The Community Cats Podcast

Latest Episodes:

"Relationships and people make all of the work we do in animal welfare possible." Aug 03, 2016

Show notes

CAT is the largest feline-only shelter in the Pacific Northwest, and Karen outlines their focus on taking in cats from other shelters and rescue groups for necessary medical care and rehoming. One secret to their success is that they are committed to "give each cat the housing and support and care they need to be successful in the shelter and then successful in their adoptive homes." The Portland area is a pretty great place to be a community cat, she observes, given shelters like CAT as well as the local Feral Cat Coalition, which has provided 80,000 (!) free and low cost surgeries for cats. (Photo taken by Kathi Lamm of Lamm Photography).

To find out more visit Cat Adoption Team online.

"We're in the business of saving lives." Aug 02, 2016

Show notes

With her ten years of at the helm of PetSmart Charities, and her current role leading Central OK Humane, Susana is in a perfect position to share her perspective both as a a funder of animal initiatives, and a recipient of grant dollars. Thanks to previous support from the ASPCA, Central OK Humane has implemented a raft of programs that have brought live release rates to an all-time high. Their high volume, high quality spay/neuter clinic has treated 11,000 community animals since its inception in 2008, and they also have a robust community cats presence, including TNR and a bottle baby program.

To find out more visit Central OK Humane Society online.

"I think I was born a cat lady." Jul 30, 2016

Show notes

Julia says that earning her Masters in Animals and Public Policy at Tufts gave her a perfect "launching pad" for what she wanted to do with her life. It also led her to take an active role at the Massachusetts Animal Coalition, which connects volunteers, animal welfare professionals and community members. She details their new program, "AniMatch for Cats," which facilitates cooperation amongdifferent constituencies to improve outcomes for cats seeking homes. She believes such a program could work anywhere you have people committed to cats and are looking to build additional resources to help them.

To find out more visit The MSPCA online.

"It's hard and it's messy and it's not pretty, but when it works we can really change policies that impact so many animals." Jul 29, 2016

Show notes

A veteran advocate for animals, Kara talks about her involvement in several game-changing initiatives — a license plate program and tax check-off — that created funding sources in Massachusetts for spay/neuter programs that have impacted thousands of animals. She also talks about the importance of getting to know your local legislators, and educating them before you need them, rather than after. "Legislators want to hear directly from their constituents," she notes. While she says a law degree is not essential to playing her role, it helped her develop analytical reasoning that has helped her frame the issues she supports.

To find out more visit The MSPCA online.

"Diabetes is not a death sentence for cats." Jul 28, 2016

Show notes

Have a diabetic cat, or know someone who does? JaneA describes her experience with her own cat plus the work she does as a member of the "virtual" team that runs Diabetic Cats in Need. (DCIN). DCIN assists cat owners with education and financial assistance to better support their cat's needs. Since its founding, DCIN has assisted over 700 cats — and loving cat owners. JaneA also discusses how medication and diet can go a long way to assuring that cats have long and happy lives after their diagnosis. She also talks about her blog (written by her cats!) that helps cat owners understand behavior and medical issues.

To find out more visit the paws-and-effect.com online.

"The connection of one to one is really magical." Jul 27, 2016

Show notes

After reminiscing about their early work together, Bonney and Stacy discuss fundraising strategies and the importance of focusing your message on successes and future opportunities. It can be overwhelming to think about thousands of animals in need, but inspiring to tell the story of an individual cat or situation. Bonney also talks about how to put together an effective non-profit Board of Directors, which she sees as essential to meeting a group's mission. It's important, she notes, to make sure Board members have a clear understanding what is expected of them, and to use their time wisely during meetings.

To find out more visit the Humane Network online.

"I knew I could be the voice for the animals and wanted to help." Jul 26, 2016

Show notes

Marlan leads a "boots on the ground" initiative to go into Kansas City's underserved communities to provide education, wellness and other resources to keep families and pets together. These efforts include a pet food pantry that distributes more than 40,000 pounds of dog and cat food a year, a MASH-style high volume spay/neuter clinic that aims to treat 10,000 pets a year, and other ways to "make cats better neighbors for us." He is a big believer in making sure 100% of every feral colony is fixed and describes the feeling of getting that last cat trapped: "you feel like a superhero!"

To find out more visit the Spay and Neuter Kansas City online.

"We're all about working through compassion." Jul 23, 2016

Show notes

The State of Delaware has legislation in effect establishing a spay/neuter program for non-profits and low-income individuals, which is funded by a $3 surcharge on rabies vaccines. Shauna talks about how those funds are put to work through with participating veterinarians and local shelters. She notes that all types of individuals are necessary to create change for cats: "there are a lot of people do the really hard work on the ground for animal welfare…trapping, foster, feeding" but that she felt her journalism and legislative skills could be put to work to help make these individuals' jobs easier.

To find out more visit the The State of Delaware Office of Animal Welfare online.

"Even though we're behind, we don't want to be." Jul 22, 2016

Show notes

Shelby describes the challenges of helping community cats in the rural South, where 40% of residents have no access to the internet. So, she reaches out to local social services organizations to get information to individuals who don't even know what spay/neuter is: "you have to assume that people don't know and start there." Her "street team" also distributes flyers at laundromats and supermarkets, noting that you need to reach out to the public in places they normally go. Shelby also talks about her "stray-dar" for finding outdoor cats and the persistent problem of feral dogs in Mississippi.

To find out more visit the Mississippi Spay Neuter online.

"People may be the problem but they're also the solution." Jul 21, 2016

Show notes

After TNR'ing 43 cats and fostering multiple litters of kittens, Ashley became "addicted" to trapping and decided that a career in animal welfare was inevitable for her. She speaks about her communications efforts to educate individual neighborhoods about the importance of spay/neuter and the resources available to help them with community cats.. Her staff at Scituate Animal Shelter plays the role of "hotline" for callers concerned about cats, going through a checklist to help them arrive at the right solutions. She also shares her "top tips" for trapping moms and kittens.

To find out more visit the Scituate Animal Shelter online.