"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