Cat Cafe Podcast

Dr. Mike Lappin is back with an unplanned bonus episode, because the New World screwworm did not wait for anyone's content calendar. Confirmed in Texas and New Mexico for the first time in sixty years, this flesh-eating parasite is now a real concern for cat owners in the Southwest, and Dr. Lappin breaks down exactly what that means for your cat, what to watch for, and what treatments are now avai...

Are we giving cats medications that don't actually help? Dr. Serge Chalhoub, a veterinary kidney and bladder specialist at the University of Calgary, joins the Purr Podcast to talk about the best ways to care for cats with urinary problems. He has a special interest in how cats' kidneys and bladders work, and in using bedside ultrasound -- think instant imaging right there in the exam room -- to g...

Pain in cats is notoriously easy to miss and dangerously easy to undertreat, and in this episode of the Purr Podcast, Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle sit down with Dr. Tamar Grubb to unpack why. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia with a research focus on multimodal pain management, Dr. Grubb brings both the science and the clinical wisdom to a topic that touches eve...

Are indoor cats really safe? Viral disease risks are revealed in this episode of the Purr Podcast! We sit down with Dr. Jane Sykes, a global leader in veterinary infectious diseases. We talk about why vaccine hesitancy is rising and what it means for cats, and how infectious diseases are changing due to environmental factors.

Have you ever had a vet tell you your cat is aggressive? You're not alone — and honestly, that label might be doing more harm than good. Today we're digging into what's actually going on when cats bite, scratch, or completely shut down at the vet, and what clinics can do differently to make the whole experience less awful for everyone involved. My guest is Dr. Renee Rucinsky, a board-certified fel...

In this episode of the Cat Café Podcast, Dr. Katie Tolbert discusses feeding tubes in cats—devices that may look intimidating at first glance but are truly lifesaving tools for patients that refuse to eat. She explains why nutritional support is critical in feline medicine, how feeding tubes help prevent complications like hepatic lipidosis, and why early placement can dramatically improve outcome...

Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn kick off the new year with a mix of unforgettable true cat stories, behind-the-scenes podcast moments, and an exclusive first look at our 2025 podcast statistics. Joined by our Communications Manager, Stacey Gonzalez, we reflect on the most-listened-to episodes of the year, uncover surprising listener trends, and share a few insights that even we didn’t...

Why were cats with GI disease rarely diagnosed 30 years ago? Let's talk feline Pancreatitis, EPI, and nutrition breakthroughs! Dr. Joerg Steiner explains why nutrition is foundational to internal medicine, how interdisciplinary science advances veterinary care, and why mentorship and training the next generation of scientists may be his most important legacy in this episode of Purr Podcast.

Why do so many indoor cats develop urinary disease? Meet Dr. Allison Kendall, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at NC State and feline nephrology & urology specialist. In this episode of Purr Podcast, we talk pee, pain, and common causes for urinary probems in cats.

In this very special 100th episode of the Cat Café Podcast, Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle take a cozy walk down memory lane — catnip lattes in hand — to celebrate a century of cat conversations! 🐾 They revisit how it all began: two feline fanatics with a microphone, a shared passion for cats, and a mission to make veterinary medicine both educational and entertaining. From humble beginnings (and a few...

Ever wonder what your cat is really trying to tell you? Our next Catcafe podcast guest is Tabitha Kucera, a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behavior, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and founder of Chirrups and Chatter. Tabitha is an international speaker, educator, and advocate for feline welfare, known for helping caregivers and veterinary teams better understand cat behavior and enrichmen...

Is there new hope for cats with heart disease? Steve Dale thinks so! Steve is a certified animal behavior specialist who has been a trusted voice in the world of pet health for over 20 years. He is a nationally syndicated pet columnist, radio show host, and television personality who specializes in pet news and information, as well as editorial and advocacy pieces. Steve is the host of Steve Dale'...

Dr. Joya Griffin graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned the Dermatology Service Award for her exceptional aptitude in clinical dermatology and her research on Malassezia otitis externa during her tenure at Cornell. Dr. Griffin became a Diplomate of the College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) in August 2010 and joined the Animal Dermatology Group. She has a sp...

🎙️ Dr. Leslie Lyons is back on the Catcafe Podcast! This week, we’re diving into the world of veterinary genetics—starting all the way back with Mendel and his legendary peas. 🫛👨‍🔬 We’ll chat about what’s coming up in the genetics session at the WSAVA Congress in Rio, and as always, Leslie brings her passion, expertise, and even a surprise cameo from her very own cat 🐈‍⬛ (who may or may not h...

Why are cats orange? Meet Dr. Leslie Lyons, one of the world’s foremost experts in feline genetics. In this episode of Purr Podcast, we are demystifying orange cats! Dr. Lyons discusses new studies that revealed a never-before-seen genetic pathway for color pigmentation linked to orange cats.

What is normal feline behaviour? Meet Dr. Ilona Rodan! Dr. Rodan is ABVP certified in feline medicine and completed her ISFM Advanced Certificate in Feline Behaviour with Distinction. She founded Cat Behavior Solutions for veterinary referral of feline behavior problems. Dr. Rodan discusses what the feline experience is like in a veterinary practice, and what you can do to reduce the fear. 

Cats have skin too! In this episode, Dr. Susan and Dr. Kelly interview Dr. Sandra Koch, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota, to discuss dermatologic diseases in cats, with a particular focus on cutaneous masses. Dr. Koch highlights the diagnostic approach to lumps and bumps in feline patients, including differentials ranging from benign cysts to malignant neoplasms. She also di...

Meet Dr. Lisa Restine! She is a board-certified feline practitioner with a special interest in internal medicine, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery. Dr. Restine completed her DVM at Western University of Health Sciences in California. She is the Associate Feline Professional Veterinary Affairs Manager at Hill's Pet Nutrition. How can you incorporate cat care into your daily practice? Dr. Restine...

Dr. Mike Lappin is back on the Cat Café Podcast! 🐱 This time, he’s diving into a very important and timely topic: avian influenza in cats. What do we know? What should we worry about? And how do we keep our feline friends safe? Join Dr. Susan Little, Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn, and Dr. Lappin as they unpack the facts, bust the myths, and bring clarity to this emerging threat. You won’t want to miss t...

In this episode of the Cat Cafe Podcast, Dr. Jolle and Dr. Susan team up with Eric Garcia to break down how cat owners can use AI the right way. While AI is revolutionizing many industries, including veterinary medicine, it’s also becoming a helpful tool for pet parents. But with so much tech out there, how do you separate helpful AI from hype? We explore the practical ways AI can improve life for...

This week on the Catcafe Podcast, we’re thrilled to host Dr. Pamela Jones, a medical radiation oncologist with an impressive career journey.  We dive into radiation therapy for some of the toughest feline cancers, including injection site sarcomas, squamous cell carcinoma, and—surprise!—intestinal lymphoma. Did you know that simply radiating a cat’s abdomen can improve lymphoma cases? It’s a fasci...

In this episode of the Purrpodcast, we chat with Dr. Terza Brostoff, a brilliant veterinary microbiologist from UC Davis, about a disease that’s been a heartbreaker for cat lovers: feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Dr. Brostoff explains how her cutting-edge research is changing the game, with new treatments like Remdesivir giving cats with FIP a second chance. Whether you’re a science buff or j...

Dr. Amir Kol, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He earned his veterinary degree from the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine in Israel in 2006. Following this, he completed a residency in clinical pathology and a PhD in integrative pathobiology at UC Davis, focusing on stem cell...

Episode Title: The Burden of Care: Supporting Chronically Ill Cats with Dr. Jessica Quimby. In this heartfelt episode of the Cat Cafe Podcast, Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn and Dr. Susan Little sit down with the renowned feline internal medicine specialist, Dr. Jessica Quimby, from The Ohio State University. As a leading expert in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats, Dr. Quimby brings her unparalleled k...

Endocrine diseases are prevalent in cats, and the most frequent ones are diabetes and hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism in cats is a common endocrine disorder typically seen in older felines, characterized by an overproduction of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) from an enlarged, usually benign thyroid gland. This hormone surge ramps up metabolism, leading to classic symptoms like weight loss despite a...