The Community Cats Podcast

"The future is feline. Let's keep understanding our cats."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Underfoot Podcast, and The Community Cat Clinic.
In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode, Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Angie Krause, a holistic small-animal veterinarian from Boulder, Colorado, and her veterinary nurse, JoJo Smith. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of feline veterinary care, community cat welfare, and the powerful human-animal bond that fuels it all.
Dr. Angie shares her lifelong love for cats and how her holistic approach—combined with home visits and mobile vet care—provides a less stressful, more authentic picture of feline health. JoJo opens up about the unique emotional richness of end-of-life care and the urgent need to advocate for underserved cats with the same passion and grace we afford to dogs.
From discussing consent in feline handling to championing spay/neuter accessibility and the nuances of community cat caregiving, this conversation will leave you both inspired and informed. You'll also learn about their podcast, Tails of Truth: The Truth About Veterinary Medicine, which dives deeper into these topics.
Whether you're a cat parent, TNR advocate, or simply feline curious, this episode is your invitation to better understand and uplift the cats in your life and community.
Press Play Now For:
Why consent matters in feline veterinary care
The unique value of in-home visits for understanding cats
How Colorado's spay/neuter infrastructure impacts cat populations
The emotional depth of end-of-life decisions for cats
Strategies to approach vet visits with grace and empathy
The role of language in reshaping perceptions about "feral" cats
How to advocate for cats—even if you don't have one at home
Resources & Links:
Dr. Angie Krause's website: boulderholisticvet.com
Podcast: Tails of Truth: The Truth About Veterinary Medicine (available on all major platforms + YouTube)
Community Cats Central Paper Collar Template
Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society

"The cat was telling me—I was just the one writing it down."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, and The Underfoot Podcast.
What if there were a scientifically validated system to help shy, fearful, or traumatized cats become adoptable and happy? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Jacklyn Ellis, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Director of Behavior at the Toronto Humane Society, sits down with host Stacy LeBaron to share her groundbreaking work in feline behavior and welfare. With a PhD in animal welfare and a passion ignited in second grade, Dr. Ellis has built a career helping cats communicate their needs through data-driven insights.
At the heart of the conversation is Dr. Ellis's revolutionary ordinal rating scale system, used to assess behaviors like food intake, response to petting, and play participation. She explains how this simple yet powerful tool not only improves individual case outcomes but also transforms how shelters approach feline care on a larger scale. Hear about whimsical enrichment rooms sponsored by brands, the unique challenges of conflict aggression, and why indoor-only cats need enrichment just as much as their outdoor counterparts.
If you're working with "in-betweener" cats—those that sit on the fence between adoptable and feral—this episode is packed with tools, inspiration, and insights to turn passion into meaningful outcomes.
Press Play Now For:
The backstory behind Dr. Ellis's career in feline behavior
How the Toronto Humane Society tracks and improves cat welfare
The power of data in managing behavioral interventions
Creative enrichment solutions that benefit both cats and adopters
The truth about barn cat programs and their perception in urban areas
Dealing with tough cases like conflict aggression and "dive bombing" cats
How to help indoor-only cats live their best lives
Resources & Links:
Feline Behavioral Ordinal Rating Scale Training (Free Course)
Toronto Humane Society
Dr. Ellis's research publications
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"No matter what's going on out there, there's always hope."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, and The Underfoot Podcast.
What happens to cats deemed unadoptable due to behavioral challenges? In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Mary Scott, Director of the ASAP Working Cats Program in Santa Barbara, California. With over 17 years of animal welfare experience, Mary sheds light on the complex and often misunderstood issue of behavioral euthanasia in shelters—and offers a powerful alternative.
Mary shares how her Working Cats program provides safe, fulfilling lives for semi-social and non-social cats who might otherwise face euthanasia. By partnering with cat-savvy caretakers and relocating these felines to barns, sheds, or outbuildings, the program offers these cats a chance to thrive in an environment aligned with their needs. Through structured acclimation, sound matching, and supportive protocols, Mary and her team have achieved a remarkable 95% live release rate and a 67%+ retention rate for placed cats.
This candid and inspiring conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about finding innovative solutions to shelter overpopulation, reducing euthanasia rates, and celebrating every cat's right to a dignified life.
Press Play Now For:
A clear definition of behavioral euthanasia and how it impacts shelter cats
How Working Cats programs provide life-saving alternatives
The step-by-step relocation process for cats in the program
Tips for matching cats with suitable caretakers and environments
The role of shelters, resources, and flexibility in saving lives
National stats on cat euthanasia and reasons for hope
Real-life success stories like DeLorean and Wobble
Resources & Links:
ASAP Cats Working Cats Program
Community Cats Central
Shelter Animals Count
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 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.

"The ultimate goal is to make cat welfare and population management so normal, so embedded in our communities, that it's simply what a community does."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, and The Underfoot Podcast.
In this insightful follow-up to episode 605, Stacy LeBaron welcomes back global animal welfare strategist Harry Eckman, who shares groundbreaking findings from an ambitious five-country research initiative on cat population management. Funded by the Bates Global Enablers Grant and spearheaded by International Cat Care, the project explores the cat welfare landscapes of Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Australia, and the UK—identifying challenges, public perceptions, and innovative strategies tailored to each country.
Harry delves into what makes this research unique: over 120 in-depth stakeholder interviews, public opinion surveys, and detailed country reports culminating in two critical resources—a foundational 18-month strategy and a visionary 10-year framework. With an upstream-thinking approach, he emphasizes aligning communities, funders, and policymakers under shared goals, whether on a city block or a national level.
From addressing cat stigmatization in Australia to proposing a model project in Cyprus, Harry's holistic, data-driven approach provides a roadmap for turning compassion into coordinated, sustainable action.
Whether you're managing a colony or planning municipal policies, this episode will inspire you to think bigger—and upstream—about community cat care.
Press Play Now For:
The difference between treating cat population symptoms vs. root causes
Key findings from five countries and how cultural context shapes cat welfare
How to use a "community cat needs assessment" to create localized strategies
Insights on why Australia's media portrayal of cats matters
What makes Portugal a model for progress—and why Cyprus needs proof-of-concept projects
Why long-term thinking is essential for sustainable TNR efforts
How Singapore is innovating spay/neuter solutions at scale
The power of inclusive frameworks that serve both rescuers and policymakers
Resources & Links:
International Cat Care's Website
ICAM Conference – Cat Management in the Urban City State of Singapore
Previous episode with Harry Eckman: Episode 605 – Managing Cat Populations: A Global Perspective
Harry Eckman on LinkedIn
Harry's Published Research on Cat & Dog Welfare in Portugal

"It's not what we think they need—it's about what they actually need. And sometimes, that's just food and space to be left alone."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and the Underfoot Podcast.
In this inspiring episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes longtime animal welfare advocate Carrie Weber to discuss her three-decade journey championing the needs of cats and how one tiny idea could solve a massive problem.
Carrie's passion for animals stems from a childhood filled with rescues—both human and animal—guided by her mother's compassionate example. Her career has included roles in adoption, temperament testing, medical assistance, TNR, and hospice care, as well as leadership positions in multiple nonprofits. But it's her work with PennyFix, a nonprofit striving to solve pet overpopulation through a groundbreaking one-penny-per-can model, that's capturing attention.
Carrie discusses how her views on animal needs have evolved, emphasizing the importance of understanding what animals actually need—not what humans wish for them. She also opens up about her time at The Best Little Cat House in Pennsylvania, the nation's oldest cat hospice, and her hands-on experience with fostering, board service, and the vital (if often overlooked) role of volunteers.
The episode dives deep into how PennyFix awards spay/neuter grants, their efforts to partner with pet food manufacturers, and the challenges of rising vet costs and a shrinking workforce. Carrie also shares smart fundraising strategies—from posters in unexpected places to donor-advised funds—and introduces PennyFix's new "Penny a Day" campaign, showing how small donations can make a massive impact.
Press Play Now For:
Why a single penny could change the future of animal overpopulation
How Carrie's policing career shaped her advocacy for the voiceless
Surprising truths about spay/neuter access across the U.S.
Fundraising tips you've likely never heard before
A behind-the-scenes look at The Best Little Cat House
Resources:
Visit: www.pennyfix.org to apply for grants, donate, or join the Penny a Day campaign (http://www.pennyfix.org/)
Learn about The Best Little Cat House in Pennsylvania (http://www.thebestlittlecathouseinpa.com/)
Check out PennyFix on Facebook for updates (https://www.facebook.com/PennyFix2017)
Listen to a previous episode about PennyFix (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/episode-386-mikaela-fleisher/)
Sponsor Links:
Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies645)
Underfoot Podcast (https://communitycatcentral.com/underfoot-podcast)
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.