The Community Cats Podcast

"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 Ko...

"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...

"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, Com...

"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 ret...

"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, fo...

"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 binat...

"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...

"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 Ce...

"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...

"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...

"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. Wit...

"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 c...

"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 Zoolog...

"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 Pod...

"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 t...

"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 Le...

"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...

"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....

"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 experi...

"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. Wi...

"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. Br...

"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...

"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 lo...

"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...

"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...