"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

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.