The Community Cats Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Racing for Rescues with Laurren Darr, Author Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

"I thought about it from a small business . . . [or] nonprofit standpoint of here are some of the basics to help you at least upstart and continue marketing, especially if you're on a shoestring budget."

This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund.

In this episode, Stacy speaks with Laurren Darr, founder of Left Paw Press and the Pet Fashion Guild and author of the Pet Business Marketing Almanac.

In her discussion with Stacy, Laurren talks about her involvement in managing her son's racing career. She talks about the "Racing for Rescues" initiative, which entails delivering supplies to the pet shelters in the cities where he races.

Laurren also talks about the Pet Business Marketing Almanac, which is a marketing planning tool for pet businesses or businesses wanting to incorporate pet themes in their marketing. She discusses the inspiration behind this book. Additionally, Laurren touches on social media, where she emphasizes the importance of consistency.

To learn more about Laurrenn and her work, visit the Left Paw Press website.

The Pet Business Marketing Almanac 2023 is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

The Purrfect Job for Cats with Sheila Massey, President and Founder of Hard Hat Cats Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

"The presence of cats is really beneficial to humans and that especially holds true in an urban setting where you have a lot of rats."

This episode is sponsored in part by TervaPet, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund.

In this episode, Stacy speaks with Sheila Massey, president and founder of Hard Hat Cats and former guest of the show (CCP Episode 98). Hard Hat Cats, headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, places working cats with organizations seeking non-toxic rodent control.

In her discussion with Stacy, Sheila talks all about Hard Hat Cats and the working cats that inspired her to found this organization. These former community cats are rescued from the New York City public animal shelter and placed with organizations that provide food, shelter, healthcare, and TLC in exchange for the cats' expertise and a poison-free work environment.

Sheila describes how she matches the cats with the right site and touches on the integration process as well. This program, she explains, is a win-win-win for the cats, the employers, and the planet. Hard Hat Cats work in breweries, distilleries, hotels, parks, and gardens and are always seeking new employers.

To learn more about Hard Hat Cats, visit their website or Instagram. You can also connect with Hard Hat Cats by email at hardhatcats@gmail.com.

Teaching, Inspiration, and Black Cats with Anne Montgomery, Author and Former Television Sportscaster and Teacher Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

"I think we need to teach young people more that animals need to be treated with the same respect you treat a person."

This episode is sponsored in part by TervaPet, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund.

Meet Anne Montgomery, former sportscaster, newspaper and magazine writer, teacher, author, and amateur sports official. Anne currently works as an author and has published several fiction novels in various genres, including historical fiction and mystery/suspense.

In her discussion with Stacy, Anne talks about all things cats, from breeding to veterinary care costs. She talks about her introduction to TNR and touches on some of the issues that arise in its absence. Anne stresses the necessity of effective communication and teaching to enlighten the public on the importance of TNR and animal welfare.

Additionally, Anne discusses her work experience and explains how it has impacted her approach to animal welfare. She strongly encourages all listeners to "give a black cat a chance." She also discusses her work as an author, as well as the inspiration behind her stories.

To learn more about Anne's work, visit her website.

Amplifying Your Fundraising Efforts with Sally Williams, Founder and President of Mission Meow Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

"There are so many possibilities for organizations where this money could go."

This episode is sponsored in part by TervaPet, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund.

In this episode, Stacy talks with Sally Williams, the founder, and president of Mission Meow and former guest of the show (CCP Episodes 104 and 324). Sally was also the founder and executive director of the now-retired Brodie Fund, an organization that raised money to provide financial assistance to families with pets fighting cancer.

Sally reflects on her time with the Brodie Fund and the difficult decision to close the organization. She celebrates the organization's accomplishments, which included over 70 grants and over $200,000 distributed, and explains how it inspired her to found Mission Meow.

Mission Meow works to increase the level of charitable donations for small feline-centric nonprofits, including TNR groups, to help create meaningful change for cats in need. Sally describes the specifics of this program, which entails recruiting businesses for quarterly donations and then distributing these funds to a different nonprofit each month. She also explores some of the challenges and aspirations for Mission Meow.

To learn more about Mission Meow, visit their website.

The following organizations/programs were also mentioned during this episode:

Working Cats with Molly DeVoss, Founder of Cat Behavior Solutions Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

"Because they're so territorial, it's hard to introduce a new cat regardless of where they came from into a new cat household."

This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com and Maddie's Fund.

In this special episode, Stacy chats and co-hosts with Molly DeVoss, a Certified Feline Training and Behavior specialist, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and Fear Free Certified Trainer. Molly is also the founder of Cat Behavior Solutions and host of Cat Talk Radio, where she addresses cat behavioral issues.

In Stacy and Molly's conversation, they discuss all things cats, including cat behavior, community cats, declawing, TNR and return-to-field programs, and the veterinary shortage. Molly highlights the importance of acclimating "working cats" (or barn cats) to their new environment and the engagement required to keep these cats safe. She also touches on distinguishing and identifying behavioral issues from medical issues that would require veterinary care.

To learn more about Molly's work or to listen to her podcast, visit Cat Behavior Solutions.

Cats at Play with Dr. Mikel Delgado, Co-Owner of Feline Minds Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

"I'm hoping by changing people's perspective on what play looks like and giving them really concrete suggestions on how they can improve their play technique that more cats will get the play they deserve."

This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com and Maddie's Fund.

On today's episode, Stacy talks with Dr. Mikel Delgado, an Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Cat Behavior Consultant. Dr. Delgado is the co-owner of Feline Minds, a cat behavior consulting group, co-author with Jackson Galaxy of the 2017 book, "Total Cat Mojo" and the author of the forthcoming book "Play with Your Cat!".

In her conversation with Stacy, Dr. Delgado talks all about cat behavioral issues, which she saw were increasingly prevalent throughout and following the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. She provides some helpful tips on addressing behavioral issues, litter boxes, and more.

Dr. Delgado discusses some of the limitations of her practice, the veterinary shortage, and the importance of having an established relationship with your veterinarian. She also touches on her work with Flabush Cats, a TNR-focused rescue organization based in Brooklyn, New York, and with the San Francisco SPCA. Additionally, she previews her upcoming book, which focuses on the importance of playing with your cat.

To learn more about Dr. Delgado and her work, visit Feline Minds.

If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy Stacy's conversation with Tabitha Kucera, Chirrups & Chatter Cat Behavior Consulting and Education, in episode 319.

Anger Drives Change with Anne Levin, Executive Director of Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition and Founder of the Brooklyn Cat Cafe Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

"Shar[ing] our skills and work[ing] in the best way that we individually can with our skills has been really helpful in allowing us to help more animals."

This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com and Maddie's Fund.

In this episode, Stacy connects with Anne Levin, Executive Director of Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition and founder of the Brooklyn Cat Cafe, a non-profit cat cafe that serves as an adoption center and community space working to reduce animal homelessness through education, TNR, and outreach.

In her conversation with Stacy, Anne discusses the current landscape of community cats in New York City. She touches on how the lack of protection for community cats inspired her efforts in the cat welfare field. Anne talks about the origins of the Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition and the Brooklyn Cat Cafe. She explains how the cafe setting allows the cats to be situated in a more comfortable compared to adoption events.

Anne explores some of the challenges these organizations and cat care in general encountered during the height of the Covid pandemic. She also stresses the importance of a collaborative effort in addressing animal issues.

Visit the websites of Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition and Brooklyn Cat Cafe to learn more about these organizations.

If you enjoyed this interview, you might also enjoy Stacy's conversation with Darlene Duggan, Director of Operations at Tree House Humane Society, in episode 265.

Honoring Our Best Friends with Cheryl Richardson, Author of How to Survive the Loss of a Pet Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

"There were so many ways that this little being helped to bring us closer together, to teach us about love, to teach us about unconditional love."

This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com and Maddie's Fund.

In this episode, Stacy chats with Cheryl Richardson, the author of several books and audio programs, including her recent audiobook How to Survive the Loss of a Pet, which helps listeners navigate the journey of grief, acceptance, and renewal after a pet passes.

In her conversation with Stacy, Cheryl discusses the strong bond that we have with our pets and how they can play such major roles in our lives. She describes how her late cat, Poupon, taught her about love and how, towards the end of his life, the most profound act of love was to let him go as gently as possible.

Cheryl discusses her book "How to Survive the Loss of a Pet", and talks about how her role is that of a grief coach. She emphasizes the importance of giving yourself space to grieve and explains how each person handles grief differently. She believes it's critical to respect and honor your own unique way of grieving. Most importantly, Cheryl wants listeners to know that if you've lost a pet and are grieving: you are not alone and will get through this.

To learn more about Cheryl and her work, visit her website.

To purchase How to Survive the Loss of a Pet, visit Sounds True, Audible, or Amazon.

Training Tomorrow's Trappers with Bryan Kortis, Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

"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."

This episode is sponsored in part by TevraPet and Maddie's Fund.

On this episode, Stacy chats with Bryan Kortis, Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats, who frequently collaborates with the CCP in running the Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshops.

In his discussion with Stacy, Bryan talks about the rise of the community cat coordinator position in shelters. He provides a preview of the 6th Annual Online Cat Conference, which will take place from January 27th through January 29th, 2023. This conference, Bryan explains, will further explore the community cat coordinator position.

Bryan discusses the increasingly popular return-to-field programs. He describes the differences between these programs and trap-neuter-return programs and discusses the collaborative efforts and interaction between those running the programs.

Bryan also talks about Cat Stats, a TNR program management tool developed and offered by Neighborhood Cats, which allows non-profit organizations to track colonies and caretakers in their service area. He discusses his partnership with Tomahawk Live Trap and the collaborative efforts in developing traps. Additionally, Bryan touches on the DC Cat Count and the upcoming Maui Cat Count.

To learn more about Neighborhood Cats, visit their website.

To learn more about or register for the 6th Annual Online Cat Conference, click here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also be interested in listening to Stacy's interview with Mary Howard, Community Cat Coordinator at McKamey Animal Center, in episode 356.

Open to the Possibilities with Dr. Kelly Deihl, Senior Director of Science and Communication at Morris Animal Foundation Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

"I would tell people: stay open, learn, [and] keep learning."

This episode is sponsored in part by TevraPet and Maddie's Fund.

On today's episode, Stacy chats with Dr. Kelly Deihl, the Senior Director of Science and Communication at Morris Animal Foundation and a prior guest of the show (CCP Episode 425).

In her conversation with Stacy, Dr. Deihl discusses the foundation's Happy Healthy Cat Campaign. She explores the initiatives and research campaigns that the foundation has undertaken, including one that looks at non-surgical spay-neuter options. She also provides a preview of an ongoing study that is looking at the effects of chronic inflammation, and cognitive behavior and health.

Dr. Deihl shares her perspective on the veterinary shortage and how she believes we should address it. She also discusses her podcast through Morris Animal Foundation, where she explores animals scientific and research issues.

To learn more about Morris Animal Foundation, visit their website, Instagram, or Facebook.

Dr. Deihl's podcast can be found through Morris Animal Foundation here.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also be interested in listening to Stacy's interview with Marvin Mackie, DVM, Co-Creator of the Quick Spay Technique, way back in episode 40.

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