Hey everyone, Happy Summer! When I would hear those words I would just dread what I knew was going to come my way, lots and lots of requests for help with kittens and foster care. So these 5 Tips for Keeping Sane During the Summer with Kittens Everywhere will help! It […]
I want to first go on the record and say that I am not an expert in transporting cats and kittens around the country. I have never participated in an out-of-state transport of cats, and I will admit that I was always pretty adamant about helping the cats and kittens […]
Everyone is full, full. We are clearing the shelters with adoption events, we are debating the merits of fee waived adoptions, and our small programs can’t TNR because we are backlogged with “way station” cats and kittens waiting to find placement. The wheels stop turning in our community cat machinery […]
Reports have been coming in from many Massachusetts rescuers and trappers saying that this year’s kitten season is the worst one “eva” (=ever in Boston-speak). I decided to email some of the larger shelters in the state to see what might be going on. I definitely came across some themes. […]
You may have seen my blog post about a possible kitten explosion and overpopulation concerns a couple of weeks ago. I believe we will have a substantial uptick in the number of kittens being born in our communities this summer, and I also am convinced that members of the community […]
There’s no way around the fact that kittens are going to be a big part of our lives in the coming months. While we may not see the numbers in our shelters as the desire for foster care continues to rise, kittens will be out there in the community, and […]
This week’s guest post is authored by Nancy Peterson of The National Kitten Coalition. Best TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) practices involve trapping the entire colony of cats at the same time, although there are times when this is not possible. When there are kittens to be trapped, there are additional considerations. You will be […]
Contributed by Cristin Bates Have you ever come across stray kittens outside and wondered what you should do? You might be surprised to learn that leaving them where they are is oftentimes the most helpful thing you can do. From birth to eight weeks, mother cats provide their kittens with […]
“The National Kitten Coalition believes that every kitten deserves a chance to survive and thrive.” Listen to Episode #510 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy chats with Nancy Peterson, Board Member of the National […]
Contributed by Allison Hunter-Frederick, Cat Behavior Consultant, Trainer, & Educator at Allison Helps Cats If you foster cats, you may be asked to socialize feral kittens. My husband and I first faced this challenge in 2020. I’ve also worked with fearful cats of all ages at our local shelter for […]
This week’s blog may be a bit surprising, but I want to share my take on Why It Is Okay to Return a Felv+ Cat to a colony. First off, I want to say VERY clearly that cats being trapped, neutered and returned should NOT be tested for FIV (Feline […]
“People are mad…they want kittens and now there are no kittens!” Dr. Newman describes how the Barry County Animal Shelter implemented a TNR program — with the help of the MRFRS Mentoring Program and PetSmart Charities — that has resulted in a drastic reduction in unwanted litters among unowned cats. […]
Welcome to the Community Cats Podcast website. I am thrilled to be launching this website where we, as a community, can help more community cats. What is a community cat you ask? Community Cats are cats that are either feral (born in the wild-outdoors), abandoned cats, or owned indoor/outdoor cats […]
“I had never seen one cat outside, let alone one hundred!” Stacy talks with veteran trapper Laura Burns about her experiences, advice and resources for those seeking to make a difference for cats. Laura discusses the use of box traps versus drop traps, her approach to feral kittens and relocating […]
This is the time of year when fee-waived adoption events are happening all of the time. Fee-Waived Adoptions Can Help Your Organization! Whether it be within specific organizations or in the community, as a whole, it has been seen to help reduce the overpopulation of cats and kittens in adoption […]
Huge thanks to Lisa Finkel and Liz Pease from the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society in working tirelessly to help create this wonderful Phases of Feline Over-Population model with our fearless leader, Stacy LeBaron! Stacy LeBaron has been active in the animal welfare field since 1994. She envisions a no-kill nation, where all […]
It is the end of June and I am wondering how kitten season affects everyone in our community? In Massachusetts, we have some kittens and pockets of areas where we have a lot of feral kittens that need rescue. Over the last 20 years, though, the number of kittens coming […]
Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Kansas State Law 47-624 sounds pretty reasonable. Under the Kansas Statutes for Livestock and Domestic Animals, the law pertains to “any domestic animal affected with any contagious or infectious disease.” These animals are […]
“Once you save one, you’re hooked for life.” Marnie tells Stacy about her commitment to increasing the survival rates for neonatal kittens through education, information sharing, cooperation and hands on learning. Her organization, the National Kitten Coalition, specializes in helping shelters, rescue organizations, the veterinary community and individuals, better understand […]
Do you feed a group of community cats? Do you have a neighbor who may not be as excited about having community cats in their yard as you are? It can be a common occurrence on how to figure out How to Work With Your Neighbors and you may […]
This suggestion has been presented to me many times and I feel the need to share this idea with all of you! Based on the data, there are many areas of the country where we seem to have cat overpopulation under control. These successful areas have offered community low-cost spay/neuter […]
“Community cats are not homeless..they are loved and cared for.” When Scott accepted the challenge of joining the Washington Humane Society, their live release rate was 28%…today it is 90%. Scott outlines the various programs that have moved the dial, including improved coordination and cooperation with animal control, their Pets for […]
“People may be the problem but they’re also the solution.” 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 […]
“Cats are resourceful and a lot smarter than we give them credit for.” Jessica has had broad exposure to many different functions necessary to helping community cats: TNR, high volume spay/neuter clinics, and even managing a pet food pantry. When she joined Indy Humane, there were nearly 800 cats on the waiting […]
Summertime is when our trappers are their most active. We are so busy handling calls about kittens in distress, feral mothers and cat fights. It is, by far, when cats are their most visible in the community. It seems like everyone wants community cats gone in July and August! Trust me, […]
In my past experience, the end of July tends to be the hardest time for Community Cat rescuers and feeders. These 10 Tips for the Toughest Week of the Year will help you make it through these tough times! So what makes this week so tough? For the colonies that […]
“We all have our own donor sources, yes, we have our own projects and so on, but we are in this together.” Michael tells Stacy about all things animal welfare in Arizona, from a ten-month kitten season to roaming packs of chihuahuas. In addition, he emphasizes the importance of working […]
“The canine has always been given more precedence in medical care.” Ellen Carozza is a veterinary technician with a passion for rescuing and raising neonatal kittens. She lovingly brings the kittens she raises everywhere with her, and implements innovative ways to care for them, including electrolytes, probiotics and plasma. With […]
Over the last 5-10 years we have heard a lot of discussion about the importance of targeted spay/neuter programs. We see flyers for spay/neuter at a low cost for $10 or for free. And as a result, when we have aggressive spay/neuter in these areas we see dramatic reduction in […]
“For community cats, it takes a community. There’s always something you can do.” Angela shares fascinating information about ASAP’s innovative programs, particularly their recognized “Tiny Lion Tamers” initiative that socializes feral kittens within the shelter environment. So far, this program has 125 “graduates” and has made a significant difference in […]
As the end of summer approaches, we begin to have a larger inflow of surrenders to our shelters. Why does this happen? Yes, we have the addition of kittens coming into our shelters, but in areas where the kitten population is somewhat under control most kitten surrenders can primarily be […]
Have you been thinking about ways that you can get involved in the community around you? Are you confused where to start, but would really like to start volunteering somewhere that will make a difference? If this sounds like you, it is easier than you think when it comes to How […]
“We met at my dining room table, got organized and off we went.” Bonnie’s utilized partnerships with many different organizations to contribute to the success of the Feline and Friends Foundation, which has helped 2000 cats in just three years, in one of Vermont’s poorest countries. She borrowed her game […]
From backyards to large cities, we live in a world with many communities. My family is a community, my friends are a community, my neighborhood, my town…. okay you get it! So, What Does a Humane Community Look Like for Cats? We are currently so focused on shelter statistics that I […]
I often ask myself why is it such a challenge for us all to do the right thing for Community Cats. Why do we pass by a situation when we know that we can all help? It really does take a village in order to make sure the cats in […]
“I live and breathe cat advocacy…that’s what I do.” Little did Hannah Shaw know that the day that she borrowed some shoes to climb a tree and save an orphaned kitten, she would be starting a career that would inform and engage cat lovers around the world. An expert in […]
Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs can be a wonderful way to deal with community cat population issues. It is important that community/feral cats get spayed/neutered and vaccinated so that their colonies don’t grow exponentially. In […]
Happy National Feral Cat Day! On this day I want us to take a moment to focus on what National Feral Cat Day means to us. I specifically want to focus on the word “Feral”. We’ve gotten a bit away from identifying our free-roaming cat populations and just putting all cats […]
“I live and breathe cat advocacy…that’s what I do.” Little did Hannah Shaw know that the day that she borrowed some shoes to climb a tree and save an orphaned kitten, she would be starting a career that would inform and engage cat lovers around the world. An expert in […]
As we go beyond our 100th episode of the Community Cats Podcast, we would like to launch the Cat Academy with an easy listing of listening modules or episodes that are grouped by topic. So if you want to know everything about kittens you can just click on this listing […]
“No matter how we operate, we all have the same goals which is to help community cats.” In another episode extolling the benefits of collaboration, Jill and Crystal describe how their relationships with other organizations have benefitted the cats and llower-income residents of Lowell. By bringing low-cost spay/neuter to the […]
“I have found even the fiercest of ferals can be really great moms, so their concern is more taking care of their kittens than have to deal with us.” Through the Mama from the Streets program, San Francisco’s shelters are combining TNR for feral mothers with adoption of their kittens. […]
Happy Cyber Monday! I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving Holiday and was able to enjoy their family and loved ones. If you are doing your online shopping this fine Monday morning, feel free to take a quick look at our Community Cats Podcast Store. All proceeds go […]
“I live and breathe cat advocacy…that’s what I do.” Hannah Shaw was such a popular guest earlier this year that we couldn’t wait to bring back her episode for a reboot! How was she to know that saving an orphaned kitty would reboot her career, as well! Hannah, affectionately known […]
“We’ve been able to return cats to colonies that otherwise would have been lost in the system.” In this fascinating interview, Justin talks about his award-winning documentary that follows the exploits of the Los Angeles-based SMART team, which rescues animals in Southern California from all kinds of dire situations. He […]
Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. day and a time to reflect on all of the efforts of the Civil Rights movement that he did. But, Martin Luther King and… Community Cats? Have I lost my mind? There are many ways to honor Dr. King and his legacy. I, for one, […]
This week I would like to cover My 13 Favorite (Mostly Free) Online Tools that I use to help manage people, time, and programs. For those of you who know more personally you know this is a favorite topic of mine. I think that technology is the best thing that […]
“If individuals took responsibility for their pets, then there would be no indiscriminate breeding.” Renee Harris has been volunteering and working in animal welfare since the tender age of twelve, and over her 30+ year career she has seen the field change enormously. She pioneered the Paws to Success program […]
Happy day before Valentine’s Day! I hope you and your loved ones have a good day filled with Chocolate and Catnip. When we think about Valentine’s Day we think about couples. Today I would like to list some of the many reason why adopting two cats or kittens are better […]
Over the last couple of weeks, Merritt Clifton’s online publication has had several guest posts about why spay/neuter is the solution to our pet overpopulation problems around the world! Yes, folks, we are going to start addressing this issue on a worldwide scale. What perfect timing, as today is Love your […]
The Nuts and Bolts of a Donation Jar Campaign is something many of our groups in The Community Cats Grants ponder during their fundraising efforts. We currently have 40 groups from 18 different states working hard to raise money for their spay/neuter programs that help community cats! More info to […]
I have long been a great fan of return to field programs. Without even knowing what return to field was, MRFRS was running free spay/neuter clinics for feral cats. Anyone could bring a cat in a trap to our monthly clinics and get them spay/neutered, vaccinated and ear tipped for […]
Volunteerism is what drives our profession in animal welfare. We wouldn’t be able to do 90% of our work without volunteer help! Most of our boards of directors are run by volunteers, along with our cat caretakers and trappers being volunteers, too. Our foster homes are volunteers and fundraisers and […]
If you passed by the Metropolitan Pavillion in New York City a couple of weekends ago, you probably noticed more than a few people wearing cat ears and excitedly waiting to get out of the chilly weather and into Cat Camp NYC. That’s right… We went to Cat Camp NYC! The […]
“You’re going to get a whole lot more kittens when you start a nursery.” As we enter “kitten season,” Stacy talks to Laura about “kitten nurseries,” a new and hot concept for management of neonatal kittens. Laura recently researched and wrote a manual for organizations thinking about starting their own […]
“This is all about being a family.” As kitten season approaches, guest host Lisa Finkel talks with Stacy about creatively managing community kittens. Describing kitten fostering as a “pre-program” to the adoption process, Stacy offers insight on productive ways to set up a healthy and sustainable foster care program. Many […]
“I was used to not following rules and cats don’t follow rules for the most part.” It’s the Cat Daddy himself in this special episode of the podcast! Stacy has a fascinating conversation with Jackson Galaxy, the once-musician whose special bond with felines catapulted (sorry!) him to fame as a […]
Unfortunately kitten season either is upon us or will soon be here. I thought I would pass along some tips you can use for Preparing for Kitten Season and Trapping. I want you to have a successful year! For the Foster Home Coordinator 1. Check-In If you are a foster […]
It seems like this month has been filled will lots of conversations about the word “No-Kill” and what it means. How will all of the data that we are collecting to create a country full of No-Kill shelters impact the overall wellness of our communities for Community Cats? So, when […]
“Foster programs are my first love by far.” Rebecca Jewell is the executive director of the National Kitten Coalition. Her family fostered many pregnant cats and litters when she was growing up in Ohio, which inspired in her a love of foster programs. In fact, she built her own foster […]
“I love telling these stories because every single cat that we bring into our rescue always has something we can learn from.” Robin Olson is the writer behind the award winning “Covered in Cathair” blog, which chronicles the stores of the 500 cats she’s rescued over the years. She also […]
This week I want to discuss the Feline Fix by Five and Why This Would Make a Huge Difference! The program, created by Marion’s Dream and inspired by Esther Mechler, has always seemed like such an easy thing to do. All it asks is that we get our cats spayed or […]
Before we talk about Feline Leukemia Positive Cats and Why to Adopt Them Out, I want to give a big thank you to everyone who participated in the Annual Survey! I had some fantastic responses and it is clear that you all enjoy the podcast. We’ve also got some great […]
“Oftentimes, these folks are not upset about the cats in general, but the fact that they’re not being cared for.” In this, the seventh (!) Ask Stacy episode, Lisa and Stacy leave the world of cat lovers behind for a moment to take a look at “cat opponents”—whether those be […]
I know many of you enjoyed my comments about Felv+ cats and I want to thank everyone for the great responses. I thought today I would get up on my FIV+ soapbox and advocate for this great group of FIV Cats and Why We Need to Stop Testing! My own […]
“The community cats project has not only helped us save outdoor community cats; it’s helped us provide a better experience for the cats inside our shelters.” Karen Hollish is the director of development and marketing at Pima Animal Care Center. In March 2014, she started a development program for the […]
Today I am jumping back up on my spay/neuter soapbox and share with you some great statistics that I have. It’s all about Spay/Neuter Baby! The stats prove that high volume and accessible spay/neuter is what will truly make a difference in lives saved in your community. In 2008 a […]
It has been about a year since I have covered this topic and I have to say that I still have a love-hate relationship with Social Media. Below is a listing of my five points about social media that I think we all need to think about and how I […]
It is the middle of the summer and we are up to our eye balls in requests for help! Kittens need trapping, people are complaining and we are all hot! Inevitably, when all of these requests pile up we get that call that an injured cat has been found and […]
I know that many of my recent blog posts have focused on the fact that we are overwhelmed with kittens. We also have so many requests for assistance, along with many more things going on. Today I am going to continue on that trend by discussing Applying Broken Window Theory […]
The end of August is always bitter sweet in the shelters. We are full to the brim with lots and lots of cats and kittens. Our foster homes are tired, trappers are tired and to top it off… our summer volunteers are leaving us to go back to school. It […]
“The adopters that are drawn to the shy feral kittens are the ones that are going to make them blossom the most.” Pat Brayer is the clinic director at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. In her shelter work, she has pioneered some of the field’s most innovative programs, such […]
Since 2004 there has been a network of cat trappers and rescuers who have worked together to help curb feline over population in Massachusetts. It is called Masscats and is a simple yahoo group that follows the framework of freecycle. This is where folks can post requests for assistance and help each […]
This week, we have something particularly fun for you! Operation Paw’s Parody Music Video, with parodies Rick Ross’ “Trap Trap Trap” is hot, hot, hot! Catherine Duarte has been a cat lover for many years, but only recently learned about TNR. Since than, she’s been volunteering with Operation Paw, a Miami […]
“My ultimate vision is that there really are no more community cats, because the entire United States has bought into TNVR.” Cathy Unruh and Chad Thompson are the founding board president and executive director of Meow Now, Inc., respectively. Meow Now is the first and only non-profit organization providing TNVR […]
If I could have it all, I would make November a month where anyone could get their cat spayed or neutered for free during this month. So Why November Should Be National Spay/Neuter Month and the 10-1 Rule? This is a time of the year where many communities are wrapping […]
I’ve heard a song that says “Christmas comes this time each year”—but for me, it comes every day. You see, I’m a community cat, you can call me C.C. When my caretakers stop by with food and fresh water, every day feels like Christmas (or whatever the best day you […]
The past two years may prove that It Could Finally Be a Turning Point for Cats and their welfare! Why? Because at the start of 2016 a veterinary task force was formed with the goal of improving cat welfare. By the middle of 2017, all major national veterinary organizations had endorsed […]
Building a sustainable fostering program can be one of the most powerful ways for organizations to be able to help more cats. I interviewed Bryn Rogers, Assistant Director of Adoption Center Programs and Katie Armour, Project Coordinator, of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA). We […]
“Nobody wanted to be standing in a cafe making coffee, they wanted to be helping the cats. But now, we’re seeing how helpful it has been to forgotten kittens and see how successful it has been.” Ann Dunn founded Cat Town, an Oakland, CA organization focused on helping the most […]
Is there anything more intimidating than fundraising? If you feel that way, you’re not alone. You can have all of the passion in the world, but asking people for money can be scary. That’s the beauty of our Community Cats Grants program: it rewards your organization for experimenting with a new […]
Are you interested in making a significant reduction in the numbers of cats in your community? If the answer is yes, then I think the Community Cat Pyramid will be of interest to you. I hope this graphic will illustrate just how important certain programs are to impacting cat numbers. […]
“It’s always such a wonderful time to visit a place for 5 to 6 hours, letting people pet and interact with the cats, and brightening up someone’s day.” “It’s always such a wonderful time to visit a place for 5 to 6 hours, letting people pet and interact with the […]
“I hope all of us can focus on a shared goal of fewer community cats instead of focusing on the differences. Let’s focus on the most effective and humane ways to reach our common goal.” Daniel Spehar works to enact animal-friendly legislation as a volunteer with the Humane Society of […]
As spring approaches (we hope!), so does kitten season — and with kitten season comes added costs for spay/neuter, food, and supplies. One popular current fundraiser that may be able to help you and your group is Kitten Yoga. Below is a tip sheet written by Julie Jacobson on how […]
Happy Tax Day! I hope everyone made the deadline with filing their personal taxes. Mid April is a time that I dread every year. Many of us need to track our mileage, expenses, and a million health certificates for all of the cats we trapped over the past year. How […]
“I really believe animals have such an ability to get people. They have an intuitiveness which I find amazing.” Michele Tilford has over five years of experience as a cat-assisted therapy handler—but when she first became interested in cat-assisted therapy, the only programs she could find were for dogs. Eventually […]
“Northern Kentucky will be no-kill for cats this year, absolutely, hands-down!” Dr. Sara Pizano, who joined us previously on Episode 171, is a veterinarian who has been involved in animal welfare for over thirty years. She has extensive experience helping shelters move away from euthanasia as a means of population […]
This week’s post comes to you from guest blogger Kristen Petrie. If you’d like to know a little more about what Kristen does at the podcast, check out episode 198 of the podcast. This past Sunday, at the crack of dawn, I left New Hampshire and headed for New York […]
I recently got an email that Shelter Animals Count had released their summary of statistics collected from 2016. I took a look at those numbers and found some very interesting trends. If you want to take a deep dive into the report, feel free to visit https://shelteranimalscount.org/data/data-reports/2016-animal-sheltering-statistics. I want to commend […]
“It was a struggle for getting [cats] a voice.” Listen to Episode #414 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Smalls Fresh Cat Food and Doobert.com. Christi Metropole, founder of the Stray Cat Alliance shares with Stacy how she got started with TNR in the 90s and how trapping […]
“Just because you’re getting the [positive] combo test … that doesn’t mean ‘death sentence’. That means ‘OK, now I have to go and educate myself about what that combo test result is.’ ” Niki Cochran, Program Manager at Alley Cat Rescue in Washington, DC, has been a cat lover her […]
Over my years in animal sheltering, I started to dread Memorial Day Weekend. What used to be a time of family get-togethers and days at the beach, now begins a season of emergency rescues and calls about emergencies with our fosters. Compared to many areas of the country, we aren’t […]
So kitten season is here in full force around the country. Based on my sampling of what I am hearing from listeners, it appears that this summer is worse than past summers. I am hearing about areas with a 10% increase in kittens, and shelters in the southeast and southwest […]
“We definitely don’t want to displace animals that are native to New England.” Ellen Quinlan, Executive Director of Darbster Foundation, was one of those kids who always brought home every stray animal she found, and that passion for helping animals has stayed with her as an adult. The mission of […]
I know it’s early in the season, but I know many of you out there are just about at the point of falling in love with one of your fosters. We have all been there. Up until now you have been strong and let those fosters kittens go up for […]
Even though I am doing the Community Cats Podcast, Community Cats grants, and running an online conference, I still stay as involved as possible with small organizations trying to do the best that they can for community cats. Many of you know I do a lot of work with a […]
I recently scanned the Feline Fix by Five Website and I am wondering why we don’t have more veterinarians and humane societies signed up in support of this effort. So I am asking our listeners/readers for comments. Below are some of the issues that I think might hold us back from […]
Do you know what the Five Freedoms are? I find that any time I go to a conference and there are hard questions asked about our work, everyone seems to fall back on the Five Freedoms They are: Freedom from hunger and thirst Freedom from discomfort Freedom from pain, injury […]
“Anything is possible, and I hope that there can be a lot more organizations like Forgotten Cats in this world.” Olivia Westley, a former teacher who discovered her true passion for helping cats when she started volunteering in a Forgotten Cats pet store adoption center, now serves as the group’s […]