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

In this reflective and forward-thinking episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron takes center stage, offering listeners an intimate look at her mission and the exciting plans for 2025. Joined by Mike Phillips of Urban Cat League, Stacy discusses her journey of nearly three decades in animal welfare and the evolving goals of the podcast. With the motto "See it, Fix it, Solve it" at its core, Stacy outlines the strategic initiatives aimed at achieving humane solutions for community cats.

Listeners will gain insight into key topics, including the United Spay Alliance's efforts to bolster spay/neuter programs, the role of collaboration with social services, and the challenges of succession planning in rescue organizations. This episode is packed with innovative ideas, from the importance of accessible veterinary training (hello, wet labs!) to the transformative potential of tools like the Community Cat Calculator. Whether you’re a seasoned TNR practitioner or a new advocate for feline welfare, Stacy’s passion and strategic perspective will leave you inspired to take action in your own community.

Press Play Now For:

• The 2025 vision for community cat care: strategy and sustainability.
• Behind the scenes at the United Spay Alliance and its groundbreaking programs.
• The role of social service organizations in supporting community cats.
• Succession planning tips for rescue organizations and fostering the next generation of advocates.
• Tools like the Community Cat Calculator to assess and address feline population needs.
• How post-pandemic innovations are shaping the future of adoptions and clinic operations.

Resources Mentioned:

• United Spay Alliance
• Community Cat Calculator Tool
• National Kitten Coalition
• Community Cat Workshops
• University of the Pacific - Community Cat Program Management Course

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.

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.