf of CCP, I attended Jackson Galaxy’s Total Cat Mojo Live tour. The Boston stop was held at the Wilbur Theatre, […]

February 4, 2020

Interview! Jeff Parks, Author of You Know Your Cat Loves You Because…

“I wanted it to be a book that was full of joy.” Listen to Episode #337 now Jeff Parks, a comedy writer by trade, wasn’t introduced to the world of cats until he was in his 30s, but once he was, there was no going back. He quickly turned […]

February 6, 2020

Online Cat Conference Summary

We had a fantastic weekend at the 2020 Online Cat Conference on January 24–26. We had such an impressive group of presenters and I am thankful to all of the speakers for giving of their time and sharing their expertise. I would also like to thank the Humane Society of […]

February 13, 2020

Animal Podcast Reviews Part 2

A few weeks ago, I reviewed several animal welfare-related podcasts. Here are some more reviews of some of the podcasts that I listen to and my thoughts about them. Humane Voices Did you know that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has its own podcast called Humane Voices? It is […]

April 9, 2020

Twenty-ish More Virtual Training Ideas

It seems like folks enjoyed my listing of resources last week, so I am going to continue to share more resources for you to enjoy and share with others. Since in-person conference season is pretty much wiped out, one good way to share virtual education is to have a group of people […]

June 4, 2020

10 Ways for Your Indoor Cat to Enjoy the Great Outdoors Safely

Summer is finally here for those of us who live in the north, and many of us want to get outside to enjoy the sun and warm weather. I am sure our cats want to be able to do this too. Below are a few tips to consider when bringing […]

June 11, 2020

Everything You Need to Know About Kittens!

You may have seen my blog post about a possible kitten explosion and overpopulation concerns a couple of weeks ago. I believe we will have a substantial uptick in the number of kittens being born in our communities this summer, and I also am convinced that members of the community […]

June 18, 2020

A Question for the CCP Community – Is it time to lose our spay/neuter mission?

Spending the weekend talking at the Online Kitten Conference about how to care for, nurture, spay/neuter, transport, and adopt out kittens really got me thinking about the role of spay/neuter in our animal welfare movement. Twenty-plus years ago, when I first started out with the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, […]

June 25, 2020

10 Tips for Successful Feline Fundraising in the Time of COVID-19

Once the coronavirus hit, the stock market plummeted, and unemployment took off in the United States, our nonprofits started to shut down. Many organizations began to worry about their fundraising prospects for the year ahead. Some organizations chose to lay off or furlough employees, including their development staff, but some […]

July 30, 2020

Your Cat’s Path to Insta-stardom

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Your cat is the cutest cat there’s ever been. You know it. You want everyone to know it. Now it’s time to make your perfect cat an Instagram star. The internet is a […]

August 6, 2020

You Found a Stray Kitten in Your Yard. Now What?

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. The warmer weather ushers in kitten season, which can last a long time and put a lot of stress on your local shelters and rescues. Now you’ve found a stray kitten in your […]

August 20, 2020

Anyone Can Trap! How to Get Involved with Your Local TNR Program

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs can be a wonderful way to deal with community cat population issues. It is important that community/feral cats get spayed/neutered and vaccinated so that their colonies don’t grow exponentially. In […]

August 27, 2020

Reasons Not to Adopt?

This week’s guest post comes to us from Liz Pease, former Executive Director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who was featured on CCP Episode #51. Last week, while putting together the CCP e-news, I was struck by the video that we shared from the new group Companions and Animals […]

September 3, 2020

Transports for Shelters and Volunteers

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Dale’s volunteer name tag at Animal Friends Alliance (AFA) in Fort Collins, Colorado reads “Cat Chauffeur.” He is one of a dedicated group of volunteers that helps to transport animals to AFA from […]

September 10, 2020

The Ever-Changing World of Facebook Marketing: What You Need to Know

Today’s guest post comes to us from Emma Gabbert, Digital Content Specialist Intern at Whisker Media. When social media took off in the 2010s, businesses and nonprofits were excited to get their brand on social media platforms. It’s fair to say that at the time, no one could foresee the […]

September 17, 2020

Planning for Emergencies

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Photos are courtesy of Krista and of Isabel Betsill of Colorado. The sun today is red. The sky, an orangey-black. Ash is drifting down from the sky like snow. It’s so dark it […]

September 24, 2020

Caring for Your Feral Working Cat

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Employing a feral working cat at your barn, warehouse, vineyard, garden center, or workshop serves the dual purpose of controlling the rodent population and helping a feral cat find a safe place to […]

October 1, 2020

Programs for Pet Retention

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. This week I spoke to Anna, Community Pet Resource Manager at Animal Friends Alliance (AFA), a guaranteed adoption shelter in Colorado, about programs that support pet retention or shelter intake prevention. If you’ve […]

October 8, 2020

The Kansas Law that Keeps FeLV+ Cats from Being Adopted

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Kansas State Law 47-624 sounds pretty reasonable. Under the Kansas Statutes for Livestock and Domestic Animals, the law pertains to “any domestic animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease.” These animals are […]

October 23, 2020

A Powerful New Tool for Improving Return to Owner Rates

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. At the 2020 American Pets Alive! Conference, Gina Knepp (Michelson Found Animals) and Bobby Mann (Front Street Animal Shelter) gave a presentation about their Lost2Found program. The program features an automated text messaging […]

November 26, 2020

What Is It Like to Foster? 10 Experienced Foster Homes Weigh In

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Have you considered fostering cats, but aren’t sure about what it will be like? We’ve put together some advice and answers to common questions to help you decide if fostering is right for […]

December 3, 2020

Tips and Tricks for Taking Great Cat Photos

From How to Take Awesome Photos of Cats by Andrew Marttila (@iamthecatphotographer). If you read our recent Book Review post, I reviewed Marttila’s how-to guide on capturing our adorable felines. I’d like to do another post today outlining some of Marttila’s basic tips. Behavior to watch for Marttila starts off […]

December 10, 2020

DIY Cat Toys

The holidays are coming up and your cat is no doubt wondering what you’ll be getting her. Whether your cat has been naughty or nice, we know you’ll want to spoil her anyway. And we have good news for you: There are plenty of easy, low-commitment, DIY cat toys that […]

December 16, 2020

(More) Cat Books for Kids

This week’s post comes to us from Liz Pease, CCP staff member and former Executive Director of the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, who was featured on CCP Episode #51. Several years ago, I wrote a CCP blog post entitled Kids, Cats, and Books with my suggestions for kids’ books related […]

December 31, 2020

Home 4 the Holidays Adoption Campaign

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Home 4 the Holidays is a campaign put on by the Helen Woodward Animal Center, along with their partner Blue Buffalo Pet Food. The campaign is a three-month adopt-a-thon that connects adopters looking […]

January 7, 2021

Socially Conscious Sheltering

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. I recently saw a presentation about socially conscious sheltering and socially conscious animal communities by Marissa Martino, Colorado Humane Society Community Liason at Dumb Friends League. I think the model presented by Marissa […]

January 14, 2021

The Scoop on Pet Food Expiration Dates

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. You’ve found some pet food in your pantry that’s past its “best by” date. You don’t want to waste it, but you also don’t want to make your pet sick. What should you […]

February 12, 2021

Bird TV: A New Hobby for Your Cat (and You!)

Let’s face it: It’s been a long nine-plus months of social distancing and staying inside way more than we might normally have. In some ways, we’re learning what it’s like to be indoor cats—especially one who used to spend time outdoors. One great way to keep your cats—and yourself—entertained is […]

February 25, 2021

How to Get Girl Scouts More Involved with Animal Shelters—Whether You’re a Scout, a Troop Leader, or a Shelter

I’ve been involved in Girl Scouting since I was 9 years old and still participate as an adult. For girl members aged 5–18, Girl Scouts provides a great opportunity to discover passions and develop courage, confidence, and character. If the girls in your troop are passionate about animals, there are a […]

March 12, 2021

Crisis in Texas: American Pets Alive! Responds

Over Valentine’s Day weekend, the polar vortex brought freezing temperatures to locations across the United States. Texas was one of the hardest-hit areas, with cold temperatures bringing the state to a standstill and causing power outages across the state. Animal rescuers jumped into action and many animals were successfully transported […]

March 25, 2021

Book Reviews

Let’s Talk About Cats: Conversations on Feline Behaviour by Anita Kelsey By a behaviorist and groomer, this book is a combination of interviews, tips, and stories from Kelsey’s work. Though I read it straight through, it is broken down in such a way that you could just read the chapters […]

April 8, 2021

Animal Laws: What’s Going On Around the Country

As animal lovers, we all want our laws to protect animals, who don’t have the ability to advocate for themselves. But it can be very confusing to try to keep up with all the bills moving through city and state governments, as well as the national government. So we’ve prepared […]

April 22, 2021

Virginia TNR

In our last blog post, we touched on a few of the cat-related laws in the works around the country. One of those laws was SB 1390, a bill in Virginia that would clarify the rules and regulations around TNR so that localities around the state can better participate. This […]

May 6, 2021

The Impact of Shelter Cat Adoption in Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Though there is anecdotal evidence that bonds and interactions with animals can help autistic children, there isn’t much research on the subject. I recently watched an interesting lecture by Dr. Gretchen Carlisle, Research Scientist at the Research Center for Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI), University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, […]

May 20, 2021

Common Kitty Behaviors and Meanings

This week’s guest blog comes to us from our friends at All About Cats. Their expert-written, expert-reviewed guides bring you the facts on cat products, behavior, health, and more. Their editorial team is made of dedicated cat lovers and experts, including over a dozen veterinarians, a cat behavior specialist, and […]

September 9, 2021

Homeward Bound

A missing pet means anxiety, fear, sorrow, and uncertainty for owners. According to the most recent white paper findings from Shelter Animals Count, the return to owner rate for dogs in 2020 was 40.7%—but cats were a fraction of that, at only 5.1%. So what can we, as pet owners […]

September 23, 2021

Pet Loss: Finding the Road to Healing

The loss of a companion animal is devastating, whether you are prepared for the loss or it comes suddenly through disaster or accident. The bond that we share with the animals in our lives are similar to those shared with beloved family members. The grief experienced after such a loss […]

October 6, 2021

Fall means cool weather, warm drinks, and preparing cats for winter.

Original article contributed by Liz Pease | Update by Brianna Lovell Myers It’s that special time of year. The leaves are changing, the weather is turning, and pumpkin spice is in demand. As fall takes hold, I bet we’re all starting to think the same thing–time to winterize our feeding stations […]

October 21, 2021

Adapting to Survive: Using Surgeons to Train Per Diem Veterinarians

Original article by Kerry Bartoletti, Protectors of Animals & Connecticut Statewide Leader | USpA Published Oct 19, 2021 SPAY Connecticut and POA SPAY Spay/Neuter Clinic are both programs of Protectors of Animals, Inc. (POA). The mission of POA is to increase the quality of life of all dogs and cats in the communities we serve. This […]

November 4, 2021

Year-End Fundraising, Diversity and Community Cats Takeaways: A recap of Online Fundraising Day and Online Diversity Day

This year, the Community Cats Podcast team celebrated Global Cat Day (or National Feral Cat Day) by hosting back-to-back events filled with useful takeaways, tidbits, and fun: Online Fundraising Day (October 16) and Online Diversity Day (October 17). I will be honest–I was a bit nervous going into the weekend. […]

November 18, 2021

Holiday Tips from Way of Cats

Many thanks to Cat Advice Columnist and author, Pamela Merritt, for sharing this week’s blog post! Stacy interviewed Pamela in episode #259 of the podcast, available to listen here. Cats are now the most popular pet in the world. But the most joyous holiday season can be our cat’s worst […]

December 2, 2021

There’s plenty more where that came from! What’s in store for 2022.

Before I talk about what’s in store, I would like to ask our supporters to take a few minutes to answer this survey so we can make sure we have got your back in 2022. Share your thoughts and help make the Community Cats Podcast even better. I can’t believe […]

December 16, 2021

A Community Cats Grants Program Update: Group 13 Seized the Moment!

We are very proud to share that another group of organizations has successfully completed their fundraising in order to receive a matching grant from Community Cats Podcast! Finding new fundraisers can be a challenge. Fortunately, the Community Cats Grants Program provides resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help organizations brainstorm […]

December 21, 2021

Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond, Colony Care Taking Tips and Tricks Part 1

“The bond that is formed between the cats and their carer is all about food… The cats learn, pretty quickly, who is feeding them, and the attachment forms from there.” Listen to Episode #435 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com. In part one of […]

December 28, 2021

Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond, Colony Care Taking Tips and Tricks Part 2

“Once you’ve listened and once you’ve empathized [with neighbors] you’ve diffused the situation and most, 90%, of people are not going to be angry.” Listen to Episode #436 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com. In Part 2 of 2021 Colony Caretaking Tips & Tricks, […]

December 30, 2021

It’s never too late to set goals. Here’s to 2022!

Happy New Year! Well, almost. I hope everyone has been able to take some time off to just rest and breathe a bit. As many of you know, I begin thinking about goals for the next year in early November. It is never too late to set goals. Back in […]

January 4, 2022

Aaron Hancox, Documentary Filmmaker of Running Wild: the Cats of Cornwall

“Until the average person understands the implications of putting a cat outside —whether it is owned or not — and how there can be this huge ripple effect, we’re not going to get anywhere.” Listen to Episode #437 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s […]

January 11, 2022

Blending Holistic and Traditional Veterinary Care for Cats with Dr. Gary Richter, MS, DVM

“Now there’s a lot more thought put into what the animal’s experience is.” Listen to Episode #438 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. This week, Stacy checks in with the very accomplished Dr. Gray Richter. Dr. Richter is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and […]

January 13, 2022

A Community Cats Grants Program Update: Group 12 Saved the Day

An elderly woman who regularly feeds 8 cats. A disabled resident with dozens of cats on their property. An abandoned warehouse, known as a site for abandonment, with more than 40 cats. Suburban homes. Urban apartment buildings. Mobile home parks. Crowded commercial areas. They are stories we all know so […]

January 18, 2022

Beverly Means, LMSW, Founder and Executive Director of Transitions Pet Care

“When people are facing these major illnesses…they are unable to get the support they need to care for their pet and they’re not ready to rehome them either…they count on that comfort.” Listen to Episode #439 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. Turning […]

January 25, 2022

Michael Bricker, Chief of Engagement of Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity™ (CARE)

“For anything – as far as animals are related – to be completely sustainable, it has to happen in the community, it has to happen the community.” Listen to Episode #440 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. Mike Bricker has spent years in […]

January 27, 2022

The Language We Use Matters More Than You Think

Guest post by Danielle Bays, Senior Analyst for Cat Protection and Policy at the Humane Society of the United States World events over the past two years have rippled into animal welfare in many ways: pandemic pets and virtual adoptions, shortages of veterinarians and canned cat food, a focus on […]

February 1, 2022

Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond, Return-to-Field & Targeting: The Community Cat Program, Part 1

“…are you going to serve the majority who likes the cats there, or at least the majority that’s suggested by the data that we have, or are you going to throw in your lot with the others?” Listen to Episode #441 Now This episode is sponsored in part by […]

February 8, 2022

Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond, Return-to-Field & Targeting: The Community Cat Program, Part 2

“The door is always open to work together.” Listen to Episode #442 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. In part two of the Return-to-Field & Targeting: The Community Cat Program webinar Bryan Kortis explores what fears people have prior to starting a return-to-field and […]

February 10, 2022

10 Myths & Facts About Spaying & Neutering Your Cat

Written by Cristin Bates, Edited by Brianna Lovell Myers As a loving pet parent, you want your cat to have the best life possible. Spaying (a female cat) and neutering (a male cat) are procedures that prevent them from reproducing. Spay/neuter provides many benefits and makes life better for you […]

February 15, 2022

Feline Behavior with New Zealand’s The Cat Counsellor, Molly Kelsey

“I wanted to focus on keeping not just cats happy but owners happy with their cats and reducing owner surrender and things like euthanasia due to problem behaviors.” Listen to Episode #443 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. Meet Molly Kelsey, a former […]

February 22, 2022

Building a Community with Two Crazy Cat Ladies, Jae Kennedy & Adrienne Lefebvre

“We have learned so much about how to enrich our cats’ lives. Whether that means diet, nutrition, supplementation. But even more so, the environmental things that they need like vertical space.” Listen to Episode #444 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. In this […]