The Community Cats Podcast

• Is Return-to-Field the Future? Insights from Expo, Featuring Karen Little of Alley Cat Advocates and Bryan Kortis of Neighborhood Cats

  “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 LeBaron brings you to the bustling Humane World for Animals Expo in Las Vegas for a candid, practical conversation on the future of Return-to-Field (RTF) and community cats. Joined by Karen Little of Alley Cat Advocates and Bryan Kortis of Neighborhood Cats, this episode breaks down what RTF really means, why it remains one of the field’s most pressing challenges, and how shelters of all sizes can adapt best practices while navigating real-world limitations. Karen and Bryan, each with decades of frontline TNR and shelter collaboration experience, explore the tension between “gold standard” individual cat assessments and the operational realities of crowded shelters. They emphasize the importance of gathering quality intake information, partnering with communities, and maintaining flexibility during kitten seasons, all while ensuring the welfare of cats remains central. The episode also unpacks the misconceptions around RTF, the critical difference between TNR and RTF, and the complexities of assessing “friendly” cats in the shelter environment. Whether you’re a large urban shelter manager or a small grassroots TNR organizer, this conversation will leave you with a clearer, practical understanding of how RTF can reduce euthanasia, manage overpopulation, and align with your community’s needs. Tune in for insights, humor, and a real-time feel of Expo energy as you learn actionable strategies to strengthen your community cat programs and advocate effectively for cats wherever you are. Press Play Now For: The clear difference between Return-to-Field and TNR you must understand How to make case-by-case decisions under real shelter constraints Why “friendly cats” are the most controversial aspect of RTF The critical role of community collaboration in cat management Strategies for small TNR groups attending their first big expo Why RTF is not “abandonment”—and how to explain it to your community Insights on the upcoming updated Return-to-Field Handbook Tips for managing seasonal intake and aligning outcomes with resources Resources & Links: Alley Cat Advocates (https://alleycatadvocates.org/) Neighborhood Cats (https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/) Community Cats Podcast TNR Certification Workshops (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/community-cat-care-training-education/) Community Cats Podcast “Cat Cycling” Blog (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/cat-cycling-how-to-make-your-spay-neuter-programs-most-impactful-and-not-overwhelm-your-staff/) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies621) Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/virox) 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(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

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• Let Meowt! How Rikers Island Is Saving Its Cats, Featuring Gloria Murli of Rikers Island Cat Rescue and Mike Phillips of Urban Cat League

  “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 Island captain, and Mike Phillips of Urban Cat League to explore the decades-long, compassionate mission to care for and manage the cat colonies of Rikers Island. Gloria shares how a promise to a fellow officer turned into a lifelong commitment to Rikers’ feral cats, evolving into one of the nation’s largest TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) initiatives inside a correctional facility. Together with Mike, they recount the logistical, emotional, and bureaucratic challenges of working within a highly secure, sprawling facility, where cats once numbered over a thousand and lived in hidden colonies across 400 acres. Now, the project is taking an inspiring next step: creating a dedicated sanctuary on Rikers Island, transforming a former softball field into a safe haven for cats. This model sanctuary will not only stabilize the cat population but also serve as a workforce development opportunity, training low-security inmates in animal care—providing skills and hope for post-incarceration employment while improving animal welfare. We discuss creative solutions for feeding, the importance of partnerships with the Humane Society of New York, and how these lessons can guide sensitive area TNR and community cat care nationwide, from airports to correctional facilities. If you’ve ever wondered how passion and persistence can drive systemic change for cats, this episode will inspire you to believe in what’s possible—no matter how challenging the environment. Press Play Now For: The untold story of Rikers Island’s hidden cat colonies. How TNR became possible inside one of America’s largest prisons. Challenges of managing 27 feeding stations on a secure island. Why building trust with authorities is key to community cat projects. How the sanctuary model may revolutionize cat care in sensitive areas. Opportunities for incarcerated individuals to gain animal care skills. Creative fundraising ideas, including sponsor-a-feeding-station models. The power of long-term commitment to transform cat welfare. Resources & Links: Rikers Island Cat Rescue (RICR): Donate, view wishlists, or sponsor a feeding station to support the cats of Rikers Island. (http://ricr.org) Urban Cat League (http://urbancatleague.org) Humane Society of New York (http://humanesocietyny.org) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies617) Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants (https://communitycatclinic.com) 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 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

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• Trapper Tips and Tricks, Part 2, Featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

  "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. From drop traps outfitted with remote controls to fully automated trap systems triggered by feline movement, Bryan shares the groundbreaking tools and strategies that emerged from necessity. This episode also explores the power of technology in modern TNR work, from cellular trail cameras to using remote monitoring to trap smarter and faster. Plus, listeners will learn how to trap cats indoors, lure hard-to-catch toms using scent cues, and turn kittens into bait (safely!) when all else fails. Whether you're facing an uncatchable cat in your backyard or planning for a major disaster response, this episode equips you with next-level knowledge. Press Play Now For: Remote-controlled and auto-triggered drop traps How trail cameras revolutionized field monitoring Using sounds, scents, and laser pointers to lure elusive cats Trap training in public spaces Indoor trapping techniques that actually work Combining creativity and technology to trap “the untrappable” Resources Mentioned: Community Cats Podcast Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/onlinecatconference) Lanai Cat Sanctuary (https://lanaicatsanctuary.org/) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies617) Community Cat Clinic (https://communitycatclinic.com) 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(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it

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• Trapper Tips and Tricks, Part 1, featuring Bryan Kortis, National Programs Director for Neighborhood Cats

  "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 experience, Bryan shares tried-and-true strategies for preparing a trapping site, creating effective feeding patterns, and managing large colony trappings with confidence. Listeners will come away with an understanding of the practical tools—like gravity traps, bait techniques, and trap mats—that make trapping more efficient and less stressful for cats and caregivers alike. Bryan also offers valuable seasonal tips, including how to trap safely in winter and how to take advantage of predictable feline behavior. The episode wraps up with an introduction to the monumental post-wildfire trapping campaign in Maui, which sets the stage for Part 2. Press Play Now For: The most overlooked basics that still trip up experienced trappers Mass trapping best practices: timing, trap placement, and baiting Choosing between spring-loaded vs. gravity traps Trap mats, feeding patterns, and sounds cats respond to Winter trapping insights that challenge common assumptions The setup behind Maui’s 600+ cat burn zone project Resources Mentioned: Neighborhood Cats (https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/) Tomahawk Live Trap – GT606 & Roundhouse (https://livetrap.com/) PVC trap mat material example (https://tinyurl.com/yvecchb3) Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies617) Community Cat Clinic (https://communitycatclinic.com) 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(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

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• The Quiet Power of Listening To Cats and the People Who Love Them, Featuring Stephen Quandt, Founder of Feline Behavior Associates

  “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. With over 20 years of experience, including high-stakes rescue missions like the Joplin tornado and a groundbreaking animal welfare initiative in Chernobyl, Stephen shares how understanding both human and feline behavior can create lasting impact. He delves into the most common behavioral challenges cat owners face—especially aggression and litter box issues—and why compassion is just as critical as technique when helping people and their pets. Stephen also opens up about his children’s book Happy Comes Home, created to teach young readers empathy and practical cat care through storytelling. This episode is packed with valuable insights for rescue professionals, adopters, and anyone seeking to build a truly humane cat community. Press Play Now For: The emotional story of a scared cat named Patia that changed Stephen’s life Top feline behavior issues and how to compassionately address them Why indoor cats might still need “the forest and field” inside your home How a mission to Chernobyl became a landmark study in post-disaster animal welfare The importance of building a humane ecosystem that includes adopters and fosters Resources and Links: Stephen Quandt’s Website - https://catbehaviorhelp.com Happy Comes Home (Children’s Book) Animal Care Centers of NYC - https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Comes-Home-Stephen-Quandt/dp/099784289X Clean Futures Fund, Chernobyl Animal Welfare Project - https://www.cleanfutures.org/ Sponsor Links: Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies617) 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(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

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