This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund.

This week, we're pulling back the curtain on the Community Cats Podcast with Kristen Petrie, our behind-the-scenes "Technical Tabby." Join host Stacy LeBaron as they dive into the highlights of a year filled with innovative ideas, cross-country adventures, and practical solutions for cat advocacy. From groundbreaking training sessions in Pennsylvania to a remarkable barn cat rescue in Vermont, Kristen and Stacy share the stories, challenges, and triumphs that shaped 2024.

But that’s just the beginning—2025 is shaping up to be the year of doing it yourself! With new tools like the Community Cat Calculator and expanded educational programs, this episode offers a glimpse into how you can take charge of spay/neuter access and TNR efforts in your community. Whether you're learning from inspiring pioneers like Dr. Becky Morrow or wrangling 27 cats in a dairy barn, this conversation proves that bold ideas and teamwork can create real change.

Tune in for an honest, inspiring, and slightly cheese-fueled (Vermont style!) look at how cat lovers like you turn passion into progress.

Press Play Now For:

• Highlights from 2024, including top conferences and hands-on TNR projects.
• Lessons learned from Frankie's Friends and its innovative approach to high-volume spay/neuter.
• How to plan and execute large-scale TNR operations like the Vermont barn project.
• The launch of the Community Cat Calculator—your new tool for targeted spay/neuter goals.
• Education opportunities like the Community Cat Program Management class at the University of the Pacific.
• 2025’s “DIY” theme and tips for taking action in your community.

Resources Mentioned:

• Frankie’s Friends Spay/Neuter Clinic
• Community Cat Calculator Tool
• University of the Pacific - Community Cat Program Management Course
• TNR Certification Workshops
• Neighborhood Cats
• Podcast Episode - Starting at Grassroots and Sharing Our Spay/Neuter Skills with Becky Morrow, DVM

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund.

How do we piece together the puzzle of cat overpopulation? In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, Stacy LeBaron chats with Vicky Halls, Head of Unowned Cats at International Cat Care, about innovative strategies to address this global challenge. Drawing on decades of experience in feline welfare, Vicky introduces her "jigsaw puzzle" approach to managing cat populations, highlighting the importance of collaboration, root-cause solutions, and strategic trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs.

Learn how to connect the pieces for effective cat population management, navigate the challenges of global resource disparities, and explore the progressive work of the Battersea Cat Project. Whether you’re a TNR pro or new to community cat care, this episode offers actionable insights and inspiration.

Press Play Now For:

• The emotional and professional journey of a feline welfare trailblazer.
• Understanding root causes vs. symptoms in cat overpopulation.
• Insights into the "jigsaw puzzle" of cat population management.
• Strategies for effective TNR programs and community collaboration.
• An overview of the Battersea Cat Project's global impact.
• How access to resources shapes outcomes in cat population management.

Resources Mentioned:

• International Cat Care
• Email Vicky Halls at vicky.halls@icatcare.org for insights and collaboration.
• Video: Completing the jigsaw puzzle of sustainable and effective cat population management

Follow & Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund, The Community Cat Clinic, and the Whisker Tracker App.

In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Bob Weedon, an expert in veterinary public health and a leading advocate for Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) programs. Dr. Weedon shares insights into how TNVR programs are essential for managing cat populations and offer critical public health benefits. By vaccinating community cats, TNVR efforts create a vital “barrier” against diseases like rabies, protecting pets and humans. Dr. Weedon explains how public health officials can embrace TNVR as a community health strategy, emphasizing the power of collaboration between local governments, public health departments, and animal advocates.

The conversation ventures into the science behind rabies immunity, debunking misconceptions about cat-related diseases like toxoplasmosis, and why cat advocates should focus on reducing misinformation. Dr. Weedon also gives a sneak peek into potential breakthroughs in non-surgical sterilization techniques, which could revolutionize community cat management. Whether you're a cat advocate, public health professional, or just interested in animal welfare, this episode sheds light on the multi-layered impact of TNVR programs on communities nationwide.

Press Play Now For:

• The importance of vaccinating community cats to safeguard public health
• How TNVR programs help reduce rabies risks in local communities
• Strategies for presenting TNVR programs to town officials and addressing misconceptions
• Myths about toxoplasmosis and its connection to outdoor cats
• The potential future of non-surgical sterilization in community cat management
• Real-world examples of successful public-private partnerships in animal control

Resources Mentioned:

• Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer by Peter P. Marra and Chris Santella (2016)
• Response of Feral Cats to Vaccination at the Time of Neutering by S.M. Fischer et al. (2007)
• Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2016.
• Handbook of Zoonoses: Identification and Prevention by Colville and Berryhill (2007). This handbook provides detailed information on zoonotic diseases, including identification and preventive measures.
• Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D)
• United Spay Alliance

Follow & Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.