The Community Cats Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Thinking Vertically with Melody Kwan of MeloCat Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

"I always tell everyone, 'Even if you don't like animals, you can still help. If you don't have what it takes, you can still help.'"

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

In this episode, Stacy chats with Melody Kwan, aka Melocat, a cat rescuer and re-homing volunteer based in Hong Kong. Through her network of volunteers, Melody is able to get cats to their ideal homes. She also lives with her 9 rescued and adopted cats in her 555 sq ft apartment.

In her discussion with Stacy, Melody explains how she's able to keep her house clean and her cats happy, calm, and comfortable. She talks about the unique systems she has in place that help her save time and create a better lifestyle for both cats and humans. She emphasizes that "vertical space beats floor space". She's currently developing a course to help others create the same ecosystem in their own lives.

Melody also provides insight into what life is like for community cats in Hong Kong and outlines some of the challenges they encounter. She touches on how she got into vlogging, discusses some of her future plans, and shares some cat tips and tricks.

To learn more about Melody, visit her YouTube channel, Instagram account, or Facebook page.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Mary Peng, CEO & Founder of International Center for Veterinary Services, in episode 132.

Reducing Cats' Distress with Mikkel Becker, Leader Trainer for Fear Free Pets and Fear Free Happy Homes Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

"Fear free is all about educating people to understand their cat's emotional needs, which are deep and complex."

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

In this episode, Stacy speaks with Mikkel Becker, a certified trainer and behavior consultant, that serves as the lead trainer for Fear Free Pets and Fear Free Happy Homes. She is also the co-author of From Fearful to Fear Free

In her conversation with Stacy, Mikkel talks about her experience training cats through using positive reinforcement and encouragement. She explains why she believes they can be trained more easily than dogs and how training is based in every day interactions with our cats.

Mikkel speaks in depth about Fear Free, which was founded upon the mission of preventing and alleviating fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. She talks about the benefits of utilizing Fear Free programs. One of these programs is Fear Free Shelters, which is a free program available to rescues and shelters.

Mikkel also provides an update on her father, Dr. Marty Becker, who recently spent time at the Ukraine border helping people and their pets that were transitioning across the border. She spoke with him further about his experience on her podcast, Happy Paws.

To learn more about Fear Free, visit Fear Free Pets or Fear Free Happy Homes.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Dr. Marty Becker, "America's Veterinarian" and Founder of the Fear Free Initiative, in episode 121.

Pedaling and Paws with Caleb Curtis and Marilyn Monroad, Founder(s) of Calico Cycles Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

"Keep following your dreams. Keep following your heart. Keep going to where you're led to go because it's a life worth living when you're following your heart."

This episode is sponsored in part by Dr. Pussum's Cat Nip, Doobert, and Maddie's Fund.

After dropping out of film school and being kicked out of his aunt's house, Caleb Curtis found himself without a home. Rather than staying at a homeless shelter, he opted to get a bicycle and learn how to tour. Along the way, he found two-month-old Marilyn Monroad, and over the next 8 years, the pair would cycle over 12,000 miles across 32 states

In his conversation with Stacy, Caleb talks about how he got into touring and sheds some light on what life is like on the road for Marilyn. He discusses some of the lessons that he learned during his first year of running Calico Cats and touches on some of his long-term goals for the brand.

Caleb also provides insight on how he funds these trips, along with the type of content that he produces. One of his projects includes a book about these trips, which is written from Marilyn's perspective.

Caleb and Marilyn's journey serves to remind us all that our companions along the ride can be just as important as our destination. Caleb strongly believes that what matters most to Marilyn is that they're together.

To learn more about Caleb and Marilyn, visit their website.

Listener Note

During his interview, Caleb mentions 1bike1world.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Michele Tilford, an experienced cat-assisted therapy handler, in episode 249.

Romance, Suspense, and Trapping with Angela Campbell, Best-Selling Author, The Psychic Detective Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

"It's very important to try to be diplomatic and to try to understand their point of view. . . . You have to be understanding."

This episode is sponsored in part by Dr. Pussum's Cat Nip, Doobert, and Maddie's Fund.

In this episode, Stacy chats with Angela Campbell, a USA Today best-selling author in the romantic suspense genre. Her book series, The Psychic Detective, heavily features rescue pets as supporting characters. In addition to writing professionally, she serves on the board of directors for Feline Lifeline.

In her conversation with Stacy, Angela talks about her experiences as an author and a board member. She shares her preferred method of trapping, along with some helpful TNR tips and tricks. She also strongly encourages TNR training for those interested in trapping (as opposed to trial and error).

Angela believes that a crucial component of TNR is in how we interact with the community, and she stresses the importance of learning to work with them. "When you are calm, understanding, and polite, a lot of people react to that, and you can work out a deal."

To learn more about Feline Lifeline, visit its website, and to learn more about Angela and her work, visit her website.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Steven Morelli, CEO and founder of Waggle, in episode 358.

Community Communication with Caitlin Quinn, Director of Operations at HeARTs Speak Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

"Let's ensure that we're starting the conversation from that place of all of the things we have in common and real compassion and understanding for why community members might be confused around these issues."

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

In this episode, Stacy converses with Caitlin Quinn, who has been the Director of Operations for HeARTs Speak since 2015. HeARTs Speak develops resources that help shelter animals to be seen and find homes, ultimately transforming public perceptions of pet adoption, shelters, and animals in need. Caitlin discusses her role and shares the backstory of how she got involved in marketing.

She highlights some of the communication challenges present in the community cat field and explains how those involved in the community cat field are often largely unaware that these problems exist. She conveys the importance of communication with others in the community that aren't involved in caring for the community cats. "We're so close to the issue that sometimes we're forgetting to back out of it a little bit and have those more basic understanding conversations."

Caitlin talks about social media campaigns; she emphasizes the need to start with baby steps and to be repetitive with your messages. She also shares her thoughts on the best strategies, platforms, graphic design tools (Canva), and scheduling tools (PLANOLY and Later) for social media, as well as on how frequently and the type of content you should be posting.

Caitlin also sheds some light on what the social media algorithm is and provides an abundance of helpful hints that are bound to help any person or organization looking to bolster their social media game and reach more of their community.

To learn more about the work that Caitlin and HeARTs Speak perform, visit the HeARTs Speak website.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Karen Hollish, the director of development and marketing at Pima Animal Care Center, in episode 202.

Emotional Support Animals with Daniel Maigler, LCSW, Mental Health Advisor for Paws for Patrick Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

"[Pets] are empathy machines, and they can sense how we're doing without us having to say anything. Often our pets will know how we're doing before we do, and they'll connect in that way."

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

In this episode, Stacy chats with Daniel Maigler, a licensed clinical social worker, who also serves as the Mental Health Advisor for Paws for Patrick, which is a nonprofit organization that connects young people with mental health issues to animals. Daniel provides insight into his role with Paws for Patrick, the array of services that the organization provides, and the inspiration behind this organization's creation.

Daniel discusses the benefits of emotional support animals, and clarifies the differences between a service animal, a therapy animal, and an emotional support animal ("ESA"). He talks about the process of obtaining an ESA letter, as well as the benefits and limitations that this letter has. Daniels touches on some of the trends involving ESAs, including their presence on college campuses, and clarifies some of the misconceptions surrounding these trends.

Daniel and Stacy also talk about his podcast, Not Allowed to Die, where he discusses mental health and answers any questions that listeners have related to the field. He also discusses mindfulness and provides some useful mental health tips.

To learn more about Paws for Patrick, visit their website. You can also check out their Instagram and Facebook pages. Daniel's podcast can be listened to through Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts.

Listener Notes

During his interview, Daniel mentioned the following studies/works by these individuals:

Janet Hoy-Gerlach, PhD;
Alfred Adler; and
The Courage to be Disliked (written by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi).

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Kristen Hassen, Maddie's® American Pets Alive! Director overseeing Human Animal Support Services (HASS) in episode 424.

Pack Up Your Cat and Travel with Emily Miethner, Co-founder Travel Cat Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

"I think it's great to bring that lens of diversity and inclusion to anything you're working on."

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

Stacy speaks with Emily Miethner, who is the co-founder of Travel Cat, which produces products used to travel safely with your cat, including backpacks and harnesses. The company, founded in 2017, has become a global 7-figure e-commerce brand with 60,000 customers in 75 countries.

In her conversation with Stacy, Emily shares information about Travel Cat's founding, marketing, and grant program, Forever Home Heroes. As a serial entrepreneur, she has focused on community building, social media, and digital marketing.

Emily discusses what it means to be a strong digital marketer and stresses the importance of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). She reminds us that the "love of cats has no bounds" and emphasizes the importance of inclusion of people from all backgrounds that love cats.

To learn more about Travel Cat, visit their website or Instagram.

Listener Links

During her conversation with Stacy, Emily mentions the following organization: NYC Pet Nanny

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Jenny Hart, Travel Writer & Cat Mom in episode 318.

Habitats for Cats with Mario Arbore, Founder and Owner of Square Paws Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

So if you're doing something where they're feeling engaged with that fun, I think it's a better experience for people to bond with a cat."

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

In this episode, Mario Abore returns to the show (he previously appeared on CCP Episode 338). Since 2014, Mario, through his company, Square Paws, has been creating stunning and unique creations and habitats for cats and people to enjoy. His work spans a range from making single cat towers to outfitting cat cafes and animal shelters.

In his conversation with Stacy, Mario provides an update on some of his new projects, including his incredible work with the Ladew Cat Sanctuary in Oyster Bay, New York. He discusses the inspiration behind this project, as well as the designing and construction process of this and some of his other projects.

He and Stacy also have an in-depth conversation about TNR, including a discussion about different traps, techniques, and baits. Sterling also shares his approach to trapping colonies and emphasizes that even if you're trapping just one cat, you're still helping. His primary goal with TNR is to elevate the wellness of the cats in the community and to be able to provide resources to help those cats.

Mario provides recommendations for older shelters and rescues that are looking to upgrade their facilities and emphasizes the importance of planning now. He discusses the longevity and lifespan of cat furniture and projects and notes the importance of using sustainable materials. Mario also points out some of the things you should be looking for when shopping for cat furniture.

To learn more about Mario's work, visit the Square Paws website. You can also check out their Instagram and Twitter pages.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Ashley Shoults, a principal at Animal Arts, an architecture firm in Boulder, Colorado in episode 359.

Part 2 - A Drop Trap Master Class with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

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."

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

This week, The Community Cats Podcast is excited to bring you part two of a special audio version of Drop Trap: A Trapper's Best Friend Presented by The Neighborhood Cats. If you want to watch this presentation's recording - complete with videos, visuals, and great examples of many of the scenarios and equipment discussed - you can check it out on our YouTube channel by clicking here.

What will you learn this week? Advanced skills like how to catch many cats at once in your drop trap, the "drop trap 360", plus a couple of unusual bait hacks to attract tough-to-trap queens and toms. Join Neighborhood Cats, co-designers of the first commercially available drop trap, as they discuss how to use this invaluable tool and improve your trapping efficiency.

You can learn more about Bryan Kortis and Neighborhood Cats by visiting their website or consider registering for Bryan's next TNR workshop to discover basic techniques to help you trap, neuter, and return community cats and create a healthy, safe environment for them to thrive in.

A Drop Trap Master Class with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

"Because they (cats) are less afraid of drop traps, you don't need them to be as hungry to trap them... "

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 audio version of Drop Trap: A Trapper's Best Friend Presented by The Neighborhood Cats. If you would like to watch the recording of this presentation - complete with videos, visuals, and great examples of many of the scenarios and equipment discussed - you can check it out on our YouTube channel by clicking here.

What will you learn this week? Are you trying to catch the last cat in your colony who isn't fixed? Got a wily feral who just won't go into a box trap, no matter how much you spend on roasted chicken? How about catching a litter of kittens all at once—with their mom? All these tough trapping situations and more can be solved if you know how to use a drop trap! Join Neighborhood Cats, co-designers of the first commercially available drop trap, as they discuss how to use this invaluable tool. Plus tips and tricks for advanced drop trappers, too.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our interview with Steven Lawrence, Co-Director of The Cat Rescuers, and Tara Green, TNR volunteer of Brooklyn Animal Action in episode 178.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Community Cats Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected