tips and tricks Archives - The Community Cats Podcast

April 1, 2018

Vaccination and Microchip Clinic Best Practices

This week’s post comes to you from guest blogger Liz Pease. If you’d like to know a little more about Liz and her experience in non-profit management, TNR and cat care, check out episode 51 of the podcast. One of the best ways to get to know your community—and get […]

March 3, 2019

Trapper Tips and Tricks Profile: Bryan Kortis, Neighborhood Cats

This week, we have the next installment of our occasional series called Trapper Tips & Tricks, which will profile folks who are involved in trapping community cats. This week we interview Bryan Kortis, co-founder and National Programs Director of Neighborhood Cats, a leading community cat advocacy group with hands-on programs […]

May 19, 2019

Trapper Tips & Tricks Profile: C5’s Keith Williams

This week, we have the next installment of our occasional series called Trapper Tips & Tricks, which will profile folks who are involved in trapping community cats. This week we bring you tips from Keith Williams, President and Founder of C5 (Community Cat Coalition of Clark County) in Las Vegas, Nevada, […]

October 31, 2019

Halloween and International Black Cat Awareness Month

October is Black Cat Awareness month due to the fact that many people worry that folks are going to do terrible things to black cats around Halloween. While this has largely proven to be a myth, black cats are already 50% less likely to be adopted than other cats in […]

November 5, 2019

Sally Williams, Brodie Fund and Feline Fine Project

“Let’s move that needle. Let’s change the statistics.” Listen to Episode #324 now Sally Williams, who previously chatted with Stacy on CCP Episode 104, is a cat behaviorist and the founder and director of the Brodie Fund. She joins Stacy to talk about her newest effort, the Feline Fine Project, […]

December 31, 2019

Julia Grosz, Cat Hustler

“Marketing is not adoption counseling … [it’s] the highlight reel.” Listen to Episode #332 now This episode is sponsored by Dr. Elsey’s Veterinarian Formulated Quality Products for Cats, makers of “litter we’re so confident you’ll love, your first purchase is on us.” Learn more! Julia Grosz earned the nickname […]

February 27, 2020

Am I a Bottleneck or a Funnel?

Since it is February, which tends to be the quietest month of the year, it is a good time to sit back and reflect on whether you and others in your organizations are “bottlenecks” or “funnels.” It might not be immediately obvious, but this idea of bottlenecks and funnels is […]

June 16, 2020

Mary Howard, Community Cat Coordinator at McKamey Animal Center

“We just have to make sure that [the caregivers] understand … how we’re there to help them.” Listen to Episode #356 Now In this episode, Stacy talks with Mary Howard, the community cat coordinator at McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, TN. The program started in 2018 with a grant […]

August 6, 2020

You Found a Stray Kitten in Your Yard. Now What?

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. The warmer weather ushers in kitten season, which can last a long time and put a lot of stress on your local shelters and rescues. Now you’ve found a stray kitten in your […]

September 24, 2020

Caring for Your Feral Working Cat

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Employing a feral working cat at your barn, warehouse, vineyard, garden center, or workshop serves the dual purpose of controlling the rodent population and helping a feral cat find a safe place to […]

October 27, 2020

Kathleen O’Malley, TNR educator

“It’s a real relationship we have between ourselves and our feral cats.” Listen to Episode #375 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, and Heaven Can Wait. Kathleen O’Malley is a longtime practitioner and educator of TNR. She has worked for the Hudson County Animal League, the ASPCA, […]

November 26, 2020

What Is It Like to Foster? 10 Experienced Foster Homes Weigh In

Today’s guest post comes to us from Krista Beucler, Marketing & Communications Intern at Community Cats Podcast. Have you considered fostering cats, but aren’t sure about what it will be like? We’ve put together some advice and answers to common questions to help you decide if fostering is right for […]

December 3, 2020

Tips and Tricks for Taking Great Cat Photos

From How to Take Awesome Photos of Cats by Andrew Marttila (@iamthecatphotographer). If you read our recent Book Review post, I reviewed Marttila’s how-to guide on capturing our adorable felines. I’d like to do another post today outlining some of Marttila’s basic tips. Behavior to watch for Marttila starts off […]

December 10, 2020

DIY Cat Toys

The holidays are coming up and your cat is no doubt wondering what you’ll be getting her. Whether your cat has been naughty or nice, we know you’ll want to spoil her anyway. And we have good news for you: There are plenty of easy, low-commitment, DIY cat toys that […]

February 23, 2021

Steve Appelbaum, Creator of Animal Behavior College

“Anybody that’s had cats recognizes that they’re highly intelligent and absolutely capable of learning.” Listen to Episode #392 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Tamadori and Doobert.com. Steve Appelbaum has more than 40 years of dog training and pet industry experience. He is the creator of Animal Behavior […]

March 25, 2021

Book Reviews

Let’s Talk About Cats: Conversations on Feline Behaviour by Anita Kelsey By a behaviorist and groomer, this book is a combination of interviews, tips, and stories from Kelsey’s work. Though I read it straight through, it is broken down in such a way that you could just read the chapters […]

November 18, 2021

Holiday Tips from Way of Cats

Many thanks to Cat Advice Columnist and author, Pamela Merritt, for sharing this week’s blog post! Stacy interviewed Pamela in episode #259 of the podcast, available to listen here. Cats are now the most popular pet in the world. But the most joyous holiday season can be our cat’s worst […]

December 2, 2021

There’s plenty more where that came from! What’s in store for 2022.

Before I talk about what’s in store, I would like to ask our supporters to take a few minutes to answer this survey so we can make sure we have got your back in 2022. Share your thoughts and help make the Community Cats Podcast even better. I can’t believe […]

December 21, 2021

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

“The bond that is formed between the cats and their carer is all about food… The cats learn, pretty quickly, who is feeding them, and the attachment forms from there.” Listen to Episode #435 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com. In part one of […]

December 28, 2021

Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond, Colony Care Taking Tips and Tricks Part 2

“Once you’ve listened and once you’ve empathized [with neighbors] you’ve diffused the situation and most, 90%, of people are not going to be angry.” Listen to Episode #436 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network and Doobert.com. In Part 2 of 2021 Colony Caretaking Tips & Tricks, […]

February 10, 2022

10 Myths & Facts About Spaying & Neutering Your Cat

Written by Cristin Bates, Edited by Brianna Lovell Myers As a loving pet parent, you want your cat to have the best life possible. Spaying (a female cat) and neutering (a male cat) are procedures that prevent them from reproducing. Spay/neuter provides many benefits and makes life better for you […]

February 24, 2022

Staff Burnout, a Mobile Clinic for Rent, and The Veterinary Shortage

Written by Esther Mechler, President & Founder of United Spay Alliance Interested in hearing the latest about Staff Burnout? The impact of Covid-19 on spay/neuter clinics, or the need for collaboration in dealing with the backlog? How to run small-scale spay/neuter wet labs to train more vets in your area? […]

March 10, 2022

Litter Box Locations for Apartments and Small Spaces

By Rachel Geller, Ed.D. Certified Cat Behavior and Retention Specialist Like what you’re reading? Hear her speak! Join us for Dr. Geller’s session during Online Behavior Day on April 9. Learn more and register here. If you live in an apartment, small home, or other shared space, you already know […]

March 22, 2022

Fixing Programs and Cats with Jonathan Howe, Public Defender and New York’s 14th Congressional District Candidate

“Seeing the way that people make this [TNR] their priority, make doing something good for their community a priority, was really inspiring.” Listen to Episode #448 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Buzz to the Rescues, and Maddie’s Fund. Stacy speaks to Jonathan Howe, who is a […]

March 24, 2022

Four Ways to Set Your Cat Up for Litter Box Success

By: Tabitha Kucera RVT, CCBC, KPA-CTP, Owner of Chirrups & Chatter Like what you’re reading? Hear her speak! Join us for Tabitha’s session during Online Behavior Day on April 9. Learn more and register here. Cats going to the bathroom outside of their litter boxes is a common complaint among […]

March 29, 2022

Discussing Feline Behavior with the CCP Behavior Day Dream Team

“We’ve advanced so much in terms of understanding cat behavior but yet, we still have so far to go. We need more days like this.” Listen to Episode #449 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Buzz to the Rescues, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy interviews […]

April 5, 2022

Lost and Found Pets with Kat Albrecht-Thiessen, Pet Detective and Founder/Director of The Missing Animal Response Network

“It’s important for TNR groups who trap cats to realize the same “feral” behavior you see in [true] ferals, may be a sign of a scared cat and not necessarily a feral cat.” Listen to Episode #450 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Buzz to the Rescues, […]

April 7, 2022

Why does my friendly cat suddenly attack?!

By Allison Hunter-Frederick, Cat Behavior Consultant, Trainer, & Educator at Allison Helps Cats Like what you’re reading? Catch Allison’s interview with Stacy on Episode #427 of the podcast here. Survey responses are needed! If you’ve ever experienced non-recognition aggression as discussed in this blog post, Allison would like to […]

April 12, 2022

Documenting the TNR Experience with Photographer Erica Danger

“By being able to document [TNR] with photo and video . . . you can get those conversations started and start educating people why TNR is great, why it’s so helpful for everybody.” Listen to Episode #451 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Buzz to the Rescues, […]

April 21, 2022

Ideas for Celebrating Earth Day with your Cat

By Rachel Geller, Ed.D. Certified Cat Behavior & Retention Specialist Earth Day is April 22, so let’s look at ways we can celebrate by going green with your cat! First of all, recycle everything that you can. If you feed your cat canned food, buy the biggest cans. It’s more […]

May 5, 2022

CCP Goes to HSUS Animal Care Expo

Last month, Community Cats Podcast’s own Technical Tabby, Kristen, packed up her car and made her way from Massachusetts to Florida, bound for the 2022 HSUS Animal Care Expo. Here’s what she had to say about her experience: After two years of virtual gatherings, it was refreshing to see the […]

June 14, 2022

Stress in Pets with Kristen Levine, Nationally Acclaimed Pet Expert and Influencer

“I think we probably overthink it sometimes. And sometimes it’s just a matter of trying different things to see what the cat seems to prefer or what eliminates the behavior that we’re trying to eliminate.” Listen to Episode #460 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert, and […]

June 27, 2022

Strategy and Collaboration with Cameron Greig, Community Cat Coordinator for the Humane Society of Huron Valley

“Really my big thing in TNR is education and awareness; I want as many people to know about TNR as possible so that they can help save the cats.” Listen to Episode #462 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Humane Network, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. Stacy chats with Cameron […]

July 26, 2022

Same Team with Sterling Davis, Atlanta’s “Trap King”

“It’s important that we learn to work together or learn not to work against one another.” Listen to Episode #466 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, “Trap King” Sterling Davis returns to the show to share some of the projects […]

July 28, 2022

What To Do If You Find Kittens

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 […]

August 2, 2022

A Drop Trap Master Class with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats

“Because they (cats) are less afraid of drop traps, you don’t need them to be as hungry to trap them… ” Listen to Episode #467 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. This week, The Community Cats Podcast is excited to bring you a special […]

August 9, 2022

Part 2 – A Drop Trap Master Class with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats

On trapping in tight locations…“We put a spotter up on the slope who could watch the whole thing and give us a signal when to drop the traps.” Listen to Episode #468 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. This week, The Community Cats Podcast […]

August 11, 2022

How to Make Your Cat a Better Traveling Companion

Contributed by Aaron Smith When people travel often and want a pet to keep them company, they usually turn to a canine companion. But dogs need a lot of attention and can’t be left alone for long periods. Cats, on the other hand, can be quite independent when they are […]

August 16, 2022

Habitats for Cats with Mario Arbore, Founder and Owner of Square Paws

So if you’re doing something where they’re feeling engaged with that fun, I think it’s a better experience for people to bond with a cat.” Listen to Episode #469 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Mario Abore returns to the […]

August 25, 2022

Mass Trapping Success: Here’s What You Need to Know

Contributed by Dawn Benefiel, Executive Director of Indy Neighborhood Cats When a colony exceeds 20 cats, setting up your project can be a challenge. We know that in order to make a dent in a large unaltered colony, we need over 90% of the cats to be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, ear […]

August 30, 2022

Emotional Support Animals with Daniel Maigler, LCSW, Mental Health Advisor for Paws for Patrick

“[Pets] are empathy machines, and they can sense how we’re doing without us having to say anything. Often our pets will know how we’re doing before we do, and they’ll connect in that way.” Listen to Episode #471 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s […]

September 6, 2022

Community Communication with Caitlin Quinn, Director of Operations at HeARTs Speak

“Let’s ensure that we’re starting the conversation from that place of all of the things we have in common and real compassion and understanding for why community members might be confused around these issues.” Listen to Episode #472 Now This episode is sponsored in part by CARE, Doobert, and Maddie’s […]

September 8, 2022

Six Tips on How to Prevent Your Cat From Getting Pregnant!

This is a blog post that I honestly thought I would never write, but here we are. We are living through an unprecedented period where I am frequently hearing statements like: In terms of access to affordable spay/neuter resources in a timely manner, we are set back 20 years! Families […]

September 13, 2022

Romance, Suspense, and Trapping with Angela Campbell, Best-Selling Author, The Psychic Detective

“It’s very important to try to be diplomatic and to try to understand their point of view. . . . You have to be understanding.” Listen to Episode #473 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Dr. Pussum’s Cat Nip, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats […]

September 22, 2022

How to Winterize Those Feral Cat Shelters

This week, we are taking a look at past blog posts that will give you all the tips and information you need to refresh and ready your cat colonies for winter weather: Prepare for Winter and Prep Community Cat Shelters (2016) Time to Think About Winterizing Feral Cat Shelters (2017) […]

October 4, 2022

Thinking Vertically with Melody Kwan of MeloCat

“I always tell everyone, ‘Even if you don’t like animals, you can still help. If you don’t have what it takes, you can still help.’” Listen to Episode #476 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Kensington Books, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats with Melody […]

October 6, 2022

9 Steps to Ethical Storytelling

Contributed by Caitlin Quinn, Director of Operations at HeARTs Speak Has anyone outside of the field of animal welfare ever said to you, “I could never do what you do, I care about animals too much.” That sentiment seems to reflect the frequent assumption that our work is primarily about […]

October 20, 2022

Feral to Friendly: Tips for Socializing Shy Kittens and Cats

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 […]

November 3, 2022

Keeping a Cat Safe and Warm Inside

Contributed by Dr. Rachel Geller, Certified Cat Behavior & Retention Specialist As summer turns to fall and then winter, we humans can throw on a sweater or a blanket to stay warm. We may wear layers to save money if we have drafty windows or we don’t want to put […]

November 8, 2022

Part 2 of Colony Caretaking Tips and Tricks with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director of Neighborhood Cats

“I’d prefer to have cats in my yard instead of vegetables but other people might, justifiably, feel differently and that’s perfectly fine…” Listen to Episode #481 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Kensington Books, Doobert, and Maddie’s Fund. *A Quick Note from the Production Team – There is […]

November 29, 2022

How to Reunite Pets and Owners with Corinne Bourgoin, Operations Coordinator, MSPCA Boston Adoption Center

“Nothing feels better than helping a pet get back to their family that loves them.” Listen to Episode #484 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats with Corinne Bourgoin, who serves as the Operations Coordinator at the MSPCA Boston Adoption Center. […]

December 29, 2022

Best of The Community Cats Podcast 2022

Contributed by Stacy LeBaron, Head Cat at Community Cats Podcast Wow, what a year it has been. When asked to share my highlights for the last year, I just didn’t know where to begin. During 2022 many of us returned to work and in-person events. The Community Cats Podcast started […]

January 10, 2023

Cats at Play with Dr. Mikel Delgado, Co-Owner of Feline Minds

“I’m hoping by changing people’s perspective on what play looks like and giving them really concrete suggestions on how they can improve their play technique that more cats will get the play they deserve.” Listen to Episode #490 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com and Maddie’s […]

January 12, 2023

Ten Ways to Care for Community Cats

Contributed by Stacy LeBaron, Head Cat at Community Cats Podcast At the Community Cats Podcast this year we are going to focus on giving you (both organizations and individuals) actionable tips and tricks to ensure that you have the tools necessary to help any cats in need in your community. Below […]

January 17, 2023

Working Cats with Molly DeVoss, Founder of Cat Behavior Solutions

“Because they’re so territorial, it’s hard to introduce a new cat regardless of where they came from into a new cat household.” Listen to Episode #491 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com and Maddie’s Fund. In this special episode, Stacy chats and co-hosts with Molly DeVoss, […]

February 21, 2023

Your More Efficient Future with Dara Sklar, Founder of Synced with Dara

“You save yourself a lot of administrative time by being organized up front by setting up a system and a space to be organized.” Listen to Episode #496 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy talks with Dara Sklar, the […]

March 7, 2023

Banishing Stress and Fear in Cats with Tabitha Kucera, Owner of Chirrups & Chatter

“If anything, we should be doing more to address the anxiety, fear, and stress [of community cats]” Listen to Episode #498 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy follows up with Tabitha Kucera, a registered veterinary technician, certified cat behavior training […]

March 14, 2023

Cats Generating Awareness on Social Media with Harris Baker, Founder of Catfluence

“There’s definitely a lot of good . . . that I’ve seen from the cat community on social media.” Listen to Episode #499 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. On this episode, Stacy chats with Harris Baker, founder of Catfluence, a social media platform […]

June 27, 2023

Low-Cost Enrichment Ideas to Keep Your Cats Healthy & Happy

Contributed by Allison Hunter-Frederick, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and Trainer, Allison Helps Cats Thinking of new ways to enrich the lives of our cats is a fun part of being a cat owner. Enrichment is also good for our cats. It provides them with opportunities to express species-appropriate behavior, which […]

July 4, 2023

Mobilizing the Community to Make TNR Happen, Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“How do you manage TNR on a much larger scale…as more of a program manager?” Listen to Episode #515 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s podcast, we are proud to bring you part one of the […]

July 11, 2023

Mobilizing the Community to Make TNR Happen, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“We’re not going to the with a sense of entitlement…that’s not going to get you very far…you have to let organizations move at a pace they’re comfortable with and realize things can accelerate once they get involved.” Listen to Episode #516 Now This episode is sponsored in part by […]

August 1, 2023

Targeted TNR & Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck, Part 1, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“…if you do it in this concentrated way, where you’re focused on one part of the community…by in larger you’ll have defeated the vacuum effect.” Listen to Episode #519 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s podcast, we are […]

August 8, 2023

Targeted TNR & Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck, Part 2, with Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

“You also want to know your community so your outreach is effective.” Listen to Episode #520 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s podcast, we are proud to bring you part two of the audio version of “Targeted TNR […]

September 5, 2023

Strategies for Reducing Cat Populations, with Stacy LeBaron, Host of The Community Cats Podcast

“First and foremost, before me telling them [why they should neuter their indoor/outdoor cat], I want to find out what will move the needle for them.” Listen to Episode #524 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In today’s special podcast, […]

September 21, 2023

Starting Off On the Right Paw: A Guide to Cat Introductions

Contributed by Allison Hunter-Frederick, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant and Trainer, Allison Helps Cats When the time comes that you decide to add an additional cat to your home, one of the most important foundations you can give all of your cats is a solid introduction. Most of the time when […]

October 3, 2023

Your Path to the Perfect Multi Cat Lifestyle with Melody Kwan, MeloCat

“[There is] nothing that love, patience, time, and effort cannot fix.” Listen to Episode #528 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy is joined by Melody Kwan, aka MeloCat, a cat rescuer, foster, and volunteer-based in Hong […]

October 17, 2023

Boosting Your Cat-Centered Organization’s Board with Sonia Saleh, Founder of Uplifting Nonprofits

“It’s really important to show that the Board is invested in the organization.” Listen to Episode #530 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy talks with Sonia Saleh, the founder of Uplifting Nonprofits and creator of the […]

October 24, 2023

The New Breed of Animal Control Pros with Daniel Ettinger, Animal Control Supervisor in Colorado, and Host of the Animal Control Report Podcast

“We help protect people from animals, and animals from people.” Listen to Episode #531 Now This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie’s Fund. In this episode, Stacy sits down with Daniel Etitnger, host of The Animal Control Report podcast for an interesting conversation […]

November 14, 2023

Paying for it All Because the Cats Can’t with Sandy Rees, Founder of Fundraising TV, Chief Encouragement Officer at Get Fully Funded

“Everybody has what it takes to go raise the money they need, to fully fund their organization, to grow, to help more cats, to save more lives, to do what their mission is all about. It’s all doable.” Listen to Episode #534 Now This episode is sponsored in part […]

January 25, 2024

5 Ways to Turn your Passion for Cats Into Action in 2024

We have so much going on and it feels like we are all busier than ever. Here are 5 quick things that you can share with friends on Facebook, the public, etc to make a difference in the lives of cats. I look forward to seeing all of you at […]

February 27, 2024

Tech That Plays Fetch with Chris Roy, Founder of Doobert.com

“There’s just so much information, as you said, in your pyramid to go through and collect and get. If we could do that in the blink of an eye, we would be able to get more organizations to do it because it takes a lot of time, and effort, and […]