The Community Cats Podcast
The Community Cats Podcast is a show dedicated to improving the lives of free-roaming and community cats. Each episode offers education, practical information and dialogue aimed at creating a supportive environment for people who care for cats in their neighborhoods. Guests typically include veterinarians, trappers, shelter workers and colony caretakers who share advice on TNR, cat health and advocacy. The goal is to empower listeners to take effective, humane action for cats where they live.
Episodes
Ep 686: The Free Helpline Keeping Cats in Their Homes, with Matt Wildman, Founder and Director of National Cat Behavior Helpline
"In terms of surrender prevention, this is low-hanging fruit. It costs nothing." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Jessica Dolce, Compassion Fatigue + Grief Educator. Matt Wildman grew up with as many as nine rescue dogs and didn't have a real relationship with a cat until he was 26. That's when he met his girlfriend and her six cats. One of them, Shirley, licked him
Ep 685: Feeding Plans, Not Feeding Plans, with Danielle Bays, Senior Program Manager for Cat Protection and Policy at Humane World for Animals
"We're not hiding in back alleys in the dark at night. We're out there on the streets, on the front lines, and we're in city hall." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Jessica Dolce, Compassion Fatigue + Grief Educator. Danielle Bays planned to be a veterinarian until a cat with his leg caught in a leghold trap was left in the parking lot of the clinic where she worked
Ep 684: Building TNR That Lasts: A Data-Driven Model From Penang, with Daniel Leung, Co-Founder and CEO of Catsoterra
"In truth, we prove statistically how little funding is needed to create a real impact." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, TNR Training Workshop Presented by Neighborhood Cats, and Jessica Dolce, Compassion Fatigue + Grief Educator. Daniel Leung got into TNR the way many of us do. He worked on a farm in college, ignored his manager's warning never to feed the stray cats, and soon
Ep 683: They're Not Spicy, They're Scared - Handling Fearful and Aggressive Shelter Cats, with Berlin Waters, Founder of The Spicy Cat Project
"Cats aren't spicy. They're not mean. They're just scared." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Jessica Dolce, Compassion Fatigue + Grief Educator. Berlin Waters grew up in a house full of cats, with a mom who handled TNR for the neighborhood, and she's been a cat lover ever since. That lifelong interest led her to a master's in shelter medicine, where her research foc
Ep 682: Too Small Is Not a Diagnosis, with Jordyn Purpura Feline Director, Yolo County SPCA; Strategic Advisor, Orphan Kitten Club; Clinical Researcher, Vernau Laboratory at UC Davis
"When we say age is not a disease, we also mean it for the youngest." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Jessica Dolce, Compassion Fatigue + Grief Educator. Jordyn Purpura started out smuggling orphaned raccoons into his childhood bedroom. Twelve years of neonatal fostering later, he's in his final year of veterinary school, chasing a gap he kept running into from bot
Ep 681: Making the Case for TNR Without County Buy-In, with Eve Salimbene, President of Street Cat Project of Polk County
"Today's inside cat is tomorrow's outside cat." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic. Eve Salimbene spent her career in the legal field before moving into animal welfare 26 years ago — and by her own admission, she was a dog person until she landed in Polk County, Florida. There she found a county with groups working on dogs and essentially noth
Ep 680: Small and Mighty: Inside Jersey City's Feral Fixers TNR Club, with Robyn Alcock & Jen Scott, Co-Founders of Feral Fixers TNR Club (Jersey City, NJ)
"It's okay to be small and grassroots." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic. Robyn Alcock and Jen Scott joined host Stacy LeBaron to talk about Feral Fixers TNR Club, the Jersey City nonprofit they co-founded in 2024 alongside Kathryn Parker after years of trapping independently. In just two years, the all-volunteer group — who all keep full-ti
Ep 679: Running on Empty: Compassion Fatigue and Grief in TNR, with Jen Blough, LPC Licensed Professional Counselor & Author
"It's about knowing your limits, knowing where you are energy-wise, time-wise, resource-wise, and just doing what you can — and knowing that is enough, and that is making a difference." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Neighborhood Cats TNR Certification Workshop. Jen Blough returns to the podcast after nearly a decade away — she was featured in the show's first fif
Ep 678: Ctrl+Alt+Meow: How an IT Guy Built a Home for Cat Lovers, with Darein Gray, Founder of Paw-Events.com
"There's not a lot of that — you don't really hear about cat parks or cat meetups. So I wanted to try and change that." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic. Darein Gray never set out to build a pet-industry platform — he's an IT guy by trade, working in data and business analytics. But when he noticed there was no real gathering space for cat p
Ep 677: The Environment Makes the Cat: The SAFE Framework for Community Cat Adoption, with Jodi Belongié, RVT, Co-founder of Chico Cat Café, Founder & Executive Director of The CATS Foundation
"The environment we build around a cat shapes her outcome more than any single intervention we can ever make." his episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic. Jodi Belongié has spent more than 25 years in animal welfare and shelter medicine, driven by a question that traces back to age 14, when she talked her way into fostering an abandoned pregnant cat wi
Ep 676: The Cat Who Came Home After Five Years: Inside a Shelter's Return-to-Home Playbook with Corinne Bourgoin, Shelter Operations Supervisor at the MSPCA Boston Adoption Center
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic. Corinne Bourgoin returns to the podcast five years after her first appearance, and the numbers show what's changed: the MSPCA Boston Adoption Center's return-to-home rate for cats hit 33% in 2025, more than six times the roughly 5% national average. She draws a careful distinction between "return to owner" a
Ep 675: Cats Pick Their People: Inside Florida's First Cat Cafe Franchise with Sandra Cagan Founder & CEO of the Orlando Cat Cafe
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Community Cat Clinic. Sandra Cagan spent decades in property management before a milestone birthday and a brief human-interest news story about a New York cat cafe sent her in a new direction. She cold-emailed her county commissioner in Lake County, Florida — "You're gonna think I'm crazy, but this is what I want to do" — and had
Ep 674: From One Alley Cat to 700 Spay/Neuter Surgeries a Year with Debra Magaldi, Director of CatPAWS
"People have to feel like they are making a difference, not earning a buck." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Neighborhood Cats' TNR Certification Workshop. Debra Magaldi never set out to run a nonprofit. What began as feeding a neighborhood stray in her alley turned into a chance encounter with Helen Sanders herself, and after Helen's passing in 2005, a small fund
Ep 673: The 42-Point Gap Between Loving Your Cat and Getting It to the Vet with Gina Fortunato, Executive Director of the CATalyst Council with Kristin Wuhrman
"It is not a lack of care or love. They love, love, love their cats. They would do anything to give their cat a longer life." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Feline Infectious Disease Summit 2026. Host Stacy LeBaron talks with Gina Fortunato, Executive Director of CATalyst Council, and Kristin Wuhrman, the organization's Chair and co-founder/Chief Experience Office
Ep 672: How Mumbai's Feline Foundation Is Systematically Tackling a Million-Cat City with Pallavi Kamath, Executive Director of The Feline Foundation, Mumbai, India
"The more I work in this field, the more there is to learn — and there's multiple strategies that you have to implement." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Feline Infectious Disease Summit 2026. Pallavi Kamath grew up fostering kittens in Mumbai, studied animal science at UC Davis, earned a master's in animal public policy, and returned home to lead The Feline Founda
Ep 671: Saving the African Wildcat: The Race Against Hybridization in South Africa with Louise Holton, President & Founder, and Debbie Holzer, Development & Fundraising Manager, Alley Cat Rescue
"The goal isn't so much a set number as the area, and 100% sterilization — which is a lofty goal. But the only thing we can do is keep going." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Feline Infectious Disease Summit 2026. Louise Holton has been working to protect cats for decades and across continents — from TNR work with the Johannesburg SPCA in the 1970s, to helping esta
Ep 670: Bridging the Gap Between Vets and Community Cat Caregivers with Dr. Kevin Lynch, DVM, Veterinarian, Author, and Founder of The Moriches Hospital for Animals
"That's my own formula — passion and compassion tempered by dedication and humor." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Drop Traps: Beginning and Advanced Certification Workshop. After more than five decades behind the exam table, Dr. Kevin Lynch has treated thousands of pets, mentored generations of veterinary staff, and built one of Long Island's longest-running anima
Ep 669: 10 Years of Community Cats Podcast: A Conversation with Stacy, Kristen, and Mike
"We may not all be the same organization, but we all have a very similar goal, and that is a better world for cats ultimately." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Drop Traps: Beginning and Advanced Certification Workshop. To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron is joined by Kristen Petrie, Community Cats Central's Technic
Ep 668: City Kitties: Inside New York's Bodega Cat Movement, with Dan Rimada, Founder of Bodega Cats of New York and Co-Founder of Cats About Town Tours
"You can both celebrate them and advocate for them at the same time." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and Drop Traps: Beginning and Advanced Certification Workshop. Dan Rimada didn't set out to start a movement. He just started noticing cats. During the stillness of COVID, when New York City slowed down enough to actually look around, he began noticing the cats living
Ep 667: Building the Prevention Layer Animal Welfare Has Been Missing, with BJ Adkins, Founder and Director of Animal Angels Foundation
"With animal welfare, we're basically waiting till the roof falls in — when the animals are at the shelter, that's the roof falling in. We have to catch them earlier." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Kitten Conference. What if the animal welfare system stopped waiting for families to walk through the shelter door — and started showing up before they ever got th
Ep 666: Holistic Health for Community Cats - What Nature Already Provides with Angela Ardolino Certified Cannabis & Fungi Clinician and Founder of MycoDog, MycoCat & CBD Dog Health
"Mother Nature provides us with all the food and medicine that we need. Food is medicine — and it is the number one thing you can do for any person or animal to help them stay healthy and help their immune system operate." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Kitten Conference. What if the best medicine for your community cats isn't found in a bottle — but in a bowl
Ep 665: From One to Many: Building a Neighborhood-Based Community Cat Program with Tonya Cook, Community Cat Program Manager at Ohio Alleycat Resource
"When we look at things on a neighborhood level and we're noticing patterns, noticing new colonies — when something's predictable, it's preventable." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, OcuTrap, and The Kitten Conference. What does it look like to build a community cat program from scratch — not just logistically, but with real intention about how change happens in a neighborhood?
Ep 664: When the Uh-Oh Happens: Pet First Aid and CPR for Every Cat Caregiver with Arden Moore, America's Pet Health and Safety Coach
"If you wanna have a real superpower, learn cat first aid." 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. Cats are both predator and prey — and that dual nature means they respond to emergencies unlike any other animal. They have five weapons
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
"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,
Ep 662: Scaling Spay/Neuter, Systems Thinking, and the Future of Urban Animal Welfare with Will Zweigart, Executive Director of Flatbush Cats
"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 Und
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.
"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,
Ep 660: From Skeptics to Advocates: Launching TNR in an Underserved Rural Community with TyAnn Sumpter, Manager of Shelter Support at Charleston Animal Society
"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
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
"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 Communi
Ep 658: The Cat Health Breakthrough No One Thought Was Possible with Steve Dale, Pet Journalist and Renowned Advocate
"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 a
Ep 657: Feline Leukemia Explained: What Every Cat Lover Needs to Know About FeLV with Margaret Tompkins, Feline Leukemia Expert & Advocate
"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 o
Ep 656: Building a Culture of TNR with Chelsea Winter, Community Cat Program Manager at Street Cat Hub
"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?
Ep 655: Full Circle TNR: Solving the Kitten Crisis at the Source with Hannah Shaw, Founder of Orphan Kitten Club
"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 kitt
Ep 654: Governance for Good: The Hidden Key to Animal Shelter Success with Tim Crum, CEO of Animal Shelter Services
"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 Communi
Ep 653: How One Humane Society is Scaling TNR to Save Thousands with Cheryl McCormick CEO of Athens Area Humane Society
"Small to mid-size organizations can accomplish a tremendous amount of impact when they work together, shoulder to shoulder in joyful service." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Trapper's Tips & Tricks Certification Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic. In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Cheryl
Ep 652: Price Check, Please! How One Pet Parent Turned Vet Bill Shock into a Tech Solution with Pietro Kabeya, Founder of FareVet
"I just thought—why can't we know what care costs before we walk through the door? That's what FairVet is here to solve." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Underfoot Podcast, and The Community Cat Clinic. When a pet emergency nearly cost him both his beloved dog and thousands of dollars, Pietro Kabeya decided enough was enough. In this compelling
Ep 651: The Future Is Feline: Vet Care, Consent & Compassion with Dr. Angie Krause, DVM, and JoJo Smith, Veterinary Nurse
"The future is feline. Let's keep understanding our cats." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Underfoot Podcast, and The Community Cat Clinic. In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Angie Krause, a holistic small-animal veterinarian from Boulder, Colorado, and her veterinary nurse, JoJo Smith. Together, t
Ep 650: From Shy to Shine: Transforming Cat Behavior in Shelters with Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Director of Behavior at the Toronto Humane Society
"The cat was telling me—I was just the one writing it down." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, and The Underfoot Podcast. What if there were a scientifically validated system to help shy, fearful, or traumatized cats become adoptable and happy? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Director of Behavi
Ep. 649: Saving Cats Through Working Cat Programs with Mary Scott, Director of the ASAP Working Cats Program
"No matter what's going on out there, there's always hope." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, and The Underfoot Podcast. What happens to cats deemed unadoptable due to behavioral challenges? In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Mary Scott, Director of the ASAP Working Cats Program in Santa Barbara, Californi
Ep. 648: Who's Throwing the Cats in the River? Rethinking Rescue and Prevention, Featuring Harry Eckman, Global Advisor for Cat Population Management, International Cat Care
"The ultimate goal is to make cat welfare and population management so normal, so embedded in our communities, that it's simply what a community does." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, and The Underfoot Podcast. In this insightful follow-up to episode 605, Stacy LeBaron welcomes back global animal welfare strategist Harry Eckman, who shares groundbr
Ep. 646: The Power of a Penny to End Pet Overpopulation, featuring Carrie Weber of PennyFix
"It's not what we think they need—it's about what they actually need. And sometimes, that's just food and space to be left alone." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Underfoot Podcast. In this inspiring episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes longtime animal welfare advocate Carrie Weber to discuss her three-decade journey championing the needs of
Justice for Animals and the Legal Fight to End Cruelty, Featuring Joyce Glass, Attorney at Joyce M. Glass, P.C.
"One person can definitely make a difference. Don't be afraid to be the first voice—sometimes the biggest cases start with one person speaking up." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Underfoot Podcast. In this powerful and enlightening episode, Stacy LeBaron sits down with attorney Joyce Glass, a passionate and pioneering voice in animal welfare law. From her start as a ban
Leadership, Legacy & A New Chapter for Community Cats, Featuring Stacy LeBaron, Head Cat for Community Cats Central
"Helping that one cat is incredibly valuable... but it also represents a new behavior, a new calling, as to how we are addressing cats in our community." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Underfoot Podcast. As 2025 draws to a close, host Stacy LeBaron takes the mic solo to share heartfelt reflections, bold vision, and a rallying cry for cat advocates everywhere. In this sp
From Greece to Global: Transforming TNR With Passion and Purpose, Featuring Adelle Louise and Alex Ricard, Founders of the Saaving the Streets Podcast, Travel Animal Rescue, and Saaving Lives
"Taking that first step is going to change your life—but it's also going to change the lives of so many animals." – Alex Ricard This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Underfoot Podcast. In this globally-minded episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron chats with Adelle Louise and Alex Ricard—two trailblazing young leaders reshaping the future of TNR. As founders
Targeted TNR: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck, Part 2, Featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats
"Knowing where the cats are is only half the battle—knowing how to reach the people who care for them is what makes targeting truly work." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In Part 2 of this dynamic webinar, Brian Kortis of Neighborhood Cats returns to guide us through the nuts and bolts of implementing a targeted TNR program. If Part 1 was the "why," this episode is the "how." L
Targeted TNR: Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck, Part 1 featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats
"You don't need to fix all the cats to make a difference—you just need to fix the right ones, in the right places, at the right time." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In Part 1 of this two-part webinar, Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats, breaks down the power of targeted TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and why it's essential for managing community cat popu
Beyond the Bottle: A Smarter Way to Save Kittens featuring Jackie Noble, Executive Director of the Orphan Kitten Club
"We are dedicated to making sure the kittens that we take in are the last kittens born in that colony." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. What do neonate kittens, a chance wedding conversation, and a global mission to stop kitten overpopulation have in common? Jackie Noble. In this lively episode, Stacy LeBaron welcomes Jackie Noble, Executive Director of the Orphan Kitten Club,
Return to Field with Neighborhood Cats – Part 2, featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director of Neighborhood Cats
"The goal is simple. Do what's best for this individual cat—not what's easiest for us." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In Part 2 of the Return to Field training, Bryan Kortis walks us through the practical side of RTF implementation—how to assess which cats qualify, how to safely house and return them, and what to do when friendly cats enter the system. With an emphasis on ind
Return to Field with Neighborhood Cats, Part 1, Featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats
"Euthanasia is a dead-end policy. We've tried it for decades and the cats are still here." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In Part 1 of this informative workshop replay, Bryan Kortis and Susan Richmond of Neighborhood Cats dive into the effective approach of Return to Field (RTF), reshaping how shelters manage community cats. As a key evolution of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), RTF
Building a United Voice for Michigan's Animals, Featuring Courtney Protz-Sanders, Founder of Paws for Life Rescue and Board Member of the Michigan Pet Alliance
"One of the worst things is to have a passion to do something, but no idea how or where to start. That's where we come in—we're a resource. You're not floating out there alone." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. Courtney Protz-Sanders, founder of Paws for Life Rescue and board member of the Michigan Pet Alliance, shares her journey from individual rescuer to statewide advocate fo
Drop Traps, Stubborn Cats & DIY Hacks: Level Up Your TNR Game Featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats
"If they won't go hungry, feed them into the trap. We don't just wait—we adapt." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In Part 2 of our Drop Trap Workshop, we move beyond the basics into the advanced strategies and inventive solutions that make drop trapping even more powerful. Brian Cordes returns to unpack real-world tactics for high-stakes trapping scenarios—from uneven terrain an
Beyond the Box Trap: A Better Way to Catch Elusive Felines Featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats
"It's better to miss than to mistime the drop—because once they learn it's a trap, they won't come back." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In this first installment of our Drop Trap Workshop, we're diving deep into the fundamentals of drop trapping—a powerful and underutilized tool in the TNR world. Join Community Cats Podcast Tech Tabby Kristen Petrie and expert guest Bryan Kor
Building Political Power for NYC Community Cats Featuring Allie Taylor (Allie Feldman Taylor), Founder & President, Voters for Animal Rights (VFAR)
"Imagine if you told New Yorkers, 'Well, you want someone to take your trash away from your block? Oh, you're gonna have to find a volunteer to do that.' That's exactly what's happening here. But with animal care." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. Stacy LeBaron talks with Allie Taylor, founder and president of Voters for Animal Rights (VFAR), an organization she started in 2016
Managing Greece's Largest Cat Care Project on an Island Paradise Featuring Isabel Borst, Communications, Engagement & Education Lead at Animal Action Greece – Paros & Antiparos Community Cat Care Project
"Our goal here is really to work from the bottom up and help change the mentality, help the groups to negotiate better fundings with the municipality. We are only here for a limited time, right? So we wanna make sure that we are building a lasting, sustainable system." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and The Community Cat Clinic. Stacy LeBaron talks with Isabel (Isa) Borst, Comm
Achieving 40% Reduction in Cat Intake Through Targeted TNR in Sunnyvale Featuring Vanessa Forney, Founder & President of Bay Area Cats
"I think just the nature of having a shelter that's supportive and animal control has really expedited this as a success…And I think that made a big difference in the city." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. Stacy LeBaron talks with Vanessa Forney, founder and president of Bay Area Cats, an organization in Sunnyvale, California focused on spay neuter for pets and trap neuter retu
Revolutionizing Animal Fundraising With Furlanthropy Featuring Adam Spencer, Founder of Furlanthropy
"We are a unique charity, very innovative in this space. What you're really doing is you're inviting people to touch your mission. The number one reason anyone gives to any charity or any cause is to fulfill something within themselves, within their own heart." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In this financial innovation episode, host Stacy LeBaron speaks with Adam Spencer, fou
Building Bridges: International Lessons for Community Cat Programs, Featuring Maia Rumpho, Founder of Pet Project Rescue
"What we do in Mexico is my dream for Minnesota. We provide free spay neuter to both owned and street animals every single week." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and The Community Cat Clinic. In this international perspective episode, host Stacy LeBaron speaks with Maia Rumpho, founder of Pet Project Rescue, who turned a chance encounter with a street dog in Mexico into a binati
Revolutionizing Kitten Care: The Kitten College Model, Featuring Marnie Russ, Founder, National Kitten College
"A cat that is well socialized is highly adoptable. A cat that is not well socialized sits in the shelter. It's an important part of your fostering responsibility to get them ready to live outside. Before it was just saving their lives. But now we know better." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and The Community Cat Clinic. In this episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Marnie
From Founder to Ambassador: Building Sustainable Community Cat Programs Featuring Joy Smith, Founder and Ambassador, FieldHaven Feline Center
"We want to turn cat haters into cat toleraters, and that has worked so well. Even the people who say 'I hate cats.' Okay, that's fine if you hate cats. But don't wish them dead. We're gonna work to keep them out of your yard." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and 6 Degrees of Cats. In this inspiring episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes Joy Smith, founder of FieldHaven Feline Cen
Building Professional Community Cat Programs: From Strategy to Implementation, Featuring Elizabeth Finch, Educator, Author, and Community Cat Program Consultant
"A community cat program does not just help cats. You think you're going in there to help cats and you turn out really having more impact on the people in that community." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and 6 Degrees of Cats. In this insightful episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Elizabeth Finch, an impact-driven leader who has been transforming community cat programming
Scaling Spay/Neuter: How One Foundation Is Disrupting Access to Care, Featuring Cathy Bissell, Founder of the Bissell Pet Foundation
"If you love cats, you should be concerned about trying to help bring those numbers down so animals don't suffer because this is why we do this. We don't want animals suffering, having unwanted litters of cats and having to have them suffer." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and 6 Degrees of Cats. In this powerful episode, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Cathy Bissell, founder
Municipal Shelter Innovation: No-Kill Success in Small-Town Mississippi, Featuring Glen Andrews, Director, Horn Lake Animal Shelter
"I envision Horn Lake being the hub of North Mississippi when it comes to animal welfare. I want my animal shelter to be the place that people model their strategies after." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants. In this episode, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Glen Andrews, Director of the Horn Lake Animal Shelter in North Mississippi. With
Healing at Home: How PAD Home Pet Services Is Transforming Feline Healthcare, Featuring Dr. Nicole Liebman, DVM, and Ron Coughlin, Co-Founders of PAD Home Pet Services
"You have to earn a cat's love and respect—and when you do, you have it forever." – Dr. Nicole Liebman This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants. In this inspiring episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Nicole Liebman and Ron Coughlin, the passionate duo behind PAD Home Pet Services—a pioneering in-home pet ca
Saving Scotland's Wildcats: A Conservation Comeback, Featuring Lara Semple, Field Team Member at Saving Wildcats
"Whether it's a pet cat, a feral cat, or a wildcat—they all deserve care and respect. TNVR isn't just about controlling populations; it's about preserving a legacy." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants. In this compelling episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron speaks with Lara Semple, field team member of the Royal Zoologi
Fiscal Sponsorship for Feline Good: The Chappy & Friends Way, Featuring Robert Bills, Founder of Chappy & Friends
"I've always just had a goal of helping as many animals as possible." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants. For passionate individuals and grassroots organizations working tirelessly in the world of animal welfare, financial logistics and nonprofit administration can feel like insurmountable hurdles. In this episode of the Community Cats Podc
Grassroots & Grit: Building TNR Success in Small-Town Indiana, Featuring KerryAnn May, Founder of Animal Outreach of Shelby County
"I'm giving people the really good traps now. The ones that make their lives easier—because the cats shouldn't be the ones who suffer when we don't have our act together." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants. In this episode, Stacy sits down with KerryAnn May, founder of Animal Outreach of Shelby County, to talk about what it really takes to
Is Return-to-Field the Future? Insights from Expo, Featuring Karen Little of Alley Cat Advocates and Bryan Kortis of Neighborhood Cats
"They're not homeless. They know exactly where their home is, and they've chosen to be there. We're literally returning them home—vaccinated and spayed—so it's a win for the cat, the shelter, and the neighborhood." - Karen Little This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants. In this special on-location episode of the Community Cats Podcast, Stacy LeB
Let Meowt! How Rikers Island Is Saving Its Cats, Featuring Gloria Murli of Rikers Island Cat Rescue and Mike Phillips of Urban Cat League
"My biggest challenge is making sure the welfare of these cats is taken care of. I'll never desert these cats. Never." - Gloria Murli This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants. What happens when a prison island becomes a refuge for hundreds of community cats? In this powerful episode, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Gloria Murli, retired Rikers
Trapper Tips and Tricks, Part 2, Featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats
"Every single cat was easily trained to go into a drop trap with a roof on it. It's just about giving them time." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Community Cat Clinic. Picking up where we left off in Part 1, Bryan Kortis dives into the advanced techniques that helped his team trap the final 20% of cats in Maui's wildfire burn zone—arguably the most elusive cats of all. F
Trapper Tips and Tricks, Part 1, featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats
"Sometimes the best tip is just not skipping the basics." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Community Cat Clinic. In the first half of this special two-part webinar replay, Bryan Kortis of Neighborhood Cats walks us through the foundational and intermediate techniques that can make or break a successful Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) effort. Drawing from decades of field experie
The Quiet Power of Listening To Cats and the People Who Love Them, Featuring Stephen Quandt, Founder of Feline Behavior Associates
"Outdoor cats don't have behavior problems—they just have behavior. It's when we bring them inside that we need to understand how to meet their needs." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In this enlightening and heartwarming conversation, feline behaviorist Stephen Quandt joins Stacy LeBaron to explore the intersection of empathy, education, and enrichment in the feline world. Wit
Rural and Underfunded but Still Making It Work: How to Lead Local Change featuring Brandi Winkleman, President and Executive Director of A HOPE.
"Everybody has a role, and if we open up the conversation just a little more, we can help change the numbers—and the lives of these animals." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In this powerful and emotionally resonant episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes Brandi Winkleman, President and Executive Director of A HOPE Inc., an animal welfare organization based in Milton, Florida. Bra
Better Together: TNVR and Public Health Featuring Dr. Bob Weedon, DVM, HQHVSN Veterinary Surgeon
"Vaccinating community cats creates a barrier to disease between wildlife, domestic animals, and people." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In this special webinar replay edition of the Community Cats Podcast, Brianna Lovell Myers of United Spay Alliance is joined by Dr. Bob Weedon, a leading expert in high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter and public health. Together, they delve
Building a TNR Movement, Part 2: The Tactics That Make TNR Stick, featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats
"You're not trying to make the situation perfect. You're just trying to improve it." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. Part 2 of "From the Backyard to the Front Page: Building a TNR Movement" dives into the operational tactics that sustain and grow a Trap-Neuter-Return program. In this recorded webinar, Bryan Kortis shifts from early movement-building to the nuts and bolts of lon
Building a TNR Movement Part 1: The Roots of a TNR Revolution featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director at Neighborhood Cats
"Success attracts donors and grantors, and just provides that foundation for expanding into the wider community." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In Part 1 of this recorded webinar, "From the Backyard to the Front Page: Building a TNR Movement," Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats, presents a compelling behind-the-scenes look at how one of the nation'
In Hot Pursuit: Community Cat Care in Miami, featuring Dr. Mat Toscano, Executive Director and Chief of Surgery at Street Cat Clinic, and Tia Williams, Director of Cat Solutions 305
"Stop treating cats like dogs—when we see them for who they really are, the right solutions start to emerge." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In this dynamic episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron is joined by two passionate advocates making waves in Miami's cat welfare scene: Tia Williams, Director of Cat Solutions 305, and Dr. Matt Tano, Executive Director
Build Better, Fund Smarter Featuring Tim Crum, Fundraising and Operations Consultant
"Our industry is full of people with big hearts — but running a shelter takes more than heart. It takes structure, strategy, and systems." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. Whether you're running a grassroots cat rescue or leading a multi-million-dollar shelter, the question remains the same: how do we keep the doors open and services running? Fundraising expert and shelter opera
Fixing Cats, Feeding Communities: How One Woman Sparked a Movement, Featuring Wednesday Hugus, Founder of Wednesday's Community Cats and Kittens
"If you can't fix 'em, don't feed 'em. You may think you're being kind, but make sure you do the responsible thing and spay and neuter." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. What started as a COVID-era effort to help feed pets in need has transformed into a full-fledged nonprofit tackling the staggering population of community cats in Orlando, Florida. In this powerful conversation,
Innovating TNR Support with the Trapper Aid Initiative Featuring Alexa Kyler, Software Developer & Cat Advocate.
"We all want to help, but without the right tools and resources, TNR can feel impossible. That's why we need technology to bridge the gaps." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. Trapping and caring for community cats comes with numerous logistical challenges—finding vet appointments, securing transportation, and funding medical care. Alexa Kyler, software developer and TNR advocate,
Tackling Global Animal Welfare Challenges Featuring John Peaveler of Humane Innovations, LLC
"If you're struggling to catch the last cat in your colony, you just haven't figured out the right approach yet. Every cat is catchable with the right technique." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. From building Kuwait's first progressive animal shelter to developing global disaster response programs, John Peaveler has seen it all. In this episode, John shares his journey from mil
Changing Lives for Cats Around the World Featuring Karen Menczer, Founder of Animal Kind International
"You have to feel good about what you can do, even if you can't help them all. Every small effort makes a difference." This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund. In this episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes Karen Menczer, founder of Animal Kind International, an organization that supports animal welfare groups in under-resourced communities worldwide. Karen shares her journey from passion
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