The Community Cats Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Daralyn Kelleher, YouTuber and Amateur Woodworker Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

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 YouTube Channel. Stacy and Daralyn chat about Daralyn's cat-themed, mid-century modern furniture, the possibility of venturing into making tiny furniture for cats, and making shelters for feral cats.

Daralyn is also a trapper and cat colony caretaker. She shares about the difficulties of getting used to trapping, especially when the cats react poorly to being trapped.

You can find Daralyn on her YouTube Channel or on her Instagram or Twitter.

Anita Kelsey, Cat Behaviorist May 25, 2021

Show notes

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

Anita Kelsey is London's only accredited cat behaviourist (BA Hons, MCFBA, CIDBT) after studying feline psychology and behaviour with renowned cat expert and biologist Roger Tabor and achieving a first class honours degree at Middlesex University based on her work practice. Anita is also qualified as a master cat groomer has a long list of regular mobile cat grooming clients in and around London.

Anita is the author of two books, Claws: Confessions of a Cat Groomer and her newest book Let's Talk About Cats, which we reviewed in our last book review blog. Stacy and Anita talk about some of Anita's favorite interviews with cat professionals in Let's Talk About Cats and the varying perceptions about cats around the world.

You can find out more about Anita and get the books on her website. You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Reagan Pasternak, Author of Griffin's Heart: Mourning Your Pet with No Apologies May 18, 2021

Show notes

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

This week's guest is Canadian actress, singer, and writer Reagan Pasternak. Reagan is the author of Griffin's Heart: Mourning Your Pet with No Apologies. An avid animal lover, Reagan works with several rescue groups based in L. A.

The book Griffin's Heart came about when Reagan was mourning the loss of her cat Griffin. The loss of a pet is often not treated the same way as the loss of a human in your life, but the grief is very much the same. Reagan's book is a memoir, a healing journal, a grief guide, and a keepsake for helping you work through mourning a pet and to help you remember the wonderful things about your life together.

Stacy and Reagan touch on compassion fatigue in the animal welfare industry and the importance of community building as a way to validate feelings of grief.

To find out more about Reagan, visit her website. To buy the book, visit Griffin's Heart website. You can join her community on Instagram.

Carol Novello, Founder of Mutual Rescue May 11, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by CDE Cages and Doobert.com.

This week Stacy talks to Carol Novello, founder of Mutual Rescue, a national initiative that highlights the power of human-animal relationships. She is also the author of Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too. Carol worked in corporate America before transitioning to the nonprofit space, where she spent a decade as the president of the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. She is a recipient of the Maddie Hero Award and a member of the board of directors of Cuddly.

Mutual Rescue was born of the idea that helping animals helps people. They created films that showcase stories of people who were saved by their rescued animal and published a book that combines those stories with the science behind the human animal bond. Now Mutual Rescue is working on creating programs in collaboration with local shelters and rescues that can provide tools and messaging that can be used by organizations all over the country and collaborating with corporate sponsors to provide national funding to local organizations.

Stacy and Carol chat about what expertise in business and leadership Carol brought from her corporate jobs into the nonprofit world, how to create a culture of philanthropy, and how COVID-19 is affecting operations.

To find out more about Mutual Rescue, to watch some of their inspiring videos, or to find their book, visit their website(Carol recommends the film on Josh and Scout for cat lovers).

Special Episode! Care Dare May 07, 2021

Show notes

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 Cat Challenge. Sterling the TrapKing will set a record for the most cats trapped in 24 hours by a single person! Our Goal is to set a record, help spay and neuter as many community cats in Atlanta during Kitten Season, and educate more people on the benefits or TNR while having diverse representation.

To learn more visit https://careawo.org/care-dare/ and cheer Sterling on!

Deborah Cribbs, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Joanie Bernard Foundation & The Ten movement May 04, 2021

Show notes

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 Bernard Foundation and the Ten movement, which works in the greater Cincinnati area to help achieve a no-kill community for cats. The foundation's ad campaigns featuring Scooter the Neutered Cat have helped increase awareness and engagement in the community about spay and neuter and community cats. The work of the foundation has helped improve the live release rate in Cincinnati shelters from just 37% to over 96%.

Deborah and Stacy talk about how Deborah came to the animal welfare industry through the mission to spend the foundation's money wisely. They discuss how to target impactful spending that drives change in the community, and how to engage the public, giving them ownership of the problems in the community. Deborah shares how with a focus on spay/neuter and community cats, their ad campaigns have been able to drive community members to action.

For more information on the Joanie Bernard Foundation, visit their website, and for information on the Mild Kingdom campaign and for resources on tnr, go to the Ten movement's website.

Rachel Herman, Founder and Executive Director, PAWS (NY) Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by CDE Cages and Doobert.com.

This week Stacy talks to Rachel Herman, founder and executive director of PAWS (NY). Rachel has worked in development with the ASPCA before she transitioned to working with PAWS (NY) full time.

PAWS (NY), or Pets Are Wonderful Support New York was founded in 2009 to meet the need for support for people who have physical and financial barriers to caring for their pets in New York City. Their goal is to provide services that help keep pets in their homes including vet care, dog walking and litter box maintenance, a pet food pantry, and more. They partner with other organizations in the community that serve the same demographic to help provide comprehensive care.

Stacy and Rachel discuss fundraising and how COVID-19 has affected the work of PAWS (NY). You can find PAWS NY on their website and on Facebook and Instagram.

Danielle Bays, Senior Analyst for Cat Protection & Policy, HSUS Apr 20, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by CDE Cages and Doobert.com.

Can you believe it's our 400th episode? This week we have a very special episode with Danielle Bays. You might remember Danielle from previous episodes or from her presentation at the 2021 Online Cat Conference. Danielle is a senior analyst for cat protection and policy at the Humane Society of the United States. She has more than 20 years experience in animal advocacy and she uses this expertise to advocate for community cat programs.

Stacy and Danielle talk cat policy in Los Angeles where a citywide community cat program has finally passed, Alaska where a wildlife regulation prevents cats from being released into the wild, New Jersey which has passed the Compassion for Community Cats Act, and various states where declawing bans are in the works. They also discuss the Animal Care Expo, which begins tomorrow.

To find out about local policy issues in your state, you can contact your HSUS state director, or you can contact Danielle directly. For more info about the Animal Care Expo, visit their website.

Dawn White, author of Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat Apr 13, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by TICA and Doobert.com.

Dawn White works as a behavioral psychologist and a massage therapist, but you might be more familiar with her work with Lola the Rescued Cat. Dawn runs the Lola the Rescued Cat Blog and is the author of Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat. Dawn is also a contributing writer for The Jackson Galaxy Project's Cat Pawsitive program, Chewy.com, Pet Radio Magazine, the Contemporary Pet, and more.

Dawn shares with us Lola's rescue story and how it gained momentum on social media, leading to the blog and published book, as well as becoming a platform to raise awareness about adoption and raise money for shelters and rescues. Lola has also been featured in Heroic, Helpful and Caring: Felines Who Make a Difference by Anne Beall, a book about how cats touch our lives.

Stacy and Dawn also discuss Dawn's partners in the The Jackson Galaxy Project Cat Pawsitive program, Catnip Nation, and the Cat Writers Association. She shares tips for writing about animals, advocacy for adoption and community cats, and how to manage social media.

You can find out more about Lola on her blog or on Facebook, and you can buy Lola: Diary of a Rescued Cat on Amazon, or wherever books are sold.

Michelle Adams, Founder of Chatty Cats Care Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

This episode is sponsored in part by TICA and Doobert.com.

Today's guest comes to us all the way from the United Kingdom. Stacy chats with Michelle Adams, founder of Chatty Cats Care, a cat sitting company based in London. Michelle specialises in caring for disabled pets, is passionate about rescuing cats, and shares her home with senior cat, Jerry.

Michelle shares with Stacy how during the pandemic lockdowns, her cat sitting business has adapted by adding a podcast, Catmaste Chronicles, and how that has led to her latest business venture: selling eco friendly products like cat-themed beeswax wraps. Not only do Michelle's products support sustainable living, but she's also donating 30% of her profits to Feline Friends International, a charity rescuing and helping community cats all over the world.

To learn more about Chatty Cats Care or to listen to the Catmaste Chronicles podcast, visit their website. You can also find Chatty Cats Care on Instagram, and Facebook.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Community Cats Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected