Million Cat Challenge: Flattening the Kitten Curve While Spay/Neuter is on Hold

Dr. Julie Levy, Aimee St. Arnaud, Hannah Shaw (The Kitten Lady) and Marla BrowneApril 15, 2020

Join a panel discussion to hear ideas on what you can do now to flatten the kitty curve while spay/neuter is on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Megestrol Acetate FAQ

By Mike Greenberg, DVM, Director of Outreach Programs, Maddie's Fund^®April 10, 2020

In 2014, I had the honor of helping start a high-quality-high-volume spay-neuter clinic in Nashville and serve as medical director. I don't know how many thousands of dogs and cats I spayed and neutered during my tenure there, but it was enough that my hands still remember how when I'm fortunate enough to go back for relief shifts. The last relief shift I worked was March 17th, 2020. My beloved clinic had to temporarily close on March 18th due to COVID-19. Like many similar clinics, the dedicated staff there has been asking, "What can we do?"

Million Cat Challenge: Create a Road Map for Your Cats

Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVM, Co-founder, Million Cat Challenge and Director, Koret Shelter Medicine Program at UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineMarch 11, 2020

Life is a highway and the cats are taking over the fast lane. Isn't it time we created a road map?

FeLV: Current Research and Rehoming Practices

Julie Levy, Monica Frenden and Natascha HammanApril 2020

Learn from shelter medicine expert, Dr. Levy and leading cat advocates Monica Frenden and Natascha Hamman, about the most current research and best practices for rehoming FeLV cats.

How Can I Keep Cats Out of My Yard?

August 2019

Seeing the outdoors can be entertaining and engaging for an indoor cat, or it may cause stress. If you only have one indoor cat, observe carefully to see if unfamiliar outdoor cats are visible and causing them stress.

Keynote: Rethinking the Shelter's Role in Community Cat Management

Kate Hurley, Director, UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, Million Cat Challenge May 2019

This presentation will provide the "why" and "how" of successful strategies for community cat management.

Cat Medical Care on a Shoestring Budget

Monica Frenden, Maddie's^® Director of Feline Lifesaving, American Pets Alive! and Dr. Alexis Bardzinski, Medical Director, Austin Pets Alive!March 2019

In this session, you will have the chance to learn how to save cats with medical conditions on a tight budget from national leading cat experts.

Saving All the Cats: Live Outcome Options for All Healthy, Outdoor Cats

Adrienne Clark, Monica Frenden, Christi Metropole and Wendy BeaupreMarch 2019

Learn how to start a barn program from scratch, including selecting cats, finding quality homes, relocation procedures, and safe handling and sheltering practices.

Million Cat Challenge: Cats, Birds, and Animal Shelters: Seeking Common Ground

Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVM January 23, 2019

In this presentation, Dr. Kate Hurley, Director of the U.C. Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, will explore the real-life implications of various policies proposed to balance the needs of cats and birds.

Maddie Talk: Cat Town, Oakland CA

January 17, 2019

Million Cat Challenge: 'Care To' Programs at the Winnipeg Humane Society

Val PoultonThursday, November 1, 2018

Learn how the Care to Adopt (for strays) and Care to Rehome (for owned cats) Programs help get cats into new homes without a shelter stay, and include low cost spay/neuter and vaccinations to those adopters.

Million Cat Challenge: Albuquerque Case Studies Going Big With Community Cat Programs

Desiree Triste-AragonThursday, October 25, 2018

Learn how the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department partnered with Petsmart Charities and Best Friends Animal Society to drastically reduce euthanasia and intake of cats and kittens coming into the shelter. Learn more about how the program works and how you can replicate it in your community.

Million Cat Challenge: Keeping Cats out of Shelters

Monica FrendenThursday, October 4, 2018

Learn about how the PASS (Positive Alternatives to Shelter Surrender) diversion program keeps cats from ever entering shelters

Million Cat Challenge: Managed Intake and Restructuring the Budget

Mandy EvansThursday, September 27, 2018

In this Webcast, Mandy Evans will cover two topics: A panleukopenia outbreak, and how managed intake, housing changes and partnering with the community made all the difference.

Saving Cats: What Comes After a Million?

Dr. Kate Hurley and Dr. Julie LevyThursday, September 13, 2018

The intrepid co-founders of the Million Cat Challenge (MCC) dared to imagine reaching a tipping point for how cats are cared for in our shelters and communities, and reached their goal of saving 1 million cats a full year early.

The Million Cat Challenge isn't done yet!

Saving All The Bottle Baby Kittens: From Nursery To Foster Presentation

Casandra MensingMarch 2018

Austin Pets Alive! (APA) has saved over 7,500 neonatal kittens since 2009. In this two-part presentation, you'll learn how to start and build a bottle baby nursery, plus how to create a foster network for neonates. This is part one: How to start and build a bottle baby nursery

Saving All The Bottle Baby Kittens: From Nursery To Foster Presentation - Part 2

Gloria HudsonMarch 2018

Austin Pets Alive! (APA) has saved over 7,500 neonatal kittens since 2009. In this is a two-part presentation, you'll learn how to start and build a bottle baby nursery, plus how to create a foster network for neonates. This is part two: How to create a foster network for neonates.

Ever wondered about barn cats and other working programs? This webcast is for you!

January 9, 2018

Ever thought of starting a working cat program at your animal organization but are not sure where to start? You're not alone! If you didn’t make the live Working Cat Program webcast on December 14, it’s now available free on-demand. Watch at your convenience to learn the steps needed to implement a sustainable lifesaving program…

Working Cat Programs

Monica FrendenDecember 14, 2017

Why start a Working Cat Program? Because these cats have no other live outcome, and socialization of adult ferals is extremely difficult and resource intensive. The good news is working cat programs are inexpensive and easy to start, so you can begin saving more lives immediately!

Study: Can a human drug help community cats experience less stress during TNR?

December 12, 2017

Can you imagine how terrifying it must feel for cats who are trapped for sterilization and returned to their outdoor habitat, especially when the cat is not socialized to humans? And you probably don’t need to imagine how much stress pet cats can experience when taken to the veterinarian — if you’ve ever owned a…

Return-to-Field from an Animal Control Officer's Perspective

Tim ReederAugust 2017

Resources to save shelter cats’ lives

August 8, 2017

The Million Cat Challenge is a partnership of Maddie’s Fund®, the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, and the ASPCA®, formed to help shelters save the lives of 1 million more cats. It is based on five key initiatives which bring forward those approaches that have…

#FeelGoodFriday: Injured, elderly street cat becomes foster dad for rescue kittens

July 14, 2017

What happens when an ancient, battle-scarred community cat who can’t stand being handled but is injured and sick comes to live in a rescue group foster home? He starts fostering kittens! Here’s a very moving video of Mason meeting “his” first litter of kittens. He may not be too fond of the human race, but…

How Your Animal Shelter Can Save Cats by Helping People

Rachel D. K. FinneyJanuary 2017

innovative programs that allowed each cat in need of help to receive the exact services that individual cat -- and that cat's human caretakers!

How one Aha! Moment while driving led to a lifesaving idea for community cats

December 14, 2016

It was an ordinary day as Stacy LeBaron was driving down the road, listening to one of her favorite podcasts about business and financials. Then it struck her – an Aha! Moment, out of nowhere. Her realization? There should be a podcast for community cats. LeBaron had been looking for a way to enhance the…

Two Webcasts: Creating Public Policy on Community Cats & Putting Theory into Action

Dr. Sara Pizano and Cameron MooreNovember 2016

Are you an elected official of a community struggling with too many cats in your animal control system? This webcast, designed for elected officials, will help you learn how other municipalities have managed these issues successfully on the public policy and public relations levels.

Reducing Cat Intake

Jordan CraigFebruary 2017

Learn how the Austin Animal Center (AAC) saves more than 95% of cats.

Let's Keep Community Cats in the Community Where They Belong

Alice Burton and Scott GiacoppoJanuary 2017

This workshop will help you reduce your intake and euthanasia numbers while helping you focus on increasing your adoption and live release rate.

Got community cats? Best Friends has a book for you – free!

October 18, 2016

Community cats: If you’ve got them, Best Friends wants to help. They’ve written a book covering everything from the ABCs to the rocket science of community cat management, and they’re giving it away as a free download! Topics covered include: The history of the TNR movement The importance of leadership Who in your community is…

Shelter medicine course opens its webinars to all, #ThanksToMaddie!

February 3, 2016

The University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine’s Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Course invites all shelter veterinarians, shelter professionals, vet students, and community members to join them for their series of free webinars this semester: This lecture series not only discusses concepts key to sheltering but also helps veterinary students, shelter professionals and volunteers, and members…

How to tell if a shelter cat is stressed, fearful or feral

December 1, 2015

The best way to help any cat entering an animal shelter will depend on the cat. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for many shelter workers to tell the difference between a cat who is a social animal, used to humans, but severely stressed out or afraid, and a truly feral cat. Sara L. Bennett, DVM,…

Getting It Done: How to Bust Myths about Community Cats with Science

Peter WolfOctober 2015

How can cat advocates cut through the misleading press releases and propaganda to combat proposed laws that seek to end lifesaving neuter-return programs and other cat-friendly efforts? With science, data and facts!

Return to Field: Animal Shelters and a New Approach to Healthy Unowned Cats

Scott TrebatoskiApril 2015

What can animal shelters do about healthy unowned cats in their community? One new concept increasingly gaining ground is that, as long as the cats are thriving, the most compassionate, lifesaving approach is to sterilize them, vaccinate them, ear-tip them and return them where they were found.

Managed Admission: Giving Shelter Cats Their Best Chance at a Great Outcome

Barbara Carr and Kathie JohnsonApril 2015

Not every cat who is presented to a shelter for relinquishment is in need of immediate admission. In many cases, simply knowing that help is available and the shelter can take the cat in the near future is enough to allow the community member to opt for an appointment down the road, when his or her cat can be better cared-for by the shelter. In some cases, supportive management may buy the owner enough breathing room that the cat ends up being able to remain in the current home after all.

Revolution Relay: Passing the Baton to the Next Generation of Advocates

Becky RobinsonFebruary 2015

As Alley Cat Allies celebrates its 25th anniversary, Ms. Robinson reflects on the past quarter of a century. Where we were, what we have accomplished and what is yet to be achieved by the next generation! Come celebrate the rescued animals and advocacy accomplishments of the past while we also set our sights on the future.

Rescuing Cats from the Euthanasia List

Frances Flower, PhDFebruary 2015

Learn how to create a sustainable rescue program that relies solely on volunteers to assess cats on the euthanasia list and save the most lives it can that are out of other options for a live outcome. 

How to Create a Successful Barn Cat Program

Monica FrendenFebruary 2015

Often overlooked for rescue, feral and fractious cats can be saved through a progressive Barn Placement Program and given a new lease on life as working cats. Learn how to start a barn program from scratch.

Cat Adoptions 2.0 High Volume Cat Adoptions

Monica FrendenFebruary 2015

Too many cats, not enough adopters? Supersize your cat adoption program! In this Level 2 seminar, you'll learn how to manage a population of hundreds of cats in varying stages of your organization.

Introducing the Million Cat Challenge - Webcast

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVMJanuary 2015

Every cat counts. That's the premise of the Million Cat Challenge, a joint campaign of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program and the Maddie's® Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida.

Community Solutions for Community Cats, Part 1

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and Shaye Olmstead October 2013

Operation Catnip's proactive "litter prevention" program performs 3,000 trap-neuter-return (TNR) surgeries each year for community cats using monthly high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics capable of sterilizing more than 200 cats in a single day. This program was instrumental in reducing cat euthanasia at the local shelter from 81% to 42% over 13 years. In 2012, the program was expanded to include a reactive "shelter-neuter-return" program targeting the cats most at risk of immediate euthanasia: adult impounded strays. By neutering and returning these shelter cats to their neighborhoods, cat euthanasia plummeted to 13% in 2012, making Alachua County the safest place to be a cat in Florida.

Community Solutions for Community Cats, Part 2

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM and Shaye Olmstead October 2013

Operation Catnip's proactive "litter prevention" program performs 3,000 trap-neuter-return (TNR) surgeries each year for community cats using monthly high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics capable of sterilizing more than 200 cats in a single day. This program was instrumental in reducing cat euthanasia at the local shelter from 81% to 42% over 13 years. In 2012, the program was expanded to include a reactive "shelter-neuter-return" program targeting the cats most at risk of immediate euthanasia: adult impounded strays. By neutering and returning these shelter cats to their neighborhoods, cat euthanasia plummeted to 13% in 2012, making Alachua County the safest place to be a cat in Florida.

Face-to-Face with Feral Freedom: Saving Community Cats

Rick DuCharmeOctober 2013

Feral Freedom is an innovative program that has decreased feline shelter euthanasia between 25% and 50% in every shelter in which it has been fully implemented. This talk, given by Rick DuCharme, Founder and Executive Director of First Coast No More Homeless Pets, presents an overview of the Feral Freedom program.

Shelter Based Feral Freedom

Joe ElmoreOctober 2013

Feral Freedom return-to-field programs are quickly becoming the gold standard for community cat management in progressive communities nationwide. In Charleston County, South Carolina, animal organizations have implemented the Feral Freedom strategy as a collaboration of local organizations and animal control agencies, affirmed by ordinances created to reinforce this strategy to save more lives and reduce intake.

Making the Case for a Paradigm Shift in Community Cat Management, Part Two

Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVM; Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Richard Avanzino; Jon Cicirelli; Holly SizemoreJuly 2013

In Part Two of Making the Case for a Paradigm Shift in Community Cat Management, Maddie's Fund^® will present some of the nation's leading experts on animal sheltering and community cats in a comprehensive Q&A panel discussion on the information in Dr. Hurley's webcast.

How to Start a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program in Your Community

Jesse OldhamJuly 2013

The presentation covers a basic overview of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, and explores how TNR programs might differ depending on who is implementing them, the resources available in a community and the desired program outcomes.

Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Target Spay/Neuter Efforts

Janet M. Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhDJuly 2013

Large numbers of kittens entering shelters continue to be a major problem for many shelters. Geographic information systems (GIS) technology can be used to identify geographic areas that repeatedly are a source of kittens.

Making the Case for a Paradigm Shift in Community Cat Management, Part One

Kate Hurley, DVM, MPVMJune 2013

Are common cat sheltering and animal control policies helping cats? Are they humane? Effective? Not according to Dr. Kate Hurley, Director of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. 

Shelter Crowd Control: Keeping Community Cats Out of Shelters Webcast

Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIMJanuary 2012

Do you want to stop the tragic deaths of shelter cats, and cut your shelter's cat intake dramatically and almost overnight? Want to practice high-volume, high-quality spay/neuter and disease management on cats? How about learning how to get your community - including municipal government - on board with trap-neuter-return programs? Want evidence that such programs can actually work to reduce the population of community cats, prevent the spread of disease, and save resources and money for local shelters?

How to Start a Feral Cat Program

Leslie Wilson2001

Everything you need to know from using the right kitten formula to recruiting volunteers, written by an animal lover with years of feral cat experience.