The Hissing Feline

Kittens, kittens everywhere: What to consider when adopting a kitten and how to prepare your house (and yourself and family) to bring a kitten into your home.

We would enjoy hearing from you. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590759/fan_mail/new] Just about everywhere we look this time of year there are baby animals. My wife and I have seen baby groundhogs, goslings, calves, and, of course, kittens.  Kitten season lasts from spring to late fall, but now is the peak time of the year for their arrival. It’s also when shelters take in large numbers of the babies, along with mother cats.  With me on the podcast today to visit about kittens, health, and adopting them is Carol Griglione, executive director of the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines, IA. Carol discusses a number of important aspects of kitten adoption, including the biggest challenges of bringing a little feline into the home. She also talks about whether adopters have specific criteria for what they want in a kitten. In addition, she discusses what to look for regarding the health of a kitten before adopting it and common signs that might indicate there is a health issue with the animal. Carol also talks about how adopters can prepare their home for a kitten.

Vacation time and pet sitting: Revisiting an earlier episode of The Hissing Feline with pet sitter Crystal Jolly

We would enjoy hearing from you. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590759/fan_mail/new] This episode of The Hissing Feline revisits an earlier show on which I interviewed Crystal Jolly, a pet sitter with 15 years of full time experience and 25 years part time work in the field. Topics include how Crystal became interested in pet sitting, differences between dogs and cats for sitters, and the personalities of different types of cats.  In the second segment, Crystal discusses deciding whether to employ a pet sitter or boarding an animal when an owner will be away. She also talks about what a person should consider when selecting a sitter for their pet. From the standpoint of pet parents, Crystal talks about how best to prepare for a pet sitter, such as what should be included in the instructions for a sitter. She also discusses what a sitter can do during the time they are sitting, such as providing photos of the pet through daily text or emails.

Helping communities manage community cats: The work of Community Cats Central

We would enjoy hearing from you. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590759/fan_mail/new] In the US, there are millions of un-homed cats, often referred to as community cats. What is a community cat? How do people care for them? How can people become involved with those cats? Those are just a few of the questions this episode of The Hissing Feline podcast will address. This episode features an interview with Stacy LeBaron, founder of Community Cats Central in Vermont. The organization offers a wealth of online information, training, a podcast, and other ways to help deal with community cats.  In this episode, Stacy talks about how and why the organization was started and its outreach. She also notes the importance of veterinarians to the efforts of Community Cats Central and communities across the country. One section of the organization's website features The Community Cat Pyramid, which delineates the four aspects of decreasing community cat population. For more information, visit the organization's website at https://communitycatscentral.com

Cats as therapy animals? Research findings about the possibilities

We would enjoy hearing from you. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590759/fan_mail/new] You are probably familiar with therapy dogs that are specially trained to give comfort and emotional help to people in medical settings, schools, and care facilities. But did you know that cats might also offer the same benefits? My guest on this episode of The Hissing Feline is Dr. Patricia Pendry, professor of Human Development in the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences at Washington State University. Her research examines human-animal interaction, including a study about cats as therapy animals. On today's show, Dr. Pendry talks about a research study she co-authored that focused on cat traits that might help with having cats in therapy situations. She also discusses what is next in research about cat therapy.

The cat buddy system: How to tell if cats are bonded buddies and why it is important to keep them together

We would enjoy hearing from you. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2590759/fan_mail/new] Do you remember meeting someone with whom you immediately clicked? Maybe the person was a classmate or a work colleague. You knew the friendship would last for years.   Those types of connections are not just for humans. Animals also develop similar relationships. They are referred to as bonded buddies. My guest today to talk about that topic is Carol Griglione, executive director of the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines, IA. During this show, Carol defines the concept of bonded buddies and how to recognize those connections between cats. She talks about reasons why cats become bonded and the benefits of those relationships to the animals. Carol also notes the importance of keeping bonded pairs together when adopting cats. Carol says cats can bond if they are from the same litter, but also when they are from different backgrounds. Also, she says they can bond at any age–from kittens to older cats. Additionally, Carol notes that cats will stay bonded for life. https://arl-iowa.org