spay/neuter Archives - The Community Cats Podcast

June 9, 2016

Welcome to our community!

Welcome to the Community Cats Podcast website. I am thrilled to be launching this website where we, as a community, can help more community cats. What is a community cat you ask? Community Cats are cats that are either feral (born in the wild-outdoors), abandoned cats, or owned indoor/outdoor cats […]

August 15, 2016

Ten tips for statewide success in identifying spay/neuter black holes

Before I get started with this week’s blog, I want to thank everyone who has supported the Community Cats Podcast and has put up a review on iTunes! I just want to send a shout out to: GPCatCrew, Anuki21, kitkat76, HL Cat Lover, julieinmd3, HubCats105 and the UrbanCatCoalition for the […]

May 30, 2017

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

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

June 19, 2017

It’s all about Spay/Neuter Baby

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

March 5, 2018

March 5, 2018

The May Spay Challenge

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 […]

March 25, 2018

Introducing the Community Cat Pyramid

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. […]

April 22, 2018

Clear out the Shelters – How to Make it Happen

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 29, 2018

Cat Cycling – How to Make Your Spay/Neuter Programs Most Impactful and not Overwhelm Your Staff

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 […]

May 5, 2018

Interview! Part 1 – Dr. Sara Pizano, Veterinarian and Animal Welfare Consultant

“Northern Kentucky will be no-kill for cats this year, absolutely, hands-down!” Dr. Sara Pizano, who joined us previously on Episode 171, is a veterinarian who has been involved in animal welfare for over thirty years. She has extensive experience helping shelters move away from euthanasia as a means of population […]

May 12, 2018

Interview! Part 2 – Dr. Sara Pizano, Veterinarian and Animal Welfare Consultant

“You don’t need millions of dollars—you need to allocate your pie of resources intelligently … that’s really the key.” In part 2 of our two-part episode with Dr. Sara Pizano, she talks about the big picture in animal welfare these days, and about where she feels the focus should be […]

July 14, 2018

Interview! Mike Keiley (MSPCA) & Carmine DiCenso (Dakin Humane Society), “The Mike & Carmine Show,” Part I

“Overpopulation is very, very different than not allowing your animals to leave your shelter.” – C.D. Stacy speaks with Mike Keiley, the Director of Adoption Centers and Programs at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), and Carmine DiCenso, Executive Director of the Dakin Humane Society […]

July 21, 2018

Interview! Mike Keiley (MSPCA) & Carmine DiCenso (Dakin Humane Society), “The Mike & Carmine Show,” Part 2

“I think it’s time for us to pull together and really work towards how we might be able to help the largest number of people and animals.” – MK Tune in to the second part of “The Mike and Carmine Show,” with Mike Keiley of the MSPCA and Carmine DiCenso […]

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 […]

September 2, 2018

Non-Surgical Sterilization – How Will It Work for Community Cats?

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 […]

September 8, 2018

Interview! Olivia Westley, Development Director for Forgotten Cats, Inc.

“Anything is possible, and I hope that there can be a lot more organizations like Forgotten Cats in this world.” Olivia Westley, a former teacher who discovered her true passion for helping cats when she started volunteering in a Forgotten Cats pet store adoption center, now serves as the group’s […]

October 6, 2018

Interview! Julie Jacobson, Spay Tennessee and CCP Grants Coordinator

“You can do it. We promise. We’re here to help.” Those of you who have been CCP fans for a long time may remember hearing Stacy chat with Julie Jacobson before in Episodes 2 and 92. Julie runs Spay Tennessee, but is also the CCP grants coordinator. If you don’t […]

October 20, 2018

Interview! Gary Willoughby, President & CEO of SPCA Serving Erie County

“It seems like we’re at a good crossroads here [with community cats].” Gary Willoughby, the President and CEO of the SPCA Serving Erie County in West Seneca, New York, joins Stacy to talk about what’s going on at the nation’s second oldest humane society. A passionate life-long learner, Gary joined […]

November 3, 2018

HubCats TV! Featuring Dr. William Snell, Veterinarian at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital

“You didn’t sign up to be a vet to get the bills paid. You signed up to help animals.” This week our show is a little different. In addition to hosting The Community Cats Podcast, Stacy LeBaron also appears on HubCats TV, a show on Chelsea Cable Access where she […]

December 1, 2018

A Best of CCP Episode! Mike Keiley (MSPCA) & Carmine DiCenso (Dakin Humane Society)

“Overpopulation is very, very different than not allowing your animals to leave your shelter.” – C.D. Durning the month of December, we’re revisiting some of our favorite, most informative shows. This is a rebroadcast of episodes 256 and 257 which we dubbed “The Mike & Carmine Show” – enjoy! Stacy speaks […]

January 28, 2019

Trapper Tips & Tricks Profile: Laura Burns

This week, we are starting an occasional series called Trapper Tips & Tricks, which will profile folks who are involved in trapping community cats. This week we interviewed Laura Burns, president of Hub Cats, a community cat group working in Chelsea, Massachusetts. She is also president of Habitat for Cats, […]

February 23, 2019

Interview! Kay Stout, ED of PAAS Vinita

“What hurts us so often in rescue is that the passion gets in the way of progress.” Kay Stout is the Executive Director of PAAS Vinita in Oklahoma, a multi-faceted group that grew out of the initial shelter that gives the group its name (PAAS stands for “Peaceful Animal Adoption […]

March 3, 2019

Trapper Tips and Tricks Profile: Bryan Kortis, Neighborhood Cats

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 interview Bryan Kortis, co-founder and National Programs Director of Neighborhood Cats, a leading community cat advocacy group with hands-on programs […]

March 9, 2019

Interview! Kim Saunders, Operations Director, Liberty Humane Society

“People caring for [community] cats might not realize that the shelter supports them in their efforts to do so.” Kim Saunders was a practicing attorney when she decided to move into the animal welfare world full-time (after years of volunteering). She spent 15 years at Petfinder before moving into a […]

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 […]

April 13, 2019

Interview! Kate Hurley, DVM, Director of U.C. Davis Koret School of Veterinary Medicine and Co-founder of Million Cat Challenge

“In the time I’ll talk to you, twenty fewer cats will lose their lives in animal shelters because of the progress we’ve made in this field in the last five years.” You may remember Dr. Kate Hurley, Director of U.C. Davis Koret School of Veterinary Medicine and co-founder of Million […]

April 27, 2019

Interview! Keith Williams, C5 (Community Cat Coalition of Clark County)

“C5 has exactly one program: we trap, neuter, and return free-roaming, unowned cats for colony caretakers.” In this interview, Keith Williams of C5 in Las Vegas joins Stacy to discuss the group’s founding and how they have managed to trap 35,000 cats in just 10 years of operation. You may […]

May 11, 2019

Interview! Lindsay Hamrick, Policy Director for Companion Animals, HSUS

“On the community cat front, it’s abundantly clear that cats have been second in all of the policies that have been pushed forward.” Lindsay Hamrick, Policy Director for Companion Animals at the Humane Society of the United States, works to support local, state and federal policies protecting pets. She holds […]

May 18, 2019

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

“Things can get better, no matter how long they’ve been bad.” For the 300th episode of Community Cats Podcast, Stacy is joined by Bryan Kortis, Director of National Programs for Neighborhood Cats. Previously featured on CCP Episode 13, Episode 127, and Episode 218, Bryan is back to talk about how […]

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 24, 2019

Interview! Christina Ha, Cat Camp & Meow Parlour Cat Café

“If you love cats, we’ll have something for you this weekend.” Christina Ha joins Stacy again (having been interviewed by Stacy in CCP episode 144 and episode 245), this time to discuss the third annual Cat Camp event, to be held this June 1 and 2 in New York City at […]

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 […]

August 20, 2019

Deb Barnes, Author, President of the Cat Writers’ Association

“Using my own life as a vehicle to educate others is what I wanted to do.” Listen to Episode #313 Now Deb Barnes is an award-winning author and blogger who currently serves as president of the Cat Writers’ Association, and as secretary of the board for Pawsitively Humane in […]

October 8, 2019

Shelly Simmons, CAWA, Division Manager, Greenville (SC) County Animal Care

“While the population entering the shelter is going down, the need to spay and neuter out in the community is going to be ongoing.” Listen to Episode #320 now Shelly Simmons has worked for Greenville County Animal Care, the largest open-admission shelter in South Carolina, for twelve years now. She […]

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 […]

March 10, 2020

Debbie Chatenever, community cat caretaker

“Going out and helping those cats gave me reason to want to get up and get dressed and go outside.” Listen to Episode #342 Now In this episode, Stacy chats with community cat caretaker Debbie Chatenever, who walks several miles each day to feed the community cats in her […]

March 12, 2020

Report from Podfest (and Field Trips!) in Orlando, Florida

Kristen and I got to spend several days in Orlando at Podfest last week. We had a great time! Since we work virtually, it is always great to get together to “talk shop” in person. We started out with a day-long session with Jessica Kupferman of She Podcasts, Bonnie Frank of Business […]

March 17, 2020

Lori Behrman, The Toby Project

“It has been … an amazing eleven years.” Listen to Episode #343 Now In this episode, Stacy talks with Lori Behrman, who runs the day-to-day operations of the Toby Project, including the mobile spay/neuter clinic. Lori has been with the Toby Project since Day One, and she considers her […]

March 31, 2020

Elaine Spencer and Melanie Gardner, T-Town TNR

“If you want to run a successful nonprofit TNR organization that relies on outside funding … capturing data is essential.” Listen to Episode #345 Now In this episode, Stacy chats with Elaine Spencer and Melanie Gardner from T-Town TNR, an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to resolving the feline overpopulation crisis […]

April 30, 2020

Where Are the Foster Homes for People Trapping Community Cats During COVID-19?

An Open Letter to Folks Who Trap Community Cats I am concerned that there will be kittens and cats that need our help and we won’t be to help them. You might think I am crazy, as the whole world seems to want to be a foster home. Groups are […]

May 7, 2020

Small is Beautiful During COVID-19

“Small is Beautiful” is going to be my mantra for community cat programs and clinics this summer. As states begin to open up their restrictions on what businesses can and can’t do, we will need to be creative in adjusting to different working conditions. The most nimble organizations are going […]

May 14, 2020

COVID-19: The Impact on Pets in Chelsea, MA

As we all do, I wear many hats. In addition to heading up the Community Cats Podcast and all of our educational programs, I am also the program administrator for a small group in Chelsea, MA called HubCats Chelsea (HCC). This group started up about four years ago to do a […]

May 28, 2020

Will the Great Kitten Explosion Happen?

Are you worried about the colonies that you take care of and about all of the kittens being born out in the community, especially when we don’t have access to the spay/neuter resources that we have normally have? While some parts of the United States are opening up, some are […]

June 2, 2020

Karen Little, Alley Cat Advocates

“We’re here and we’re here to stay.” Listen to Episode #354 Now Karen Little, featured previously on CCP Episode 17 and Episode 112, joins Stacy to discuss the new things going on with the organization she and her husband founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 1999, Alley Cat Advocates. In […]

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 23, 2020

Elizabeth Finch, Good Mews Animal Foundation

“We’re now able to expand our mission to help community cats.” Listen to Episode #357 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Fosterspace, powered by Doobert. Visit them online to learn more. Stacy talks with Elizabeth Finch, a member of the board of directors and full-time marketing and communications […]

July 14, 2020

Sterling Davis, Atlanta’s “Trap King”

“I see a lot more people getting engaged.” Listen to Episode #360 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Fosterspace, powered by Doobert. Visit them online to learn more. In this episode, Stacy sits down with Sterling Davis again (she talked with him before in CCP Episode 243) to […]

July 21, 2020

Dr. Bob Weedon, TLC PetSnip & Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs

“When you start talking about the public health benefits of TNVR programs, you engage a whole different group of stakeholders.” Listen to Episode #361 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Fosterspace, powered by Doobert. Visit them online to learn more. In this information-packed episode, Stacy sits down with […]

July 28, 2020

Carrie Lippert Gillaspie, Television & Podcast Host

“We’re changing the culture and we’re shifting how people are viewing community cats in our area.” Listen to Episode #362 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com. Other sponsorship consideration provided by The Cat Fanciers’ Association and The American Association of Feline Practitioners. In this episode, Stacy […]

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 13, 2020

Recent Study Identifies Key Indicators in Building High-Impact Community Cat Programs

Today’s guest post comes to us from Anna Murrin of Metro Denver CAT. Cat homelessness and overpopulation are problems that face animal welfare groups and the communities they support across the country. Addressing such a widespread problem is daunting when the data is incomplete. Metro Denver CAT is a program created […]

August 18, 2020

Julie Jacobson, Spay Tennessee and CCP Community Cats Grants Program

“I fear a complete loss of services in some areas that already had little to nothing.” Listen to Episode #365 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, The Cat Fanciers’ Association, and The American Association of Feline Practitioners. Stacy chats with Julie Jacobson of Spay Tennessee, who is […]

October 20, 2020

Meagan King, Volunteer & Advocate

“We need people to save animals. We always have to work with people … the only way we’re going to get this done is with people.” Listen to Episode #374 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, Heaven Can Wait, and C5. This week Stacy talks to […]

November 12, 2020

International TNR Spotlight: Let’s Adopt Indonesia

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Great TNR work is being done all over the world! This week we’re traveling (virtually) to Indonesia to learn more about the organization Let’s Adopt Indonesia. Note: this interview with Let’s Adopt Indonesia […]

November 19, 2020

International TNR Spotlight: CopsCats Cyprus

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Great TNR work is being done to support community cats all over the world! This week we have an interview with CopsCats, an organization in Cyprus. CopsCats is a small group of volunteers […]

December 22, 2020

Best of 2020 – Dr. Bob Weedon, TLC PetSnip & Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs

“When you start talking about the public health benefits of TNVR programs, you engage a whole different group of stakeholders.” Listen to Episode #383 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Fosterspace, powered by Doobert. Visit them online to learn more. In this information-packed episode, Stacy sits down with […]

January 12, 2021

Mikaela Fleisher, PennyFix

“What if we added a penny a can to every can of cat and dog food sold in the United States and we used that money to fund spaying and neutering, rabies and distemper vaccines?” Listen to Episode #386 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com. Mikaela […]

January 19, 2021

Allen Kamrava, Eusoh

“I was just really fed up with healthcare, not as a physician, but with the structural mechanisms of how healthcare operates, and really focused in on what was happening with insurance” Listen to Episode #387 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com. Our guest this week, Allen […]

January 21, 2021

We Can Do Better Than Lethal Control of Outdoor Cat Populations

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. As cat lovers, we hate seeing stories about communities employing lethal removal techniques to combat feral cat populations. But it isn’t distressing only because we hate the idea of cats being hunted and […]

January 28, 2021

The Bluegrass Cat Project

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. This week I chatted with Dr. Sara Pizano, founder of Team Shelter USA, LLC, about her work with the Bluegrass Cat Project and the recent grant they received from the Joanie Bernard Foundation. […]

February 9, 2021

Sam Wilson – Program Director, Iowa Humane Alliance

“No one could afford to pay for [the spay/neuter of] an outdoor community cat…That made me aware of the very common problem of community cat overpopulation and how desperate of a need there was for affordable spay/neuter.” Listen to Episode #390 Now This episode is sponsored in part by […]

May 4, 2021

Deborah Cribbs, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Joanie Bernard Foundation & The Ten movement

“Our donor probably would have been happy…that every cat in Cincinnati had a bed and a telephone.” Listen to Episode #402 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Kitty Sift and Doobert.com. Deborah Cribbs, a banker by trade, is the chair of the board of trustees for Joanie […]

May 7, 2021

Special Episode! Care Dare

TrapKing Sterling Davis and Mike Bricker of Best Friends join Stacy to talk about the Care Dare challenge. Listen to Episode #402A Now Find out all the details about Care Dare, taking place this May, in this special episode! CARE will be sponsoring the first ever CARE DARE Community […]

June 2, 2021

The Whole Kit and Caboodle: TNR of Kittens

This week’s guest post is authored by Nancy Peterson of The National Kitten Coalition. Best TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) practices involve trapping the entire colony of cats at the same time, although there are times when this is not possible. When there are kittens to be trapped, there are additional considerations. You will be […]

June 15, 2021

Rita Reimers, Feline Behavior Consultant and Podcast Host

“Our society seems to be so dog focused that cats really get sold short sometimes.” Listen to Episode #408 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Smalls Fresh Cat Food and Doobert.com. In this episode, Stacy talks to Rita Reimers, a cat behavior consultant, writer, and podcast host. Rita […]

June 17, 2021

Yes, you can fundraise during a global pandemic! CCP’s Group 11 grantees showed us how.

Community Cats Podcast is excited to announce another successful round of grantgiving! We recently received final reports from our Group 11 participants. Together, these organizations fundraised more than $13,000. Community Cats Podcast issued more than $10,000 in grants, which led to over 500 community cats being spayed or neutered in […]

July 1, 2021

Adventure Cats

Thought going on adventures with your pet was reserved for dog owners? Think again! “Adventure cats” are becoming more prominent on social media and are accompanying their pet parents on all kinds of adventures, from hikes to kayaking trips. This week I spoke with Hannah LeBaron, who takes her cat […]

July 15, 2021

CCP Goes to the Movies

We reviewed the film Cat Rescuers a while ago on the blog. But what other cat movies are out there? We’ve put together this roundup of cat documentaries to watch with your furry companions. Paw Project If you haven’t yet seen the Paw Project documentary from 2013, we definitely recommend […]

September 7, 2021

Caron Tuttle, Atascosa Animal Allies

“The more people are involved, the happier they are when they see progress and see that they have done good for animals. It’s a cycle.” Listen to Episode #420 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Smalls Fresh Cat Food and Doobert.com. In 2017, Caron Tuttle answered a call […]

September 14, 2021

Hannah Senser, Ruff Start Rescue

“We really, really trust in our fosters to be the best advocate for their foster animal.” Listen to Episode #421 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Smalls Fresh Cat Food and Doobert.com. Hannah Senser is the cat foster manager for Ruff Start Rescue. RSR is a foster-based rescue […]

November 9, 2021

Sarah Swanty, CAWA, Executive Director and Co-founder, Animal Friends Alliance

“One of the things I’m really proud of about our organization is that we’re constantly asking ourselves ‘Why are animals ending up in shelters? What can we do to stop it?’ and we’ve been doing that since the beginning.” Listen to Episode #429 Now This episode is sponsored in […]

May 19, 2022

Feline Sterilization at 5 Months Accepted as New Normal

Written by Philip A. Bushby, DVM, MS, DACVS | Previously published on March 3, 2022, by DVM360.com Foreword & Afterword by Esther Mechler, President, and Founder of Marian’s Dream and United Spay Alliance Foreword For decades, shelters were overrun by enormous numbers of unplanned, unwanted litters of kittens. The phenomenon even […]

June 2, 2022

You’ve Come a Long Way, Kitten!

Contributed by: The National Kitten Coalition Get your kitten-fix during the Online Kitten Conference, June 10-12! Proudly presented in partnership with The National Kitten Coalition. Learn more and register here. For all of you in animal welfare, especially those caring for kittens, THANK YOU! Despite the seemingly never-ending line of […]

July 28, 2022

What To Do If You Find Kittens

Contributed by Cristin Bates Have you ever come across stray kittens outside and wondered what you should do? You might be surprised to learn that leaving them where they are is oftentimes the most helpful thing you can do. From birth to eight weeks, mother cats provide their kittens with […]

December 1, 2022

Dealing with Neighbors Who Don’t Like Cats

Contributed by Sheila Massey, Founder of Hard Hat Cats What do you do when a neighbor says, “I hate cats!” or, “the cats are killing the birds,” or, “just get rid of the cats!” Do you try to convince them to like cats? Do you argue and say the cats […]

December 15, 2022

A Sneak Peek at 2023

Contributed by Stacy LeBaron, Head Cat at Community Cats Podcast The Community Cats Podcast has had an incredible year, and I want to thank everyone for joining us and turning your passion for cats into action. I can’t wait to finalize our programs for 2023. Much of our theme this […]

February 9, 2023

Six Months is Too Late – Fix Before Five!

Contributed by United Spay Alliance. Special thanks to Brettt Albren for sharing his story with us! February is Feline Fix by Five month! All month long, we’re asking everyone we know to get those kittens fixed before five months. You can help! Find simple ways to get involved on our […]

March 9, 2023

It all started with Adam and Eve: Going back to basics

Contributed by Head Cat, Stacy LeBaron. Last week, I presented Strategies to Reduce Cat Overpopulation as a free webinar to Community Cats Podcast listeners. I received quite a few comments after the session that reminded me how important it is that we all focus on fundamental basics. If we strive […]

March 27, 2023

Bringing Home a New Kitten: What You Need to Know to Make Your Baby Cat Feel Safe, Happy, and Comfortable in Their New Home

Contributed by Allison Hunter-Frederick, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant & Trainer Are you thinking about adopting a new kitten? My husband and I have raised a kitten of our own and fostered almost 40. This article will cover the basics of how to prepare your home for a new kitten and how […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

June 9, 2016

Welcome to our community!

August 15, 2016

Ten tips for statewide success in identifying spay/neuter black holes

May 30, 2017

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

June 19, 2017

It’s all about Spay/Neuter Baby

March 5, 2018

The May Spay Challenge

March 25, 2018

Introducing the Community Cat Pyramid

April 22, 2018

Clear out the Shelters – How to Make it Happen

April 29, 2018

Cat Cycling – How to Make Your Spay/Neuter Programs Most Impactful and not Overwhelm Your Staff

May 5, 2018

Interview! Part 1 – Dr. Sara Pizano, Veterinarian and Animal Welfare Consultant

May 12, 2018

Interview! Part 2 – Dr. Sara Pizano, Veterinarian and Animal Welfare Consultant

July 14, 2018

Interview! Mike Keiley (MSPCA) & Carmine DiCenso (Dakin Humane Society), “The Mike & Carmine Show,” Part I

July 21, 2018

Interview! Mike Keiley (MSPCA) & Carmine DiCenso (Dakin Humane Society), “The Mike & Carmine Show,” Part 2

July 22, 2018

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

August 5, 2018

Feline Fix By Five – I need your input!

September 2, 2018

Non-Surgical Sterilization – How Will It Work for Community Cats?

September 8, 2018

Interview! Olivia Westley, Development Director for Forgotten Cats, Inc.

October 6, 2018

Interview! Julie Jacobson, Spay Tennessee and CCP Grants Coordinator

October 20, 2018

Interview! Gary Willoughby, President & CEO of SPCA Serving Erie County

November 3, 2018

HubCats TV! Featuring Dr. William Snell, Veterinarian at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital

December 1, 2018

A Best of CCP Episode! Mike Keiley (MSPCA) & Carmine DiCenso (Dakin Humane Society)

January 28, 2019

Trapper Tips & Tricks Profile: Laura Burns

February 23, 2019

Interview! Kay Stout, ED of PAAS Vinita

March 3, 2019

Trapper Tips and Tricks Profile: Bryan Kortis, Neighborhood Cats

March 9, 2019

Interview! Kim Saunders, Operations Director, Liberty Humane Society

March 25, 2019

Trapper Tips & Tricks Profile: Charlotte Fox

April 13, 2019

Interview! Kate Hurley, DVM, Director of U.C. Davis Koret School of Veterinary Medicine and Co-founder of Million Cat Challenge

April 27, 2019

Interview! Keith Williams, C5 (Community Cat Coalition of Clark County)

May 11, 2019

Interview! Lindsay Hamrick, Policy Director for Companion Animals, HSUS

May 18, 2019

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

May 19, 2019

Trapper Tips & Tricks Profile: C5’s Keith Williams

May 24, 2019

Interview! Christina Ha, Cat Camp & Meow Parlour Cat Café

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