The Hissing Feline

We would enjoy hearing from you. Cats that live outside can be difficult to domesticate and are not the type of cat to have as an indoor pet. Those felines can still have meaningful lives by becoming working cats in settings where they feel right at home.  This edition of The Hissing Feline focuses on Camp Purr at the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines, IA. You’ll learn about how feral or semi-fer...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Depending on health and other factors, in-door cats can live into their mid- to upper teens. Some cats exceed that average, even living into their twenties. Senior cats are special, but they can have many needs. This edition of The Hissing Feline podcast focuses on geriatric cats…their health, characteristics, and care.  Joining me today on this edition of the show...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Are you a shelter worker or a part of the cat writing community? The annual conference of the Cat Writers’ Association is designed for you.  This episode of The Hissing Feline gives you details about the event that takes place November 6 and 7 in the Dallas – Ft. Worth airport area.  My guest on this episode is Dusty Rainbolt, a winning author of fiction and nonfic...

We would enjoy hearing from you. This week's podcast focuses on feline retroviruses, particularly those conditions in kittens. Returning to the podcast is Dr. Emily Coleman. She is a veterinarian and the executive director of The National Kitten Coalition.  This episode of the podcast features several topics, including the following: What constitutes a retrovirus Types of retroviruses in kitt...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Taking your cat to the veterinarian can be a challenge. Putting your four-footed child into its carrier is just the start. Then, there is the battle of giving your cat a pill if the vet prescribes medication.  “There must be a better way to deal with those situations,” you tell yourself. Yes, there is! You’ll hear about solutions to those problems on this episode o...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Cats offer a lot of enjoyment to our lives. Watching Fluffy play with a toy mouse or scamper across the floor to catch a ball is as entertaining for us as it is for the cat.  This edition of The Hissing Feline focuses on the ways cats benefit humans. My guest for this episode is Dr. Erica Monaco, owner and medical director of Highlands Animal Care in Henderson, NV....

We would enjoy hearing from you. Do you talk to your cat? Did you know that your cat also communicates with you?  On this episode of The Hissing Feline podcast, you’ll learn about how cats use vocalizations and body language to express themselves to humans and other cats.  My guest is Dr. Sarah Bruggeman, Senior Associate Veterinarian at Billings Animal Family Hospital in Billings, MT, and a membe...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Have you wondered what a cat feels when its paws touch cool grass or a crunchy leaf? When it hears the buzz of an insect…or comes face-to-face with a human? There’s a new book that lets you sense and think like a cat.  Kat McCarthy is my guest on this episode of The Hissing Feline. She is an author and a member of the Cat Writers Association. Kat talks about her no...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Chronic Kidney Disease is one of the most common health issues cat owners face, especially in older cats.  What symptoms might cat parents observe that point to kidney disease? How is the disease diagnosed? What treatment methods are available?  Dr. Jessica Quimby joins me on this episode of The Hissing Feline to talk about feline chronic kidney disease. She is Pro...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Some great changes are coming to The Hissing Feline podcast in September: Same excellent cat expert interviews. New podcast logo. Inspiring Cat Stories after each interview, with stories from listeners. The Hissing Feline website that has links to current and previous episodes, the Cat Stuff blog, profiles of the podcast crew, and a contact page with information ab...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Watching our cats age is not easy, especially when they have chronic pain, kidney disease, weight loss, arthritis, and other debilitating conditions. Some cats experience mental decline also known as Feline Cognitive Dysfunction. This episode features a visit with Dr. Melissa Boldan about feline dementia. Dr. Boldan is associate veterinarian at Trailside Animal Hos...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Very popular types of online videos feature cats. They are everywhere on social media. People simply cannot get enough of cats being cats.  The guest on this episode of The Hissing Feline is Will Braden, director of the Cat Video Fest. On the podcast, Will discusses a number of topics about the Fest: Fest history and Will's involvement Growth of the Fest in th...

We would enjoy hearing from you. There are many shelter cats that are considered "unadoptable" or overlooked. They are felines that are more difficult to adopt out due to various circumstances. That includes cats that might have either a shy or aggressive personality, those that are undersocialized, felines with medical situations (e.g., feline leukemia, diabetes, and cancer), special ne...

We would enjoy hearing from you. One big health concern of cat owners is feline diabetes. What are symptoms that cat parents can recognize? What treatments are available for the disease? How can diabetes be managed in cats? This episode of The Hissing Feline features a discussion with Dr. Elizabeth Chapman about feline diabetes. Dr. Chapman is owner and medical director of Just Cats Clinic in Rest...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Cat emergencies can happen anytime and with little or no warning. On this episode, well known pet first aid expert Arden Moore talks about recognizing when a cat is in distress and what to do in those instances. She discusses the most common types of situations that require feline first aid and how to prepare for emergencies. For more information about Arden Moore&...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Fostering kittens is more than feeding and caring for them over a period of time. Fostering plays an important role in the growth and life of a cat. It helps with socialization and prepares cats to be adopted into their forever homes. It’s kind of like a cat internship. My guest on this episode is Summer Preuit, the kitten fostering coordinator at The Cat House in...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Today's guest is Allison Hunter-Frederick. She is a certified cat behavior consultant and trainer located in Lincoln, NE, and owner of Allison Helps Cats. On the podcast, Allison talks about whether the type of cat relates to trainability. She also shares some of the most asked questions she has received about cat training and reasons people have for wanting t...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Community cats are a big concern of neighborhoods across the US. There are many cat-related organizations in towns and cities that are dedicated to dealing with populations of feral and stray cats. Their efforts not only focus on trap, neuter, and release programs, but also on the importance of educating the public about community cats. My guest on today's pod...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Cats are skilled at hiding illness and pain. Determining if your cat is experiencing pain can be difficult. What are the signs? What are different sources of cat pain? What treatments are available to deal with their discomfort? Those are some of the questions this episode of The Hissing Feline will address.  Returning to the show is Dr. Bruce Kornreich. He is a bo...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Imagine having a warm cup of coffee, a tasty snack, and an opportunity to visit with cats all in the same location. It’s the perfect combination.  Across the United States there are an estimated 300 cat cafés, many of which give patrons a chance to enjoy their favorite café amenities while checking out cats from local shelters for adoption. This episode of The Hiss...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Cancer touches just about everyone – family, friends, and us. Different kinds of cancers also can affect our four-footed family members.  My guest on today's podcast is Dr. Karen Oberthaler, veterinarian and board-certified veterinary oncologist. She is co-founder of Treeline Veterinary Cancer Care in both Boulder and Eagle, Colorado. In this episode, Dr. Ober...

We would enjoy hearing from you. Just about everywhere we look this time of year there are baby animals. My wife and I have seen baby groundhogs, goslings, calves, and, of course, kittens.  Kitten season lasts from spring to late fall, but now is the peak time of the year for their arrival. It’s also when shelters take in large numbers of the babies, along with mother cats.  With me on the podcast...

We would enjoy hearing from you. This episode of The Hissing Feline revisits an earlier show on which I interviewed Crystal Jolly, a pet sitter with 15 years of full time experience and 25 years part time work in the field. Topics include how Crystal became interested in pet sitting, differences between dogs and cats for sitters, and the personalities of different types of cats.  In the second seg...

We would enjoy hearing from you. In the US, there are millions of un-homed cats, often referred to as community cats. What is a community cat? How do people care for them? How can people become involved with those cats? Those are just a few of the questions this episode of The Hissing Feline podcast will address. This episode features an interview with Stacy LeBaron, founder of Community Cats Cent...

We would enjoy hearing from you. You are probably familiar with therapy dogs that are specially trained to give comfort and emotional help to people in medical settings, schools, and care facilities. But did you know that cats might also offer the same benefits? My guest on this episode of The Hissing Feline is Dr. Patricia Pendry, professor of Human Development in the College of Agriculture, Huma...