trapping Archives - The Community Cats Podcast

August 31, 2016

Interview! Danielle Jo Bays, Community Cats Program Manager for the Humane Society of the United States

“Many cats are outside through no fault of their own.” Danielle calls on both her hands-on trapping experience and public policy work to help HSUS develop campaigns and programs that will educate and empower people who want to support cats in their community, such as webinars and tools for trappers […]

September 2, 2016

Interview! Kaleel Sakakeeny, Founder, The Other Me Coaching

“There was always a deep love for animals, a deep respect for who they were, the beauty that they brought into the world…” After experiencing the passing of a companion cat, Kaleel’s initial interest in animal communication led him to a deeper study of this intuitive practice. In his discussion […]

September 3, 2016

Interview! Heidi Colonna, Curriculum Development Manager for the Humane Society and Board Member with Association of Professional Humane Educators

“Humane education can prevent situations where people lack knowledge of basic care and, in other cases, lack of empathy.” Heidi was volunteering at a local shelter in 1994, which compelled her to choose animal science and public policy over a potential business degree. She discusses her focus on ‘preventable people […]

September 6, 2016

Interview! Pamela Krausz, Founder and Executive Director of Vermont Companion Animal Neutering

“One thing that people don’t realize is how much healthier the cat population is on farms when the population is spayed/neutered.” Pamela is a founder and the executive director of Vermont Companion Animal Neutering (VT-CAN), a low cost, high volume spay/neuter clinic. As a stationary clinic with a mash-stlye component, […]

September 7, 2016

Interview! Sheri Gustafson, Spay/Neuter Community Liaison for the Massachusetts Animal Fund

“I’m actually really excited about how TNR is being viewed across the state.” Sheri serves as the Spay/Neuter Community Liaison for the Massachusetts Animal Fund, which provides a voucher program for low income pet owners. This program focuses on three main priorities: S/N support for municipal shelters, providing vouchers for […]

September 8, 2016

Interview! Cameron Moore, Project Manager, Target Zero

“When we offered spay/neuter to them, these caretakers would cry with happiness.” Given Cameron’s contribution to a diverse number of game-changing initiatives, she and Stacy have a wide-ranging conversation about a number of topics related to TNR, abandonment and adoption programs, and helping communities get the support they need to get […]

September 10, 2016

Interview! Kelley Bollen, Owner and Director of Animal Alliances Consulting Firm

“Feeding animals in bowls is a wasted opportunity to enrich their brains.” Kelley earned a Master’s in Animal Behavior, has taught at Cornell Veterinary School, and now consults with both pet owners and shelters to improve life and outcomes for companion animals. She and Stacy talk all things behavior, and […]

September 14, 2016

Interview! Linda Gage, No More Homeless Pets Network Specialist, Best Friends Animal Society

“These animals deserve a life outside: that’s where they’re born, that’s where they live, that’s where they’re used to being.” Linda outlines the myriad resources that the No More Homeless Pets Network offers to small organizations around the country: ideas on how to get a Community Cats program started, marketing […]

September 15, 2016

Interview! Andi Kola, Founder Lumen LS, Broward County, Florida

“What are all the bad things that could happen to me if I were a cat?” Andi is a man on a mission… a mission to eliminate euthanization of cats in his home area of Broward County, Florida and beyond. He recounts his efforts to work with local animal control officials as […]

September 16, 2016

Interview! Merritt Clifton, Journalist and Founder, Animals 24-7 News

“We want feral cats to be safely in their nocturnal environment, or pet cats safely at home not wondering into a busy road.” It would be challenging to find someone with more experience in the animal welfare field than award-winning writer Merritt Clifton. From his childhood ambition to “starting a […]

September 17, 2016

Interview! Cheryl Ann Fernandes, Regional Shelter Care Representative, PetLink

“We’re trying to help shelters and Animal Control Officers embrace pet identification as a means of improving live release rates” Drawing on Cheryl Ann’s diverse, 25-year career in animal welfare, she and Stacy have a wide-ranging discussion about the challenges of being an urban animal control officer, the persistent challenge […]

September 20, 2016

Interview! Amanda Arrington, Director, Pets for Life Program at The Humane Society of the United States

“We have as much to learn as we have to give.” Amanda’s childhood interests in both animals and in social justice have led her to a career overseeing a groundbreaking program to help not just pets, but people in underserved areas. She leads he innovative HSUS “Pets for Life” initiative, which […]

September 21, 2016

Interview! Tammy King, Founder, Mayport Cats (FL)

“Fix a feral before you feed him!” Mayport Village, a fishing village near Jacksonville, Florida, had become a popular place for people to “dump” cats, both healthy and sick. Enter Tammy King, who brought her persistence and compassion to address the problem. Originally dealing with 200-250 cats, the population is now […]

September 22, 2016

Interview! Mike Phillips, President, Urban Cat League, and Community Outreach Coordinator for the New York City Feral Cat Initiative

“When you’re frustrated, remember that every cat you neuter is an tremendous improvement in that one cat’s life.” Even though he had lived in Manhattan for decades, Mike didn’t know there were street cats in New York: “I had no idea because I lived on the 43rd floor,” he observes. In […]

September 24, 2016

Interview! Taryn Breuer, President, Friends of Jeannette Hunt Animal Shelter (NE)

“Gosh we’re not alone out here….maybe we can get this population under control.” Taryn describes how rural Blair, Nebraska needs its resident cats to help keep rodents from getting into the grain farmed there, but also needs an active TNR effort to keep the numbers of cats in check. Participating in […]

September 27, 2016

Interview! Mike Cahill, Director, The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ Division of Animal Health

“When your options are quarantine or euthanize, that’s the worst part of the job.” Mike’s been an integal part of Massachusetts’ animal welfare efforts for 22 years. He has extensive experience managing situations where community cats — and potentially their caretakers — have been exposed to rabies, and recounts several challenging […]

September 28, 2016

Interview! Peter Wolf, Cat Initiatives Analyst, Best Friends Society

“A lot of the folks who end up writing these laws don’t have a great deal of experience [with community cats], and you can end up with some real dire unintended consequences.” Peter Wolfe is a cat initiatives analyst at Best Friends Society and a blogger at Vox Felina, where he seeks […]

September 30, 2016

Interview! Valerie Ingram and Alistair Schroff, Founders of The Lakes Animal Friendship Society

“We consider education to be our number one priority.” The combination of Valerie’s nineteen years’ experience in elementary education and Alistair’s passion and business experience has led to inspiring changes for animal welfare in their rural British Columbia community. Co-authors of children’s books Nobody’s Cats and Out of the Cold, Valerie and Alistair discuss their belief […]

October 5, 2016

Ask Stacy! Questions and Answers for Inquiring Cats

“We also need to educate or partner with folks in the local community so they can be our neighborhood watchers.” As Community Cats Podcast celebrates its eightieth episode, Stacy and guest host Lisa Finkel discuss how bird lovers and cat lovers can work together to decrease both the number of […]

October 6, 2016

Interview! Blake and Adrienne Kuhre, Founders of the Furry Foundation

“If we can be better on the educational side, then I feel that we can prevent a lot of these issues from happening.” Blake and Adrienne are the founders of the Furry Foundation, a non-profit, foster care organization in Los Angeles focused on TNR, cat socialization, and educating the community on proper […]

October 7, 2016

Interview! Cindy Wiemann, Treasurer of the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA)

“Now we’re getting calls about one or two cats…not the calls where someone wants 25 cats removed.” Cindy was instrumental to bringing TNR to the small community of Madison, Georgia. She helped research the appropriate ordinances, and ultimately Madison implemented the first 100% government operated and funded TNR program in […]

October 8, 2016

Interview – Part One! Mary Smith, Executive Leadership Team and Sheila D’Arpino, Director of Research, of Maddie’s Fund

“Every animal should have a healthy home or habitat.” In this special two-part episode of the Community Cats Podcast, Stacy interviews two leaders at Maddie’s Fund, one of the most innovative and results-oriented non-profits helping animals across North America. Through its educational programs, advocacy and grants, Maddie’s Fund has been […]

October 11, 2016

Interview – Part Two! Mary Smith, Executive Leadership Team and Sheila D’Arpino, Director of Research, of Maddie’s Fund

November 28, 2016

Interview! Andi Kola, Founder, LumenLS

“To fix the problems that are facing cats, all center around increasing the perceived importance, the perceived value, and the perceived acceptance of cats to humans.” In his second interview with Stacy, Andi discusses his organization’s approach to challenges facing community cats in Broward County, Florida. With a mission of […]

December 1, 2016

Interview! Karen Little, Executive Director, Alley Cat Advocates

“Urban cats are accustomed to urban living. Rural cats are accustomed to rural living… Keeping those colonies in tact, adjacent to where their habitat might have been destroyed, is in the best interest of the cats.” In her second interview with Stacy, Karen explores the issue of relocation in the […]

August 12, 2018

Let’s Play Trapper Bingo!

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 […]

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, […]

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 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 6, 2019

Interview! Nikki Martinez, Trapper, Foster Mom, and Feline Welfare Activist

“Fostering absolutely saves lives, but TNR saves more.” Nikki Martinez was always a dog person. That all changed one day when a kitten ran in front of her car on her way to a post-surgical doctor appointment. Feeling down and overly focused on herself after her surgery, Nikki poured her […]

April 14, 2019

Trapper Tips & Tricks Profile: Penny Leisch

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 Penny Leisch, President of Catnip Casa Cat Refuge in Austin, Texas. If you have tips and tricks […]

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, […]

July 6, 2019

Steve Lawrence, Director of “The Cat Rescuers”

“This is a very emotionally engaging film.” Listen to Episode #307 Now Steve Lawrence, an award-winning filmmaker previously interviewed by Stacy on CCP Episode 178, returns to CCP to discuss the documentary film he co-directed, The Cat Rescuers. The film premiered in October 2018 at the Hamptons International Film […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

June 16, 2020

Mary Howard, Community Cat Coordinator at McKamey Animal Center

“We just have to make sure that [the caregivers] understand … how we’re there to help them.” Listen to Episode #356 Now In this episode, Stacy talks with Mary Howard, the community cat coordinator at McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, TN. The program started in 2018 with a grant […]

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 […]

September 29, 2020

Jennifer Barnes, Trapper & Animal Welfare Advocate

“My niche is TNR.… Know your niche and stay focused.” Listen to Episode #371 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com’s FosterSpace, Boulder Holistic Vet, and Community Cat Coalition of Clark County. In this episode, Stacy chats with Jennifer Barnes, a US Marine Corps veteran who has […]

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 […]

June 1, 2021

Daralyn Kelleher, YouTuber and Amateur Woodworker

“That’s sort of the vibe I’m going for: mid-century with a touch of cats.” Listen to Episode #406 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Smalls Fresh Cat Food and Doobert.com. Daralyn Kelleher is an LA-based YouTuber who turned to furniture making during quarantine, documenting the process on her […]

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 […]

March 22, 2022

Fixing Programs and Cats with Jonathan Howe, Public Defender and New York’s 14th Congressional District Candidate

“Seeing the way that people make this [TNR] their priority, make doing something good for their community a priority, was really inspiring.” Listen to Episode #448 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Buzz to the Rescues, and Maddie’s Fund. Stacy speaks to Jonathan Howe, who is a […]

April 12, 2022

Documenting the TNR Experience with Photographer Erica Danger

“By being able to document [TNR] with photo and video . . . you can get those conversations started and start educating people why TNR is great, why it’s so helpful for everybody.” Listen to Episode #451 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Buzz to the Rescues, […]

June 27, 2022

Strategy and Collaboration with Cameron Greig, Community Cat Coordinator for the Humane Society of Huron Valley

“Really my big thing in TNR is education and awareness; I want as many people to know about TNR as possible so that they can help save the cats.” Listen to Episode #462 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. Stacy chats with Cameron […]

July 19, 2022

Together We Trap with Angéline Fahey, Community Cat Program Manager at Humane Society of Southern Arizona

“I think it all comes from being compassionate and coming to them from a place of empathy [and] understanding.” [on dealing with community members] Listen to Episode #465 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. Stacy speaks with Angéline Fahey, who is the Community […]

July 26, 2022

Same Team with Sterling Davis, Atlanta’s “Trap King”

“It’s important that we learn to work together or learn not to work against one another.” Listen to Episode #466 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, “Trap King” Sterling Davis returns to the show to share some of the projects […]

August 2, 2022

A Drop Trap Master Class with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats

“Because they (cats) are less afraid of drop traps, you don’t need them to be as hungry to trap them… ” Listen to Episode #467 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. This week, The Community Cats Podcast is excited to bring you a special […]

August 9, 2022

Part 2 – A Drop Trap Master Class with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats

On trapping in tight locations…“We put a spotter up on the slope who could watch the whole thing and give us a signal when to drop the traps.” Listen to Episode #468 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. This week, The Community Cats Podcast […]

September 13, 2022

Romance, Suspense, and Trapping with Angela Campbell, Best-Selling Author, The Psychic Detective

“It’s very important to try to be diplomatic and to try to understand their point of view. . . . You have to be understanding.” Listen to Episode #473 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Dr. Pussum’s Cat Nip, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats […]

December 6, 2022

Justice, TNR, and Not-So-Crazy Cat Ladies with Esmerelda Alvarez, TNR Advocate

“I think the best way to rescue the most cats is through TNR.” Listen to Episode #485 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert and Maddie’s Fund. Meet Esmeralda Alvarez, a TNR advocate and cat foster who performs TNR on a weekly basis. Her efforts began back in 2015, […]

December 20, 2022

Training Tomorrow’s Trappers with Bryan Kortis, Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats

“There’s still a disconnect between the grassroots groups (that are primarily doing trap-neuter-return) and the larger shelters (that are involved in return-to-field) and we need to get to a point where those two parts of the system are working together.” Listen to Episode #487 Now This episode is sponsored […]

February 27, 2023

Saving the World One Cat at a Time with Rachel Geller, President of All Cats All the Time

“Often times, providing people with the necessary items, the support, the kindness, [and] the caring – that can be the very important difference between a person keeping the cat and surrendering the cat.” Listen to Episode #497 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In […]

June 20, 2023

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

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

August 29, 2023

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

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

September 19, 2023

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

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

October 26, 2023

Checking In: Tomahawk Trap Winners

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

December 1, 2023

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

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

December 28, 2023

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

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

September 17, 2024

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

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

September 24, 2024

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

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

October 1, 2024

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

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