19 Cats and Counting Episode 142 Saving Smoky: How One Cat Sparked a Movement to Cure FIP

What do you do when there are so many community cats outside, and they keep having more and more kittens? If you’re Jan Leonard, you don’t wait for someone to fix the problem: you create your own solution. Backwoods TNR is a non-profit organization in Clinton, Louisiana, was created by Jan when she saw that no one else was helping these cats. Their mission is to reduce overpopulation, promote the welfare of and improve the lives of free-roaming feral, stray, homeless, and abandoned cats and the people who care for them. Listen in as Rita and Linda talk with Jan about her all-volunteer non-profit, providing TNR at no charge to her community. EPISODE NOTES: Trap, Neuter, Revolution: How One Woman’s Mission Transformed a Town

Do you believe in animal communicators? Linda was skeptical and Rita did not think it was possible, until we met Kara Udziela from Pets Eye View. Kara told us things she could not have known! So what's the point? What if we told you a good animal communicator can tell you about pain and illnesses your cat is hiding? What if you were accidentally doing something that hurt or bothered your cat? Would you want to know? These are just a few examples of what Kara helps us with, as well as energy. EPISODE NOTES: Animal Communicator Kara of Pet’s Eye View

FIP affects 1 - 2 percent of the cat population. Historically, 96% of cats with FIP did not survive. While it is not common for cats to develop FIP, all cats are at risk, even if they are kept indoors. Peter Cohen's beloved cat, Smoky was diagnosed with FIP at 17 weeks and was one of the first cats to be cured with an experimental trial. To honor Smoky and to save others, he founded Zen by Cat to work with countless other FIP warriors to fund research and help those in need. Join us as we find out more about FIP, where it stands today and what is still needed to permanently end FIP and its devastating effects on us and our cats. EPISODE NOTES: Saving Smoky: How One Cat Sparked a Movement to Cure FIP

So, you’ve decided to have more than one cat. Congratulations! You’ve officially leveled up in the game of feline companionship. While single-cat life has its perks, nothing beats the chaos, comedy, and cuddles of a multi-cat household. But let’s be honest—living with multiple cats isn’t all synchronized purring and Instagram-worthy group naps. It’s also territorial tiffs, litter box logistics, and a constant battle for the best sunbeam real estate. Join Linda and Rita as they talk about living with 12 and 18 cats respectively, and how they manage to keep peace among the felines. EPISODE NOTES: Multi-Cat Households

Spring is coming up fast, and with spring comes kitten season. With rescues and shelters already overpopulated, what is the answer? Preventing those kittens from being born in the first place. Join Linda and Rita as they talk with Brianna Lovell Myers, Director of United Spay Alliance and their Fix By Five initiative. Find out how United Spay Alliance is helping to make spay/neuter more accessible and affordable by training veterinarians on the latest and most efficient cost-saving techniques. As quoted on their website: "Spaying or neutering a cat or dog is one of the most important actions any of us can take to prevent animal suffering, cruelty, and neglect. United Spay Alliance strives to make affordable, accessible, and timely spay/neuter services available nationwide. We do this by working with a national network of state and local spay/neuter referral organizations, by carrying out research, education, and public outreach initiatives, and by advocating for strong public policy on spay/neuter." EPISODE NOTES: Spay/Neuter Saves Lives

There’s no doubt that raw food for our cats and dogs has arguably been the number one choice, touted by veterinarians and pet experts alike. Closer to what cats and dogs would eat in nature, the benefits of feeding raw range from improved appetite, weight management, and healthier skin and coats. However, our love of the raw diet has now been tarnished. H5N1, aka Bird Flu, has been found in numerous raw meals, causing illness and even death in a few cases. The FDA is demanding better control over the manufacture of raw pet foods, while the AVMA says “Feline susceptibility to H5N1 is a cause for vigilance.” Steve Dale is here to help us understand what is happening in the pet food industry: is raw food still a good choice for our cats, or do we go back to traditional cooked meals for our cats? Let’s find out… EPISODE NOTES: Feeding Fears: Bird Flu and the Raw Diet Debate

Have you ever considered doing TNR (Trap Neuter Return) or maybe fostering some cats while they wait for their furr-ever homes? There are many well-known people in the world of TNR and fostering, like Sterling Davis the Trap King and Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw. They commit their days to these tasks, and we are thankful for them. But what if you want to help, but you can't commit to helping full time? Or you don’t have resources? Rita and Linda are joined by Rachel Comte, who decided to help when and where she can. She's here with Rita and Linda to discuss how she is helping by doing some part time TNR and fostering and making a big impact in her neighborhood. EPISODE NOTES: Rachel Comte - TNR and Fostering

From the minute we bring a tiny kitten into our homes, we know our days with them are numbered. Their lives are so much shorter than ours and someday, we will all face that moment of decision: should I keep treating my sick cat, or should I let him go? Is he happy or is he suffering? If kitty is very sick and we know he’s at end of life, do we let nature take its course at home or do we help with euthanasia? How do we know when it's time to help? We are so thankful Dr. Jeff Feinman is back to talk to us about this difficult decision and what we can do now, to help our cats live as long as possible and to be aware of the changes we may not notice. EPISODE NOTES: Dr. Jeff Feinman - End of Life Decisions

They say cats have 9 lives, but what if we could give them 10? Many areas of the country struggle with an overabundance of community cats, causing issues for the residents. In 2013, the live release rate for cats in shelters in Cincinnati, Ohio was only 37%. That means, a whopping 63% of cats didn’t survive the shelter system. That one statistic was the cat-alyst for creating the Give Them Ten movement. We are honored to have Deborah Cribbs, the founder and leader of the Give Them Ten movement, as our guest. Listen in to find out how they turned that live release rate of 37% in 2013 to the current live release rate of 96%! WOW that’s a staggering improvement! If you LOVE cats and want to improve the lives and health of cats, this episode is for you. If you HATE cats and want to reduce the population of those community cats in your neighborhood ... this episode is for you! Together, we can be the solution. EPISODE NOTES: Give Them Ten!

Most often, when we get a new kitten, they have been weaned from their momma and are ready for their new home. But what if you find a kitten who is abandoned and not yet old enough to be weaned? What do they need? How often should they be fed? When do we visit the vet? Dr. Kelly Cairns is back to help us unpack this situation so we can be prepared to give foundling kittens their best possible start in life. Dr. Kelly is VP of medical excellence and education for over 400 hospitals in the Thrive Pet Healthcare family and is a regular guest on 19 Cats and Counting. EPISODE NOTES: Dr. Kelly Cairns - Found Kittens