The Community Cats Podcast

“Little things like that…If everybody does some little thing, it will work to our benefit with the cats.” This episode is sponsored in part by Meow Cat Lounge, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats with Allia Zobel Nolan, an international best-selling author of over 150 titles, whose body of work reflects her main passions: God and cats. Stacy and Allia talk about their love for cats and the unique relationships that can develop between cats and their people. Allia shares more about her volunteer work with cats, and the little ways she’s found to continue giving back and helping out, even if she doesn’t have the same time or resources as she’s had before. Allia talks about the motivation and inspiration behind her newest book, Heavenly Heabutts: Reflections of Hope about Cats and Eternity. Faced with the loss of three of her cats in close succession, Allia talks about her journey to find comfort and hope. She opens up about the book and her intentions, and her sincere hope that it will

“We’ve got to use veterinary technicians. And here’s what happens – I feel so good getting to help a pet owner and increase that pet owner-animal bond, and my veterinarian can go do doctor things! If you utilize your technicians more, you get to be a doctor more.” This episode is sponsored in part by Meow Cat Lounge, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. In today’s show, Stacy chats with Amy Newfiled, Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Emergency & Critical Care, author, and owner of the educational platform Veterinary Team Training. In this episode, Stacy and Amy talk about the field of veterinary medicine, and how the role of veterinary technicians in particular has grown and evolved since the 1990s. They talk about the key differences between veterinary technicians, specialists, and assistants, and what the general public should keep in mind when taking their animals to their veterinary care provider. They also discuss the many challenges veterinarians and practic

"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.” This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. In this episode, Stacy sits down once again with a long-time friend of the show and fundraiser extraordinaire, Sandy Rees, who is the founder of Fundraising TV and the Chief Encouragement Officer at Get Fully Funded. During this episode, they dig into the realities and challenges of fundraising, and the feasibility of raising money for “unsexy” causes like community cats and spay/neuter. Sandy emphasizes her belief that every cause is “sexy” – you just have to find the right angle and the right story to share with your donors. Stacy asks about the “core number” and how it can be leveraged to improve fundraising overall. Sandy talks about the importance of messaging, and how just a few simple shifts in our storytelling can lead

“It’s a matter of starting from the ground up; not having the resources, but still getting it done." This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League and Maddie's Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats with Dr. Becky Morrow, a shelter veterinarian and professor who is very active in the small animal community. As a veterinarian, Dr. Morrow shines a light on what vets are typically exposed to during vet school – and just how limited their knowledge may be when it comes to community cats and the overwhelming demand for low-cost spay/neuter services. They discuss how Dr. Morrow first began her mobile clinic – with a box trailer turned surgical suite – to offer much-needed HQHVSN services on the road, utilizing caregivers' homes, fire halls, and other community spaces to get the job done. They conclude their conversation with the veterinary shortage, ruminating on what can be done to help create more spay/neuter opportunities in our communities. For Dr. Morrow, the solution lies in providing more training opport

“If we can make a small dent in helping save kitties’ lives and making people happy, . . . to us, that’s so meaningful.” This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. In this episode, Stacy talks with Nicole Smith, the co-owner of Whiskers and Wine Bar. Based in San Diego, California, Whiskers and Wine Bar has adoptable cats, amazing food, and a full bar. In its first year of operation, it helped over 150 cats find homes. In her conversation with Stacy, Nicole explains what prompted her to leave her career in the corporate world to open up a cat café. She talks about the cat café (Pounce Cat Café) that inspired her and describes what went on behind the scenes before opening the doors of Whiskers and Wine Bar. Nicole also touches on some of the features and policies of the café. To learn more about Whiskers and Wine Bar, visit their website or visit them on Instagram or Facebook.

“We help protect people from animals, and animals from people.” 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 about the animal control profession. Stacy and Daniel talk about the shifting role of animal control, including the historic (and negative) view of animal control officers as little more than dog-catchers. Daniel talks about the important shift in animal control policies towards more humane and inclusive practices, and the crucial role that passion for animals has for all involved. They also discuss about the impact animal control professionals can have on their communities, leveraging both their discretion and integrity to help as many people and animals get the positive outcomes they’re looking for. They talk about the challenges facing the animal control profession, and the importance of finding people who are truly passionate abou

“It’s really important to show that the Board is invested in the organization.” 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 program Unleash Your Inner Fundraiser. The primary focus of Uplifting Nonprofits is to bring fundraising mastery to nonprofits. In her conversation with Stacy, Sonia talks all about Boards and organizational governance. She explains the critical role that the Board plays for an organization, describing it as the heart of an organization. She stresses the importance of finding Board members that align with the organization’s mission. Sonia also discusses fundraising, donors, recruiting, and more. To learn more about Sonia’s work, visit her website.

“It’s just the willingness to go where it takes you. And it will always take you somewhere.” This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. In this special episode, the Cat Daddy himself, Jackson Galaxy, returns to the show (CCP Episode 175). Jackson, a New York Times bestselling author, renowned cat behavior and wellness expert, and longtime host of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell, is also the founder of the Jackson Galaxy Project, a program of Greater Goods Charities. Jackson is accompanied by Steve Kaufman, Vice President of Operations of the GOODS Program at Greater Goods Charities. In their conversation with Stacy, Jackson and Steve discuss Cat Pawsitive 360, an initiative of The Galaxy Project. The initiative, Jackson explains, provides a 360-degree view of the feline experience on everything from behavioral models to environmental enrichment to save more lives and improve the well-being of cats both in and out of the shelter. He explains that understanding cats

“[There is] nothing that love, patience, time, and effort cannot fix.” 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 Kong. Melody, a former guest of the show (CCP Episode 476) and presenter at the Annual Online Cat Conference lives with her 10 cats in her 555 sq foot apartment. In talking with Stacy, Melody discusses her side business of helping those with cat problems. She explains how she became the go-to person for cat problems in her area and shares some of the most frequent feline behavioral issues she is approached about. Melody expands on her previous discussion about what life is like for community cats in Hong Kong and touches on the perception of those caring for these cats. She also discusses her podcast, MeloCat’s Expert Chat, and describes her multilevel litterbox system. To learn more about Melody and her work, visit her on YouTube, Instagram,

“Pets make us human.” This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. On this episode, Stacy is joined by Janice Cobb, creator of the Save My Pet ID Tag and former guest of the show (CCP Episode 478). In her conversation with Stacy, Janice discusses our special bond with pets. She describes how they teach us invaluable lessons about unconditional love and how she firmly believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to have a pet. Janice discusses her experience working with adoption programs and highlights some of the challenges with access to adoption, particularly for older adults. Janice also talks about the Save My Pet ID Tag, a custom engraved necklace, bracelet, or keychain with your pet’s information and an emergency contact. She stresses the importance of being prepared for your pets in the event of an accident and explains how the ID tag provides a level of security. To learn more about the Save My Pet ID Tag, visit their website.

“We need more people that are eager and willing to help see a problem and want to be a part of the solution.” This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. On this episode, Stacy talks to Audrey Stratton, Clinic Supervisor at the Feral Cat Coalition, an organization based in San Diego that is dedicated to reducing overpopulation and improving the lives of cats through TNR services. Founded in 1992, the Feral Cat Coalition has spayed and neutered more than 50,000 community cats. In her conversation with Stacy, Audrey talks all about community cats and TNR. She describes the changing landscape for community cats and the growing need for more TNR volunteers. Audrey discusses several hot topics, including access to care issues and whether to spay pregnant cats. She also provides her thoughts on addressing some of the frequently encountered issues in the field, such as compassion fatigue and staffing shortage. To learn more about the Feral Cat Coalition, visit their website

“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.” This episode is sponsored in part by Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. In today's special podcast, we are proud to bring you the audio version of "Strategies for Reducing Cat Populations". In this episode, Stacy LeBaron, host of The Community Cats Podcast, long-time TNR advocate/practitioner, and non-profit administrator, shares her experience and offers suggestions to address the most common situations that can arise when birds, raccoons, coyotes, and other species live alongside a managed community cat colony. She discusses how she navigated working with various agencies to promote TNR and gives details on cases where both cat lovers and bird enthusiasts have come together to make it work for the benefit of all the animals - and people - involved. The session includes a Q&A period where the audience gets their questions answered and learns

“One cat at a time, we can make a difference.” This episode is sponsored in part by The Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. On this episode, Stacy chats with Niki Cudsworth, a board member of the Visalia Feral Cat Coalition (VFCC), an organization that seeks to reduce cat overpopulation by practicing, teaching, and raising awareness of TNR. In its efforts to curb overpopulation, the organization offers TNR Vouchers for getting community cats spayed/neutered with a $30 copay. In her conversation with Stacy, Niki discusses VFCC’s voucher program and describes how the organization’s monthly clinics operate. She outlines the organization’s various partnerships and explains how it collaborates with local rescues. Niki also highlights the importance of fundraising, fiscal responsibility, collaborating with the community, and fostering a relationship with veterinarians. To learn more about the Visalia Feral Cat Coalition, visit their website or Facebook page. The following organizations are mentioned d

“We really need to explore the unique needs and challenges that exist in the different parts of the state . . . so that when potential remedies are offered or additional resources are created, they can be targeted.” This episode is sponsored in part by The Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. On this episode, Stacy is joined by Dan Spehar, co-founder of the Together Initiative for Ohio’s Community Cats and a former guest of the show (CCP Episode 240). Dan is also an independent researcher who focuses on community cat management and has co-authored numerous published peer-reviewed articles on the subject. In his conversation with Stacy, Dan summarizes some of his findings from his recent report, “Identifying Ohio’s Community Cat Resources: A State of the State Report, 2023”. This report, which resulted from research funded by Ohio Animal Advocates, provides a directory of community cat spay-neuter and TNR services by county and a comprehensive assessment of the current community cat resource lands

“Have integrity, do the right thing, and the rest of it falls into place.” This episode is sponsored in part by The Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. This week, Stacy sits down with Heidi Williams, director of the Ingham County Animal Control & Shelter in Mason, Michigan. Ingham County is a municipal shelter that takes in approximately 3,000 animals per year. The county launched a TNR program in 2023 to provide support to the estimated 50,000 community cats that call Ingham County home. Stacy and Heidi talk about her background as a first responder, and how she came to find herself in animal control and sheltering. They discuss her unique perspective as the director of a municipal shelter, and how they worked with the community to build support for a county-supported TNR program. They also discuss the role of managed intake, the importance of empowering and supporting your staff, and the other important changes Heidi has made during her tenure to help her organization become a well-respect

“You also want to know your community so your outreach is effective.” 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 & Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck Presented by Neighborhood Cats". (If you haven’t listened to part one, you can check it out here.) The more cats you fix, the more impact your TNR program will have, right? Wrong! Spay/neuter volume alone is rarely enough by itself to keep consistently reducing a community’s free-roaming cat population over time. Another aspect of the program needs to be identifying areas of high need (meaning, lots of cats) and then focusing TNR resources at that location in order to achieve high sterilization rates. Discover what targeting is, why it’s so important, and how you can do it no matter how large or small your program is. To learn more about Neighborhood Cats, you may visit their website. If you'd like to watch this presentati

“...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.” 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 one of the audio version of "Targeted TNR & Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck Presented by Neighborhood Cats". The more cats you fix, the more impact your TNR program will have, right? Wrong! Spay/neuter volume alone is rarely enough by itself to keep consistently reducing a community’s free-roaming cat population over time. Another aspect of the program needs to be identifying areas of high need (meaning, lots of cats) and then focusing TNR resources at that location in order to achieve high sterilization rates. Discover what targeting is, why it’s so important, and how you can do it no matter how large or small your program is. To learn more about Neighborhood Cats, you may visit their website. If you'd like to watch th

“As veterinarians, we have to educate people.” This episode is sponsored in part by The Urban Cat League, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. On this episode, Stacy chats with Dr. G, owner of the Rascal Unit, which consists of two mobile veterinary hospitals that provide high-volume pet sterilization and routine veterinary care throughout Ohio. In her discussion with Stacy, Dr. G describes the array of services that the Rascal Unit provides. She also details encounters with cat hoarding situations and describes these different types of hoarders, which include overwhelmed caregivers and rescue hoarders. Dr. G explains how she approaches these hoarding situations and how she prepares her team as well. Dr. G also describes her work in the field of veterinary forensics, which is the application of veterinary medicine and forensic sciences to legal settings. She also talks about her podcast, the Animal Welfare Junction, where she discusses animal welfare topics and forensic cases. You can visit Dr. G’s website to lear

“There’s a lot of tools that we offer to make really understanding the data easier and start to identify where the need still exists.” This episode is sponsored in part by Cats of the Wild Podcast, Doobert.com, and Maddie's Fund. In this episode, Stacy chats with Stephanie Flier, Executive Director of Shelter Animals Count, an organization that maintains a centralized, standardized database for animal shelter statistics. The organization's database, established in 2012, tracks shelter intakes and outcomes, and in 2021, they started collecting community services data. In her conversation with Stacy, Stephanie describes how Shelter Animals Count collects its data from the nearly 7,000 participating organizations across the country and then transforms it into interactive data dashboards. Stephanie provides some tips on how to navigate this data and highlights some of its features. She also discusses recent shelter trends, post-pandemic challenges, and more. To learn more about Shelter Animals Count, visit their

“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.” 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 two of the audio version of "Mobilizing the Community to Make TNR Happen Presented by Neighborhood Cats". (If you haven't listened to part one, you can check it out here.) So many cats, so few trappers… and veterinarians… and holding space… and transporters. If you live in a well-populated urban or suburban area and you’re trying to use TNR to address your city or town’s entire free-roaming cat population, you’ll need a lot of help! How do you mobilize the public to trap the cats in their backyards, get hands-on involvement, attract volunteers, and gain community support? In parts one and two of this special release, you'll learn from the folks who