Purr Podcast

In this episode of the Purr Podcast, Dr. Serge Chalhoub joins Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle to talk about something that is quietly changing how veterinarians work up feline urinary disease: point-of-care ultrasound. Rather than sending a cat off for specialist imaging or guessing at what is happening in the bladder, point-of-care ultrasound puts answers right there in the exam room, in real time, witho...

Dr. Mike is back with a bonus episode nobody scheduled, because the screwworm did not check our calendar. The New World screwworm has arrived in the United States for the first time in sixty years, confirmed in Texas and New Mexico, with a quarantine zone now covering fourteen Texas counties. While livestock take the hardest hit, cats are absolutely at risk, because the fly lays her eggs in any op...

Are we prescribing medications for FIC that lack meaningful evidence? Dr. Serge Chalhoub, a board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist and Professor at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, joins the Purr Podcast to discuss best practices in feline urinary disease management. His clinical and research interests focus on nephrology, urology, point-of-care ultras...

What does pain look like in cats? A new Purr Podcast with Dr. Tamara Grubb. Tammy is back for our second episode, and this time we do a deep dive into pain management in cats. Some of the signs are clear enough that even the most casual observer would notice, but cats are masters of concealment, and most of the time they hide their discomfort so well that even devoted owners and experienced clinic...

Let’s talk about fear-free feline anesthesia! Feline anesthesia has changed dramatically, and so has our understanding of pain in cats. Our next Purr Podcast guest, Dr. Tamara Grubb, is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia and an internationally recognized expert in pain management. She shared the biggest mistakes that veterinarians make in feline anesthesia!...

If you've been listening to the Purr Podcast for a while, you already know that Dr. Susan has a special place in her heart for anything that crawls, multiplies, and causes trouble at the cellular level. So when the opportunity came to welcome back the one and only Dr. Jane Sykes for a second conversation, it's safe to say the excitement level in the room was measurable. Dr. Sykes is a Professor of...

Are indoor cats really safe? Rabies and 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, the latest research on declawing and its long-term effects, and how infectious diseases are changing due to environmental factors. Thanks...

Feline diabetes management is evolving fast, and SGLT2 inhibitors are at the center of that conversation. In this deep-dive episode, Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle are joined by Dr. Renee Rucinsky — board-certified feline specialist, owner of Mid Atlantic Cat Hospital and Mid Atlantic Feline Thyroid Center, and a key contributor to the AAHA diabetes management guidelines, including the upcoming updated e...

Cats are the most commonly owned pet in the United States — and yet they're dramatically underrepresented in veterinary visits compared to dogs. One big reason? The vet experience is often so stressful for cats, and so difficult for the people trying to handle them, that owners simply stop bringing them in. Today we're exploring the science and the solutions behind feline stress in clinical settin...

Why aren’t we using feeding tubes sooner in cats? In this episode of the Purr Podcast, we have an essential clinical conversation with Dr. Katie Tolbert that challenges everything you think you know about feeding tubes in feline medicine. Dr. Tolbert is an associate professor in the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University and is the Royal Canin Chair of Small Animal Nutrition. Stop...

In this episode of the PurrPodcast, Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn welcome Dr. Katie Tolbert from Texas A&M University for a practical and science-driven discussion on chronic pancreatitis in cats, with a strong focus on the critical role nutrition plays in long-term management. Together, they explore why chronic pancreatitis is often subtle and multifactorial, how dietary composi...

2025 was a year of expansion and intellectual curiosity for the Purr Podcast. What began as a feline-focused platform continued to evolve into a broader scientific conversation space, without ever losing its clinical feline backbone. From deep dives into pancreatitis and complex GI disease to thought-provoking discussions about artificial intelligence in veterinary medicine, the show balanced rigo...

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...

Dr. Joerg Steiner —one of the most respected authorities in veterinary gastroenterology—returns to the Purr Podcast for a deep, science-driven discussion on complex feline gastrointestinal disease. Internationally recognized for his work on pancreatic and intestinal disorders, Dr. Steiner brings decades of research, diagnostic insight, and clinical experience to the table. In this episode, we expl...

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. Thanks...

Dr. Allison Kendall is back on the podcast, and she brings with her a fascinating deep dive into a completely new approach to treating feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC). Yes—you read that right. Radiation therapy, traditionally reserved for oncology patients, is now being explored as a potential tool for one of the most frustrating and painful conditions our feline friends face. Dr. Kendall walks u...

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, FIC, minimally invasive procedures, and why the bladder is just the beginning when it comes to cat urinary disease. Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Sus...

We did it! We surpassed 225 episodes of the Purr Podcast! From our very first recording to now, we’ve laughed, learned, and talked all things cat health care with some of the brightest minds in veterinary medicine. That’s more than 225 conversations about feline medicine, clinical breakthroughs, and the cats (and vets) who inspire us every day. Let's reflect on our podcast journey, and look forwar...

Are cats the forgotten patients in oncology? Dr. Sue Ettinger is back on the Purr Podcast to elaborate on cancer tests, treatments, and why cats deserve more. Why are clinical trials and funding so limited for cats? What is the next big leap in feline oncology? What is the best practice for early cancer detection in cats? Dr. Sue Cancer Vet joins our hosts, Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Jolle Kirpenste...

Cats deserve cancer breakthroughs too! Dr. Sue Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), shares what’s on the horizon for feline cancer testing in the next episode of the Purr Podcast. Known on social media as Dr. Sue Cancer Vet, she is an international speaker, author, & vlogger. She is a board-certified specialist in medical oncology. She received her veterinary training at Cornell University Colleg...

Part 2 of enriching your cat. Tabitha Kucera, a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Behavior, Certified Cat Behavior Consultant, and founder of Chirrups and Chatter is back on the podcast. Tabitha is an international speaker, educator, and advocate for feline welfare, known for helping caregivers and veterinary teams better understand cat behavior and enrichment. Feline enrichment isn’t “extra”—it...

Ever wonder what your cat is really trying to tell you? Our next Purr 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 enrichment....

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'...

Lights, camera, action! Dr. Joya Griffin gives us a peek behind the curtain, sharing what it’s like to star on a veterinary TV show. She is the star of the Nat Geo WILD television series, Pop Goes the Vet, now streaming on Disney+. Find out what it was like to bring her joy of feline dermatology to the small screen. Listen to Purr Podcast on Tuesday, August 19th, wherever you get your podcasts! Th...

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...