The Hissing Feline

We would enjoy hearing from you.Winter is just a few weeks away, although some parts of the US have already gotten snow. Proper care for community cats during cold winter months is crucial for their well-being. On this week’s episode of The Hissing Feline podcast, you’ll learn about constructing shelters and providing for other needs of those cats during frigid weather.Bryan Kortis is this week's guest on the podcast. He is co-founder and National Programs Director of Neighborhood Cats. The organization was started in New York in 1999.Topics covered on this episode:Neighborhood Cats history and missionGeneral cold weather issues related to community catsDifferent winter needs for cats in various regions of the USDo-it-yourself shelter components:SizeInsulating materialsPlacement considerations CamouflageMaintaining sheltersBest types of food for community catsWater protection from freezing during winterFor more information about Neighborhood Cats and to download instructions to build a community cat shelter, visit https://www.neighborhoodcats.org

We would enjoy hearing from you.Cats that live outside can be difficult to domesticate and are not the type of cat to have as an indoor pet. Those felines can still have meaningful lives by becoming working cats in settings where they feel right at home. This edition of The Hissing Feline focuses on Camp Purr at the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines, IA. You’ll learn about how feral or semi-feral cats fill valuable positions as mousers in barns and similar environments.My guest this week is Carol Griglione, executive director of the Animal Rescue League.Here are some of the things about working cat you will learn on the show:History of Camp PurrCats involved in the CampPurpose of the Camp programDifference between TNR cats and working catsBest types of cats to have jobsTypes of jobs and locations for working catsBenefits of working cats for humans and the catsRequirements of adopting two cats togetherSuccess storiesHow adopters should prepare for working catsWhat adopters can expect from working catsQualifications to adopt working catsResponsibilities of adoptersBe sure to tell your friends about The Hissing Feline and click the “follow” button on the platform where you listen to this podcast.For more information about the Animal Rescue League, visit the organization's website at https://arl-iowa.org.

We would enjoy hearing from you.Depending on health and other factors, in-door cats can live into their mid- to upper teens. Some cats exceed that average, even living into their twenties. Senior cats are special, but they can have many needs. This edition of The Hissing Feline podcast focuses on geriatric cats…their health, characteristics, and care. Joining me today on this edition of the show is Dr. Grant Jacobson, founder of The Hometown Veterinarian in Marshalltown, Iowa.Here are some topics discussed in the show:Age segments of cats and relation to human years, incluidng when a cat is considered a seniorModern cat longevityWhat makes a senior cat specialTypes of health problems with cat ageDifficulty jumping onto a bed, chair, or couchWhen to see a veterinarianResources recommended for owners of senior cats to learn moreFor more information about Dr. Jacobson and The Hometown Veterinarian in Marshalltown, IA, visit the clinic website at https://www.hometownveterinarian.com/

We would enjoy hearing from you.Are you a shelter worker or a part of the cat writing community? The annual conference of the Cat Writers’ Association is designed for you. This episode of The Hissing Feline gives you details about the event that takes place November 6 and 7 in the Dallas – Ft. Worth airport area. My guest on this episode is Dusty Rainbolt, a winning author of fiction and nonfiction books, a cat behavior consultant, and a blogger. She is a past president of the Cat Writer’s Association and is co-chair of the 2026 conference.What you will hear on this show:History, purpose, and goals of the Cat Writers' AssociationWho are the cat writers?2026 Conference theme: “Meow Y’all: Saddle Up for the Future of Pet Media"Overview of conference speakers, presentations, and topics Special events, including a screening of the CatVideoFestRegistration and cost informationFor more information about the conference, visit the Cat Writers' Association website at CatWriters.com.

We would enjoy hearing from you.This week's podcast focuses on feline retroviruses, particularly those conditions in kittens.Returning to the podcast is Dr. Emily Coleman. She is a veterinarian and the executive director of The National Kitten Coalition. This episode of the podcast features several topics, including the following:What constitutes a retrovirusTypes of retroviruses in kittens Cat owner knowledge and awareness of retroviruses in a kittenWhat is physically happening to a kitten with a retrovirusHow retroviruses are spreadPrognosis for kittens with a retrovirusEarly versus late detection implicationsWhat makes kittens susceptible to retrovirusesHow veterinarians test for retroviruses and treats themHow kitten owners and workers can reduce the incidence and spread of retrovirusesManagement of the virusesRecommended additional resources to learn more about kitten retroviruses Learn more about The National Kitten Coalition at kittencoalition.org.

We would enjoy hearing from you.Taking your cat to the veterinarian can be a challenge. Putting your four-footed child into its carrier is just the start. Then, there is the battle of giving your cat a pill if the vet prescribes medication. “There must be a better way to deal with those situations,” you tell yourself.Yes, there is! You’ll hear about solutions to those problems on this episode of The Hissing Feline podcast.Joining me on this podcast is Dr. Elizabeth Chapman, owner and medical director of Just Cats Clinic in Reston, VA. Vet visit tips you will learn about on this show:The vet visit starts long before the appointmentA better veterinary visit starts by changing what the carrier, car, handling, and even medications mean to the cat at home.Carrier training: Stop hiding the carrier. The carrier should be furniture, not an alarm bell.Choosing a good carrier.Practice when you aren't going anywhere.Introduce "medication foods" before you need them. Don't let the first Pill Pocket mean "there's a pill in this."Pre-visit medications.What to do the morning of the appointment.Dealing with the car ride.Tell your vet is your cat is terrified.The bigger message: Stress is cumulative.Takeaways: Three things owners can start doing today:Learn more about Just Cats Clinic in Reston, VA, at justcatsclinic.com.

We would enjoy hearing from you.Cats offer a lot of enjoyment to our lives. Watching Fluffy play with a toy mouse or scamper across the floor to catch a ball is as entertaining for us as it is for the cat. This edition of The Hissing Feline focuses on the ways cats benefit humans. My guest for this episode is Dr. Erica Monaco, owner and medical director of Highlands Animal Care in Henderson, NV. Show highlights:Different perspectives of cat vs. dog interactionCat-human bondingHow cats demonstrate connections with their humansMental health benefits of having a catCats and human mood improvementPhysical benefits of having catsPositives of cats for seniorsPractical benefits of catsFor more information about Highlands Animal Care, visit their website at pawshealthpartners.com.

We would enjoy hearing from you.Do you talk to your cat? Did you know that your cat also communicates with you? On this episode of The Hissing Feline podcast, you’ll learn about how cats use vocalizations and body language to express themselves to humans and other cats. My guest is Dr. Sarah Bruggeman, Senior Associate Veterinarian at Billings Animal Family Hospital in Billings, MT, and a member of the Feline Veterinary Association. Dr. Bruggeman discusses topics, including those listed below, about feline communication:Vocal communicationMother cat to kittensDifferent reasons cats purr, including physical benefits for the catHissingYowlingBody languageEar positionEyes, such as blinking and staringPostureTail location and shapeOther communication expressionsKneadingRubbingFor more information about the Billings Animal Family Hospital, visit their website at www.billingsanimalfamilyhospital.com.

We would enjoy hearing from you.Have you wondered what a cat feels when its paws touch cool grass or a crunchy leaf? When it hears the buzz of an insect…or comes face-to-face with a human? There’s a new book that lets you sense and think like a cat. Kat McCarthy is my guest on this episode of The Hissing Feline. She is an author and a member of the Cat Writers Association. Kat talks about her novel, “The Wild Side of the Wall: A Cat's Tale of Courage, Kinship, and Joy.”On this episode, Kat discusses the background of her book, what inspired the novel, what she hopes readers take away from it, and how listeners can obtain a copy of her book.Her goal for writing the bookInitial thoughts before starting the book projectInspiration for writing the bookHow research about cats informed the book, including examples of findings from researchWhat Kat learned from writing the bookWhat people can learn about cats from reading the novelHow interested listeners can get a sample of the bookHow people can obtain the full bookGet more information about Kat's novel by visiting her website at thecatstale.com/wild-kin-press/the-wild-side-of-the-wall.

We would enjoy hearing from you.Chronic Kidney Disease is one of the most common health issues cat owners face, especially in older cats. What symptoms might cat parents observe that point to kidney disease? How is the disease diagnosed? What treatment methods are available? Dr. Jessica Quimby joins me on this episode of The Hissing Feline to talk about feline chronic kidney disease. She is Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. Dr. Quimby is a board certified internal medicine specialist.During the show, Dr. Quimby discusses several aspects of feline chronic kidney disease (CKD):Explanation of Chronic Kidney DiseaseRisk factors and causes of kidney diseaseCats that are most susceptible to the disease Symptoms cat owners might observeEffects of feline kidney diseaseDiagnosis/screeningImportance of seeing a veterinarian early if an ailment is suspectedVeterinary treatment methods, including new methods and technologiesWhat cat owners can do at homeOngoing monitoring when a cat has CKDPrognosis of CKDEnd-stage CKDFind out more about the work of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine here.