The Community Cats Podcast

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Latest Episodes:

Ep 663: Kitten Season Is Coming: What the Data Says and What to Do About It with Tori Fugate, Director of SAC Communications for the ASPCA May 05, 2026

Show notes

"If we all came together to solve the problem, to solve the issue, and work together — those are the areas that we would see the most improvement."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Strategies to Reunite Lost Cats with Families Certification Workshop and Increasing Your Impact With Targeted TNR Certification Workshop.

The kittens are coming. We know it every spring, but this year, Shelter Animals Count has the data to prove exactly how big the wave will be — and which organizations will feel it hardest. If your shelter or rescue isn't already ramping up fosters, supplies, and community outreach, this episode is your signal to start today.

Tori Fugate is the Director of Communications for Shelter Animals Count — now a program of the ASPCA — and she has spent more than a decade at the intersection of animal welfare and strategic communications. Before joining SAC, she was Chief Communications Officer at KC Pet Project, where she helped transform one of the country's most visible municipal shelters into a national model for innovative, lifesaving work.

Tori joins host Stacy LeBaron to unpack the latest findings from SAC's 2025 Annual Data Report — including the striking reality that 59% of all cats entering shelters in 2025 were kittens under five months of age. They dig into how to use zip-code-level intake data to target foster recruitment and community outreach before the floodgates open, and why creative thinking — think paper collars with QR codes to crowdfund spay/neuter costs — may be just as important as resources and policy.

They also tackle one of the industry's most alarming trends: only 23% of cats entering shelters in 2025 arrived already spayed or neutered, nearly 3% below pre-pandemic levels. Tori explains how SAC's groundbreaking Altered Status at Intake Report is helping organizations understand where access-to-care gaps are widest — and what shelter communicators can do right now to start closing them.

Press Play Now For:

Why cats and kittens are just as marketable as dogs — and why the most ridiculous cat names often drive the most adoptions
The significance of 59% of all 2025 cat shelter intake being kittens under five months of age
How government shelters and contract shelters are seeing disproportionately higher intake of kittens under eight weeks
Why only 23% of cats entering shelters in 2025 were already spayed or neutered — and what that means for resource allocation
SAC's Altered Status at Intake Report: five years of data showing a nearly 3% decline from 2019 pre-pandemic levels
Creative approaches to community spay/neuter funding, including paper collar QR codes to crowdfund costs
How shelters can use zip-code-level intake data to target outreach, neighborhood meetings, and foster recruitment
Practical kitten season communication strategies: media outreach, foster spotlights, and targeted Amazon wishlists
The importance of flexible, dynamic thinking when managing kitten surges — and how to support community members who can't bring kittens in right away
SAC's publicly available dashboards including the National Animal Welfare Statistics Dashboard (10 years of data!) and state-level breakdowns

Resources & Links

Ep 662: Scaling Spay/Neuter, Systems Thinking, and the Future of Urban Animal Welfare with Will Zweigart, Executive Director of Flatbush Cats Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

"Rescue and adoption actually don't scale. It doesn't matter how many you do—you're not preventing more from showing up."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic.

In this compelling episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacey LeBaron sits down with Will Zweigart, the visionary behind Flatbush Cats and creator of the investigative podcast Underfoot. Together, they unpack the "hidden cat crisis" affecting urban communities—particularly in New York City—and explore why traditional approaches to rescue and adoption fall short of creating lasting change.

Will shares how his background in strategy and communications shaped a systems-level approach to animal welfare, leading to a bold realization: rescue alone doesn't scale. Instead, sustainable impact lies in increasing access to affordable veterinary care, particularly high-volume spay/neuter services. The conversation dives into the evolution from grassroots rescue work to launching a full-scale clinic, Flatbush Vet, which performed over 7,000 surgeries in a single year.

This episode goes beyond storytelling—it's a blueprint for change. From addressing volunteer burnout to building scalable teams, advocating for municipal accountability, and reimagining the role of cities in animal welfare, Will outlines a transformative vision for 2035. Listeners will gain insight into how policy, funding, and public awareness intersect—and why nonprofits must often lead the charge in both service delivery and media storytelling.

Whether you're a seasoned rescuer, nonprofit leader, or passionate advocate, this episode challenges you to think bigger, act strategically, and embrace solutions that create lasting impact for cats and communities alike.

Press Play Now For:

Why rescue and adoption alone cannot solve cat overpopulation
The concept of the "hidden cat crisis" and why it lacks media coverage
How scaling spay/neuter services creates measurable, long-term impact
The transition from volunteer rescue work to building a veterinary clinic
Practical strategies to prevent volunteer burnout through delegation and systems
The role of municipalities—and why policy inaction is a key barrier
A bold 2035 vision for animal welfare infrastructure in major cities
How storytelling and media can drive awareness and systemic change

Resources & Links

Ep 661: From Stray Streets to Smart Shelters: Transforming Cat Welfare in Greece with Julie Kelley, Founder of Let's Be S.M.A.R.T. Apr 21, 2026

Show notes

"What's better than bringing home a life you saved instead of a souvenir that just sits on a shelf?"

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic.

What does it take to transform a country's approach to stray animal care? In this inspiring episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron reconnects with Julie Kelley—entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of Let's Be Smart Greece—to explore how one vision is reshaping feline welfare across borders.

Julie shares the story behind her move from the United States to Greece and how witnessing widespread stray populations sparked a mission rooted in education, community collaboration, and sustainable solutions. Through Let's Be Smart, Julie has developed a multifaceted model that blends Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), municipality partnerships, and innovative "Smart Yards" to create safer, more structured environments for community cats.

Listeners will get an inside look at Julie's unique shelter concept—a home-like villa where cats live freely alongside volunteers from around the world. This approach not only improves feline well-being but also accelerates socialization and adoption success. Julie also discusses the organization's growing "adoption vacation" initiative, helping tourists responsibly bring Greek cats home after proper medical preparation.

The conversation dives into recent legislative progress in Greece, the importance of youth education, and the evolving role of municipalities in animal welfare. Julie's long-term vision? A global shift toward more humane, integrated shelter models that treat animals as family—not inventory.

Whether you're involved in rescue, advocacy, or simply love cats, this episode offers a powerful reminder: meaningful change happens when compassion meets strategy.

Press Play Now For:

How Let's Be Smart Greece is tackling the stray cat crisis through education and community partnerships
The concept of "Smart Yards" and why structured feeding stations matter
A behind-the-scenes look at a villa-style, home-based cat shelter model
How international volunteers contribute to animal welfare efforts in Greece
The rise of "adoption vacations" and how tourists can responsibly adopt abroad
Why municipalities play a critical role in scaling TNR and veterinary access
Julie Kelley's long-term vision for transforming global shelter standards

Resources & Links

Ep 660: From Skeptics to Advocates: Launching TNR in an Underserved Rural Community with TyAnn Sumpter, Manager of Shelter Support at Charleston Animal Society Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

"Community cats — it's really about the community. It brings the community together."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and the Feline Behavior Summit 2026.

What does it take to build a community cat program from scratch in a rural, under-resourced area where nearly everyone — officers, residents, and administrators alike — is convinced it won't work? In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with TyAnn Sumpter, Manager of Shelter Support at Charleston Animal Society, to walk through one of the most compelling TNR success stories in recent memory. TyAnn came to animal welfare from the business world, and it was that entrepreneurial mindset that helped her see past the resistance and build something lasting in Florence County, South Carolina.

TyAnn shares how she designed and launched the region's first TNR initiative using existing call log data, enthusiastic volunteers, and animal control officers who already knew which neighborhoods needed help. What started as a one-year, grant-funded pilot ended up spaying and neutering 1,700 cats in year one alone. By year two, the shelter that had previously taken in roughly a thousand cats annually had dropped its intake to just 73.

The ripple effects are just as remarkable. Neighboring Darlington County started calling to ask why they didn't have a program, and TyAnn helped them get set up. Florence County eventually hired its own dedicated community cat coordinator, purchased its own transport van, and secured permanent budget funding — all things that would have seemed unimaginable when TyAnn first walked through that shelter door. She also makes a compelling case for using complaint call reductions and cost savings to win over skeptical municipal administrators.

Press Play Now For:

How TyAnn built Florence County's first TNR program with no roadmap and no buy-in
Why mining call log data was the key to finding the community's hidden cat advocates
The dramatic shelter intake drop — from 1,000 cats per year to just 73
How the program expanded into neighboring counties and became permanently self-funded
The role animal control officers played in identifying colonies and building community trust
Making the financial case to county administrators using complaint call metrics
How Charleston Animal Society handles high-volume TNR surgeries two hours away
Why a nonjudgmental, community-first approach is the most powerful tool in TNR
The unexpected expansions: pet pantries, low-cost owned-cat spay/neuter, and more

Resources & Links:

Ep 656: Bridging the Gap in Access to Care with Claire Schuch, Associate Director of Research for University of Tennessee, Knoxville Center for Pet Family Well-Being Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

"We might think access to veterinary care is just an issue for low-income families—but the reality is, it affects people across income levels, for very different reasons."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and the Feline Behavior Summit 2026.

Access to veterinary care is one of the most pressing—and complex—issues facing pet families today. In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with researcher Claire Shuch, PhD, to unpack the latest findings from a groundbreaking national study on barriers to veterinary care.

Drawing from her work with the University of Tennessee Knoxville's Program for Pet Health Equity, Claire shares insights from the updated Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers and Insights from Pet Families report. This research builds on the foundational 2018 study and reveals how economic pressures, workforce shortages, and lingering pandemic effects continue to shape how—and whether—families can care for their pets.

Listeners will discover surprising truths about who struggles to access care (hint: it's not just low-income households), why many cats remain unspayed or unvaccinated, and how logistical challenges like scheduling and clinic availability play a major role. The conversation also explores the broader "One Health" framework, highlighting how human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interconnected.

For community cat advocates, this episode offers valuable context on intake trends, stray adoption patterns, and opportunities for intervention through education and accessible services. Claire also paints a compelling vision of a more integrated future—where human and animal healthcare services are co-located or mobile, reaching underserved communities more effectively.

Whether you're a rescuer, veterinarian, policymaker, or passionate cat lover, this episode provides both data-driven insights and hopeful possibilities for improving care access nationwide.

Press Play Now For:

Key findings from the latest national veterinary care access study
Why affordability is only part of the access problem
Insights into cat ownership trends and stray intake patterns
The real reasons cats aren't always spayed or neutered
How COVID-19 reshaped pet ownership and care challenges
The growing impact of veterinary workforce shortages
A practical introduction to the "One Health" model
Innovative ideas for co-located and mobile care services
How community programs can better support both pets and people

Resources & Links

Episode Update!

Since the recording of this episode, The Program for Pet Health Equity (PPHE) is now the Center for Pet Family Well-Being (CPFW). The links listed above and mentioned in the episode should forward you to the new, relevant information, but you can check out this article for all the details about the change.

Ep 658: The Cat Health Breakthrough No One Thought Was Possible with Steve Dale, Pet Journalist and Renowned Advocate Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

"I'm announcing that FIP is no longer considered fatal… and I looked up to see tears in the eyes of veterinarians around the world."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, the Feline Behavior Summit 2026, and the TNR Certification Workshop.

In this powerful and emotional episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with renowned animal behavior expert and advocate Steve Dale to explore groundbreaking advancements in feline health that are changing—and saving—lives.

Steve shares the deeply personal story of his cat Ricky, whose diagnosis with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) sparked a decades-long mission to fund critical research through the EveryCat Health Foundation. What began as heartbreak has led to hope, including the development of a promising drug that can reverse heart enlargement in cats when caught early.

The conversation then turns to one of the most historically devastating feline diseases: FIP (feline infectious peritonitis). Once considered a death sentence, FIP is now treatable thanks to years of persistence, research funding, and global collaboration. Steve walks us through the science, the setbacks, and the stunning breakthrough that has saved countless kittens—and even contributed to antiviral treatments used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beyond the science, this episode highlights the evolving human-cat bond, the importance of understanding feline behavior, and why we are truly living in the "era of the cat." Whether you're a shelter professional, foster caregiver, or devoted cat owner, this conversation will leave you informed, inspired, and hopeful about the future of feline welfare.

Press Play Now For:

The surprising origin story of a piano-playing cat that changed everything
How one cat's diagnosis led to life-saving HCM research
A clear, accessible explanation of FIP and why it was once always fatal
The breakthrough antiviral treatments now curing FIP in kittens
How feline research contributed to human COVID-19 treatment
Why understanding animal behavior can prevent bites and build trust
The growing momentum behind "The Year (and Decade) of the Cat"

Resources & Links

Ep 657: Feline Leukemia Explained: What Every Cat Lover Needs to Know About FeLV with Margaret Tompkins, Feline Leukemia Expert & Advocate Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

"No cat should be euthanized because it tests positive for a virus—period."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, Reduce Surrenders with Feline Behavior Support Certification Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.

Feline leukemia (FeLV) has long been one of the most misunderstood—and often feared—diagnoses in the cat world. In this eye-opening episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes feline leukemia advocate and expert Margaret Tompkins to break down the myths, realities, and latest advancements surrounding this complex virus.

Margaret shares her personal journey into the world of FeLV advocacy, sparked by a group of rescue kittens that changed her life. From there, she dives into the science behind feline leukemia, explaining how it differs from FIV, how it spreads, and why today's understanding of the disease is far more hopeful than it was just a few decades ago.

Listeners will gain clarity on key topics such as progressive vs. regressive infections, the importance of spay/neuter in disease prevention, and whether testing is always necessary—especially in TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs. Margaret also tackles one of the most emotional questions caregivers face: what to do when a cat tests positive, and why euthanasia should not be the default response.

The conversation also explores managing mixed households, vaccine advancements (including promising new mRNA technology), and how strong immune systems play a critical role in outcomes for FeLV-positive cats.

Whether you're a rescuer, foster, veterinarian, or cat lover, this episode offers practical guidance, science-backed insights, and a much-needed shift in perspective. Feline leukemia is no longer a guaranteed death sentence—and with education, compassion, and proactive care, these cats can live meaningful, happy lives.

Press Play Now For:

The critical difference between FeLV and FIV—and why it matters
How feline leukemia is actually transmitted (and common misconceptions)
Why spay/neuter is the most powerful tool for disease prevention
When testing is essential—and when it's not worth the cost
Understanding progressive vs. regressive FeLV infections
What to do if your vet suggests euthanasia after a positive test
How to safely manage mixed households with FeLV-positive cats
The latest breakthroughs in FeLV vaccines, including mRNA technology
Why many FeLV-positive cats can live long, healthy lives

Resources & Links

Ep 656: Building a Culture of TNR with Chelsea Winter, Community Cat Program Manager at Street Cat Hub Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

"You can't possibly trap every cat. So we teach the community how to do it themselves — and give them the tools to fully sterilize entire colonies."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Feline Behavior Summit, and The Community Cat Clinic.

What happens when a community stops trapping two cats at a time — and starts thinking in entire neighborhoods?

In this episode, Stacy LeBaron sits down with Chelsea Winter, Community Cat Program Manager at Street Cat Hub in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to explore how targeted, whole-colony TNR is driving measurable impact — including a 30% drop in kitten intake at the local shelter.

Chelsea shares how her journey from bottle-feeding neonatal kittens led her to a deeper question: What's causing this constant flood of kittens? That curiosity turned into a strategic, data-driven approach to Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), focused on empowering community caretakers to trap entire colonies at once — not piecemeal.

With more than 50,000 cats sterilized in the organization's history and 6,000 cats fixed annually, Street Cat Hub combines municipal contracts, mapping technology, community education, and high-volume clinic capacity to create sustainable change. Instead of working strictly from a first-come, first-served waitlist, the team targets "hot pockets" identified through shelter intake data, DOA mapping, and caretaker requests — maximizing impact in concentrated areas.

Chelsea also shares practical insights on managing waitlists, engaging reluctant feeders, navigating mixed colonies, and building a culture where TNR becomes a shared community responsibility.

If you're looking for a scalable, collaborative model that reduces kitten intake and improves live outcomes, this episode delivers both inspiration and a tactical roadmap.

Press Play Now For:

How Street Cat Hub reached 50,000 sterilizations
Why whole-colony trapping is more effective than piecemeal TNR
The strategy behind 3-day mass trapping events
How mapping shelter intakes and DOAs guides targeted intervention
What to do when caretakers won't pull food
Managing an 800-colony waitlist without burning out
How municipal contracts support sustainable TNR programs
Why affordable spay/neuter for owned cats is essential
Proof that focused TNR reduces kitten intake by 30%

Resources & Links:

Ep 655: Full Circle TNR: Solving the Kitten Crisis at the Source with Hannah Shaw, Founder of Orphan Kitten Club Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

"The goal is really to do the maximum good. Not bring in kittens who don't need to be there today, but make sure we have a plan for the future … and importantly that we have a plan to return and sterilize everyone…"

his episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Trapper's Tips & Tricks Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.

What if the key to saving more kittens isn't working harder — but working smarter?

In this powerful return to the show, Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw, humane educator and founder of Orphan Kitten Club, joins Stacy LeBaron to unpack the biggest shifts in kitten welfare over the past decade. Celebrating 10 years of impact, Hannah shares compelling national data showing a 35% drop in kitten non-live outcomes — and explains why foster programs, community education, and strategic data use are driving real change.

But the conversation doesn't stop there.

Hannah breaks down the "CASA" method — a practical, field-ready framework for deciding when to intervene (and when not to) if you find kittens outdoors. She dives deep into "Full Circle TNR," a strategic approach that turns every kitten intake into an opportunity to identify and sterilize entire colonies — addressing the source, not just the symptom.

You'll also hear insights from the 2025 Hill's State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, including surprising trends around foster participation, generational differences, fear of attachment, and misconceptions about cost. If your organization struggles with foster recruitment or retention, this episode is a must-listen.

As kitten season approaches, Hannah shares exactly how shelters can prepare now — from staffing and supply planning to smarter data tracking and community messaging.

This is a masterclass in kitten strategy, sustainability, and compassion.

Press Play Now For:

The 35% national decrease in kitten non-live outcomes — and what's driving it
Why 80% of pre-adoption age kittens come from outdoors
The CASA method for deciding when to intervene with outdoor kittens
How "Full Circle TNR" turns kitten intake into colony sterilization
Why foster participation is dropping — even as awareness rises
The real story behind foster affordability (and why messaging matters)
How to improve foster retention by improving access to care
The one data metric every shelter should track before kitten season
Strategic March planning tips to prepare for peak kitten volume

Resources & Links:

Orphan Kitten Club
Kitten Lady (Hannah Shaw)
Hill's State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report

Ep 654: Governance for Good: The Hidden Key to Animal Shelter Success with Tim Crum, CEO of Animal Shelter Services Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

"The board should govern, and the executive director should lead the day-to-day operations. When those lines blur, that's when things get messy."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Trapper's Tips & Tricks Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.

Strong missions save lives but strong governance sustains them.

In this essential episode of the Community Cats Podcast, Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Tim Crum, CEO and founder of Animal Shelter

Services, for a deep dive into nonprofit board governance. If you've ever wondered what a board of directors should be doing (versus what they often end up doing), this conversation is for you.

Tim breaks down the core purpose of a nonprofit board: governance, not operations. From fiduciary responsibility to strategic planning, he outlines the three legal duties every board member must understand—duty of loyalty, duty of care, and duty of obedience (think "LOCO" to remember them). He also shares real-world examples of common governance missteps, including conflicts of interest, related board members, executive directors serving as voting board members, and the risks of poorly documented board minutes.

For growing animal welfare organizations—especially those transitioning from all-volunteer to staffed operations—this episode offers practical guidance on when to hire an executive director, how to structure bylaws and policies, and why board composition matters. Tim also addresses board giving requirements, succession planning, and how to recruit skilled board members by first getting your "house in order."

Whether you're a founder wearing too many hats, a seasoned board member, or stepping into governance for the first time, this episode provides clear, actionable insights to help your organization grow responsibly, ethically, and sustainably.

Good governance isn't just paperwork…it's the foundation for saving more lives.

Press Play Now For:

The three legal duties of nonprofit board members—and why most people don't know they have them
What Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance actually protects
Real-life examples of governance "missteps" and how to avoid them
Why accurate board minutes are your organization's legal safety net
The difference between bylaws, policies, and standard operating procedures
When (and how) to hire an executive director
Why related board members can create major conflicts of interest
The ideal board size for animal welfare organizations
Whether board members should have a financial giving requirement
Practical strategies for recruiting strong, skilled board members

Resources & Links:

An Animal Shelter's Guide to Board Governance by Tim Crum Available at https://animalshelterguide.com
Animal Shelter Services
Tim's Previous Podcast Appearance: Community Cats Podcast Episode 611

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