The Community Cats Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond, Colony Care Taking Tips and Tricks Part 1 Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com.

In part one of the Colony Caretaking webinar Bryan Kortis explores the bond between the cat and caretaker. He covers best practices such as feeding patterns, types of food, and nutritional content for the value of the food offered. He talks about what caretakers can do so as not to disturb neighbors or create a neighborhood nuisance at the feeding site.

Bryan explains the variables like weather and wildlife (feral chickens? Yep!) that must be factored into both a trapping session and the colony's well-being. Feeding stations and locations are covered as well as the specific needs that caretakers face with winter feeding, watering, and care.

Session Presenters:

Susan Richmond Executive Director, Neighborhood Cats
Bryan Kortis National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats

Notes:

View the video

Download the handouts

Learn more about Neighborhoodcats.org. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and view more of their content on Vimeo. Be sure to follow the Community Cats Podcast on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Jon Dunn, Senior Specialist of Communications of Best Friends Animal Society Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com.

As Kristen Bell is to sloths, so Jon Dunn is to cats. Senior Specialist of Communications and Host of the Best Friends Podcast by Best Friends Animal Society, Jon just really loves cats. He joins Stacy for his first-ever podcast sitting in the guest chair and answers questions instead of asking them.

Jon and Stacy talk about TNR and how the mindsets around community cats have evolved. They touch on reunification challenges faced by cats and current conversations about how and who is able to adopt.

Jon offers some insight into what it takes to have a successful podcast and how BFAS, as an organization, embraced podcasting as a timely communication vehicle to launch its first episode in April of 2020.

Listen and subscribe to Best Friends Podcast. You can also follow Best Friends Animal Society on Facebook, Instagramand YouTube.

Quick Notes:

Jon mentioned VeganGR.com, his Grand Rapids, Michigan guide to vegan life.

Chris Roy, Creator of Doobert.com & Host of The Animal Innovation Show Podcast Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com.

What started out as one man's system to record and coordinate his own animal transport work has since transformed into an online software platform, custom-built for animal rescuers. Chris Roy and Stacy talk about the creation of Doobert.com and the recent re-build which added new modules and optimized it for mobile use.

Chris and Stacy discuss his podcast, The Animal Innovations Show, which explores innovations that are helping people to help animals. The podcast incorporates video, live stream, and IGTV to make it more interactive.

While re-connecting, they examine barriers created by the "nonprofit mentality," designing scale-able animal welfare programs, and using technology "for what it is good for." Chris makes some predictions on what the next 3-5 years will look like for cats, based on the trends he's seen as a result of COVID.

Dive into the world of Doobert.com and subscribe to the Animal Innovations Show hosted by Chris Roy. You can also follow Doobert.com on Facebook, Instagram, and their Youtube channel.

Quick Notes:

The Animal Innovations Show has new episodes on Tuesday & Thursday night.
To be a guest on The Animal Innovations Show, complete the application.
Chris Roy referenced the crowd-funding platform for animal care, Waggle.org.

Dr. Jacquie Rand, Executive Director and Chief Scientist, Australian Pet Welfare Foundation Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com.

Dr. Jaquie Rand is currently using research to tackle issues around community cats and the criminalization of Trap, Neuter, Release practices in Australia. After navigating significant resistance for over a year and a half, she was able to launch a research project to negate arguments about disease spread by cats, the impact of cat predation on native wildlife, and the benefits of sterilization. In the midst of COVID, data collection turned to neighborhood surveys which revealed paradigm-shifting data that challenged notions about the human element in the community cat equation.

Stacy and Dr. Rand discuss barriers that are faced by cats' owners⸺especially those with limited financial resources⸺to access spay and neuter procedures. They chat about the value of research in finding possible solutions, prioritizing municipal support based on need, and educating stakeholders to make TNR a more viable option.

To learn more, visit the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation's website or email them at: info@petwelfare.org.au. To see the impact that Dr. Jacquie Rand's work is making, follow the APWF's Facebook, Instagram, or connect with them on Linked In.

Steve Dale, Radio Host and Certified Animal Behavior Consultant Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com.

A few notes played on a toy piano by his showstopping cat Ricky, changed Steve Dale's understanding of cat behaviour, forever. Steve Dale began to "clicker train" Ricky the Devon Rex and the two became an inseparable duo. They continued to work together and began dispelling myths about what cats can be through public appearances and media spots.

Steve discusses Ricky's diagnosis of feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and shares the legacy he created for Ricky by establishing the Ricky Fund for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Research. Stacy and Steve chat about Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return (TNVR) for community cats and benefits to the emotional and physical health of Fear Free™ practices.

The Ricky Fund was established through Winn Feline Foundation, now Everycat.org and has raised over $200,000 for HCM research.

Research from the Ricky Fund for HCM Research has produced a simple cheek-swab test to determine genetic predisposition for HCM and has been vital in understanding this disease.

Steve recommends learning more by visiting fearfreehappyhomes.com, stevedale.tv, or following him on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Linked In and Twitter.

*A brief note from the production team: this episode features a fantastic interview, lots of interesting information...and unfortunately, some slightly dodgy audio quality. Despite the audio glitch, we decided to share it because we found the content both fun and incredibly valuable. We hope you do as well.

Emily Hall, Founder & Owner of kittycatgo.com Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com.

Emily discovered the joy that adventuring brought to cats—and their people—when she and her husband took their own cat with Cerebellar Hypoplasia outside for enrichment.

From catio to stroller, to harness training, Emily and Stacy chat about the best steps to take when preparing your cat to go adventuring outside. Emily talks about pet tracking devices and which features she recommends especially for cats. For the holiday season, Emily offers tips on traveling with cats and adventure cat gift ideas.

Adventure Challenge is a list of different tasks for human and cat adventure teams. Teams that complete the tasks are entered in a drawing to win a prize.

To join the adventure, as well as find resources on how to bring your cat with you, visit Emily's website and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Sarah Swanty, CAWA, Executive Director and Co-founder, Animal Friends Alliance Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com.

Seven years into her work in veterinary clinics and with animal welfare organizations, Sarah Swanty learned a fact that devastated her. Of any 10 cats that were admitted to the local shelter, only four would make it out. A 60% euthanasia rate for cats drove Sarah to co-found Fort Collins Cat Rescue in 2006 which merged with Animal House Rescue in 2020 to become Animal Friends Alliance.

Stacy and Sarah discuss the highs and lows of starting a cat rescue, the necessity of adding a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, and the organic growth that lead to merging two organizations. Sarah outlines the impact that spay and neuter have had on adoption and transport programs at Animal Friends Alliance in relation to regional animal homelessness.

To learn more about Animal Friends Alliance visit their website follow them on facebook and instagram, or call (970)484-8516.

Special Episode! Pam Johnson-Bennett, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant & Author Nov 07, 2021

Show notes

In this special episode, Pam Johnson-Bennett, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and best-selling author, joins Stacy to discuss how Covid has changed cat behavioral concerns and her participation in the ARM & HAMMER™ Feline Generous program. This year, the program will host the 'Unsung Heroes' Awards which will recognize the most inspiring staff and volunteers at cat welfare organizations; those who have gone above and beyond to help "purrfectly impurrfect" shelter cats.

Pam discusses how winners will be chosen in a variety of categories and details how $30,000 will be awarded to the winning shelters, plus each unsung hero will receive an award and a year's supply of ARM & HAMMER™ cat litter. This program holds a special place in Pam's heart as they serve the same kinds of cats she meets in her practice and who, in a shelter environment, are often hard to adopt to forever homes.

If you would like more information or would like to nominate an unsung hero, you may visit the Feline Generous website. To learn more about Pam Johnson-Bennett's books and her practice, you may stop by her site at catbehaviorassociates.com.

Dr. David Birse, HomeHeart Vets Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com.

Home Heart Vets was founded in 2017 by two cat-loving Veterinarians passionate about improving end-of-life care for cats in New York City, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.

Stacy and Dr. Birse discuss the emotional toll of practicing Veterinary medicine as well as the rewarding aspects of the profession, counseling owners in making end-of-life decisions for their pets, and advocacy around humane euthanasia. Dr. Birse outlines some common signs of end-of-life stages in cats across different conditions and illnesses.

Resources about end-of-life and the decision-making surrounding it can be found on the HomeHeart website and they offer free consultation phone calls to help guide pet parents in the process.

To learn more about Dr. Birse and HomeHeart Vets, visit their website or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Alison Hunter Frederick, Cat Behavior Consultant and Trainer Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by Smalls Fresh Cat Food and Doobert.com.

Beginning her life as a dog person, Allison talks about the value of using dog training methods to benefit cat behavior modification, and vice-versa. After losing her first companion cat in 2014, Allison focused on making cats lives better through behavior as a labor of love. Volunteering with Husker Cats changed Allison's idea of a "feral" cat and inspired her passion for working with community and companion cats.

Allison and Stacy chat about how environment, body language, and building a cat's confidence are all factors that directly affect the emotional life of cats. Allison identifies cat aggression, due to miscommunication and fear, as a common issue that she works with. She tells Stacy,"I love the teaching aspect. I love seeing the people grow and love seeing the changes in the cats."

To learn more about cat behavior visit: Allison Helps Cats LLC. Follow her on Facebook and keep up with the life and times of Rainy, her therapy cat, on Instagram.

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