The Community Cats Podcast

"No cat should be euthanized because it tests positive for a virus—period."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, Reduce Surrenders with Feline Behavior Support Certification Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.
Feline leukemia (FeLV) has long been one of the most misunderstood—and often feared—diagnoses in the cat world. In this eye-opening episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes feline leukemia advocate and expert Margaret Tompkins to break down the myths, realities, and latest advancements surrounding this complex virus.
Margaret shares her personal journey into the world of FeLV advocacy, sparked by a group of rescue kittens that changed her life. From there, she dives into the science behind feline leukemia, explaining how it differs from FIV, how it spreads, and why today's understanding of the disease is far more hopeful than it was just a few decades ago.
Listeners will gain clarity on key topics such as progressive vs. regressive infections, the importance of spay/neuter in disease prevention, and whether testing is always necessary—especially in TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs. Margaret also tackles one of the most emotional questions caregivers face: what to do when a cat tests positive, and why euthanasia should not be the default response.
The conversation also explores managing mixed households, vaccine advancements (including promising new mRNA technology), and how strong immune systems play a critical role in outcomes for FeLV-positive cats.
Whether you're a rescuer, foster, veterinarian, or cat lover, this episode offers practical guidance, science-backed insights, and a much-needed shift in perspective. Feline leukemia is no longer a guaranteed death sentence—and with education, compassion, and proactive care, these cats can live meaningful, happy lives.
Press Play Now For:
The critical difference between FeLV and FIV—and why it matters
How feline leukemia is actually transmitted (and common misconceptions)
Why spay/neuter is the most powerful tool for disease prevention
When testing is essential—and when it's not worth the cost
Understanding progressive vs. regressive FeLV infections
What to do if your vet suggests euthanasia after a positive test
How to safely manage mixed households with FeLV-positive cats
The latest breakthroughs in FeLV vaccines, including mRNA technology
Why many FeLV-positive cats can live long, healthy lives
Resources & Links
Community Cats Podcast YouTube Library (FeLV Playlist)
FIV/FeLV Positive Cats Facebook Group

"You can't possibly trap every cat. So we teach the community how to do it themselves — and give them the tools to fully sterilize entire colonies."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Feline Behavior Summit, and The Community Cat Clinic.
What happens when a community stops trapping two cats at a time — and starts thinking in entire neighborhoods?
In this episode, Stacy LeBaron sits down with Chelsea Winter, Community Cat Program Manager at Street Cat Hub in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to explore how targeted, whole-colony TNR is driving measurable impact — including a 30% drop in kitten intake at the local shelter.
Chelsea shares how her journey from bottle-feeding neonatal kittens led her to a deeper question: What's causing this constant flood of kittens? That curiosity turned into a strategic, data-driven approach to Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), focused on empowering community caretakers to trap entire colonies at once — not piecemeal.
With more than 50,000 cats sterilized in the organization's history and 6,000 cats fixed annually, Street Cat Hub combines municipal contracts, mapping technology, community education, and high-volume clinic capacity to create sustainable change. Instead of working strictly from a first-come, first-served waitlist, the team targets "hot pockets" identified through shelter intake data, DOA mapping, and caretaker requests — maximizing impact in concentrated areas.
Chelsea also shares practical insights on managing waitlists, engaging reluctant feeders, navigating mixed colonies, and building a culture where TNR becomes a shared community responsibility.
If you're looking for a scalable, collaborative model that reduces kitten intake and improves live outcomes, this episode delivers both inspiration and a tactical roadmap.
Press Play Now For:
How Street Cat Hub reached 50,000 sterilizations
Why whole-colony trapping is more effective than piecemeal TNR
The strategy behind 3-day mass trapping events
How mapping shelter intakes and DOAs guides targeted intervention
What to do when caretakers won't pull food
Managing an 800-colony waitlist without burning out
How municipal contracts support sustainable TNR programs
Why affordable spay/neuter for owned cats is essential
Proof that focused TNR reduces kitten intake by 30%
Resources & Links:
Street Cat Hub
Street Cat Hub on Facebook

"The goal is really to do the maximum good. Not bring in kittens who don't need to be there today, but make sure we have a plan for the future … and importantly that we have a plan to return and sterilize everyone…"
his episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Trapper's Tips & Tricks Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.
What if the key to saving more kittens isn't working harder — but working smarter?
In this powerful return to the show, Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw, humane educator and founder of Orphan Kitten Club, joins Stacy LeBaron to unpack the biggest shifts in kitten welfare over the past decade. Celebrating 10 years of impact, Hannah shares compelling national data showing a 35% drop in kitten non-live outcomes — and explains why foster programs, community education, and strategic data use are driving real change.
But the conversation doesn't stop there.
Hannah breaks down the "CASA" method — a practical, field-ready framework for deciding when to intervene (and when not to) if you find kittens outdoors. She dives deep into "Full Circle TNR," a strategic approach that turns every kitten intake into an opportunity to identify and sterilize entire colonies — addressing the source, not just the symptom.
You'll also hear insights from the 2025 Hill's State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, including surprising trends around foster participation, generational differences, fear of attachment, and misconceptions about cost. If your organization struggles with foster recruitment or retention, this episode is a must-listen.
As kitten season approaches, Hannah shares exactly how shelters can prepare now — from staffing and supply planning to smarter data tracking and community messaging.
This is a masterclass in kitten strategy, sustainability, and compassion.
Press Play Now For:
The 35% national decrease in kitten non-live outcomes — and what's driving it
Why 80% of pre-adoption age kittens come from outdoors
The CASA method for deciding when to intervene with outdoor kittens
How "Full Circle TNR" turns kitten intake into colony sterilization
Why foster participation is dropping — even as awareness rises
The real story behind foster affordability (and why messaging matters)
How to improve foster retention by improving access to care
The one data metric every shelter should track before kitten season
Strategic March planning tips to prepare for peak kitten volume
Resources & Links:
Orphan Kitten Club
Kitten Lady (Hannah Shaw)
Hill's State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report

"The board should govern, and the executive director should lead the day-to-day operations. When those lines blur, that's when things get messy."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Trapper's Tips & Tricks Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.
Strong missions save lives but strong governance sustains them.
In this essential episode of the Community Cats Podcast, Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Tim Crum, CEO and founder of Animal Shelter
Services, for a deep dive into nonprofit board governance. If you've ever wondered what a board of directors should be doing (versus what they often end up doing), this conversation is for you.
Tim breaks down the core purpose of a nonprofit board: governance, not operations. From fiduciary responsibility to strategic planning, he outlines the three legal duties every board member must understand—duty of loyalty, duty of care, and duty of obedience (think "LOCO" to remember them). He also shares real-world examples of common governance missteps, including conflicts of interest, related board members, executive directors serving as voting board members, and the risks of poorly documented board minutes.
For growing animal welfare organizations—especially those transitioning from all-volunteer to staffed operations—this episode offers practical guidance on when to hire an executive director, how to structure bylaws and policies, and why board composition matters. Tim also addresses board giving requirements, succession planning, and how to recruit skilled board members by first getting your "house in order."
Whether you're a founder wearing too many hats, a seasoned board member, or stepping into governance for the first time, this episode provides clear, actionable insights to help your organization grow responsibly, ethically, and sustainably.
Good governance isn't just paperwork…it's the foundation for saving more lives.
Press Play Now For:
The three legal duties of nonprofit board members—and why most people don't know they have them
What Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance actually protects
Real-life examples of governance "missteps" and how to avoid them
Why accurate board minutes are your organization's legal safety net
The difference between bylaws, policies, and standard operating procedures
When (and how) to hire an executive director
Why related board members can create major conflicts of interest
The ideal board size for animal welfare organizations
Whether board members should have a financial giving requirement
Practical strategies for recruiting strong, skilled board members
Resources & Links:
An Animal Shelter's Guide to Board Governance by Tim Crum Available at https://animalshelterguide.com
Animal Shelter Services
Tim's Previous Podcast Appearance: Community Cats Podcast Episode 611

"Small to mid-size organizations can accomplish a tremendous amount of impact when they work together, shoulder to shoulder in joyful service."
This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund, The Animal Rights Foundation, The Trapper's Tips & Tricks Certification Workshop, and The Community Cat Clinic.
In this episode of the Community Cats Podcast, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Dr. Cheryl McCormick, CEO of the Athens Area Humane Society, for an energetic and inspiring conversation on scaling high-impact, humane strategies for managing community cats. Drawing on her rich background in wildlife ecology and nonprofit leadership, Cheryl shares how her visit to Operation Catnip in Florida sparked a major shift in her organization's approach—resulting in a game-changing, high-volume spay/neuter initiative dubbed "Snip & Tip."
Listeners will hear how Cheryl and her team implemented this model in Georgia, overcoming scorching summer heat, logistical hurdles, and community challenges to sterilize 166 cats in just two days. She outlines the lean-staff, volunteer-driven model powered by professional trappers, strategic scheduling, and strong partnerships with funders. The episode is filled with practical strategies, insights into vet school partnerships, and tips for leveraging data and geography to reduce feline overpopulation—especially in underserved rural areas.
If you're looking for ways to improve cat welfare, build collaborative rescue models, or create sustainable TNR programs, this episode is a masterclass in innovation and impact at scale.
Press Play Now For:
How a visit to Operation Catnip inspired a major organizational pivot
Strategies for high-volume, low-cost sterilization events in rural areas
Why Cheryl believes cat care is a powerful public health initiative
Building sustainable vet pipelines through early student engagement
The magic of "stone soup" funding models for humane programs
Tips on starting community-based "cat action teams" and local satellite support
Resources & Links:
Athens Area Humane Society
Operation Catnip
RedRover
Shelter Animals Count
Fix Georgia Pets
BISSELL Pet Foundation - Fix the Future
Georgia Pet Foundation