The Shelter Cats Podcast

It’s the Season 4 finale, and Dan "The Cat Man" and Michelle "The Meow Maven" are bringing you a jam-packed episode to close out an incredible season!

In this episode, we share an important update on Michelle’s breast cancer journey, issue our first-ever official show “clarification,” and dive into YOUR stories. We asked you on social media: Who was the first cat you ever adopted? and you did not disappoint. ...

Amy Dudley, community manager from Weruva, joins the show to discuss how Weruva is making an impact on the quality of cat food!

Amy has been involved in the pet industry in some way or another since 2003 and she recently became Certified as a Pet Nutrition Coach. Perched in Queens, NY, she has two small rescue dogs and one senior cat, and volunteers with rescues whenever she can. Amy has an unhealthy obsession with Taco Bell and hot...

What happens to the cats that aren’t looking for a lap to curl up in? In this episode, we sit down with Sheila Massey, the founder of Hard Hat Cats®.

After a black kitten named Sadie changed her life in 2008, Sheila began performing TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) in some of the most unique corners of New York City—from prisons to landmark mansions. She quickly realized that saving cats required more than just traps; it require...

What do you do when a cat climbs higher than a ladder—or a fire truck—can reach?

In this episode, we’re joined by Duane Hook, a professional tree climber and founder of Cat In A Tree Rescue. Since 2010, Duane has been combining expert arborist techniques with a deep love for animals to bring stranded cats back to solid ground.

Duane walks us through the high-pressure world of canopy rescues, from managing "indoor-on...

Hannah Shaw is an award-winning kitten rescuer, humane educator, and New York Times bestselling author who has dedicated her life to innovating kitten care and protecting the most vulnerable felines.

Through her project, Kitten Lady, she provides educational media, training resources, and instructional workshops that help individuals and animal shelters save the lives of kittens—all in a fun and engaging format. With...

In our 75th episode, we check in with Michelle to see how she is faring on her breast cancer journey, and we also read your responses that we posed on our social media to the question:

Why do we love cats?

Follow Michelle The Meow Maven on her personal TikTok for updates on her journey:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

http://bit.ly/42m1R8r⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We have an all-new website!

https://www.sheltercatspod.com⁠⁠

Visit our shop for Shelter Cats Podcast MERCH! Lea...

Mike Phillips is the president of Urban Cat League which he co-founded in 2003.

In 2010, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association named Mike recipient of its award, “BEST FRIEND TO FERAL CATS.”

In 2014, he was recruited to be the founding Senior Supervisor of the ASPCA’s Neonatal Kitten Nursery after having formerly served as the Vet Tech Supervisor of their NYC Adoption Center and having worked on the A&rs...

We finally get to interview a veterinarian!

Dr. Mary Manspeaker, DVM, MS is a small animal veterinarian with experience in both shelter and general medicine.

A 2002 graduate, she earned her doctorate at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She also earned a master’s degree in veterinary forensic science and a graduate certificate in shelter medicine through the University of Florida.

She has practiced in...

Meet the CEO of Cat Amazing and Brook Fountains!

Andrey Grigoryev is the founder and CEO (Cat Entertainment Officer) of Cat Amazing, which specializes in enrichment for indoor cats and was featured on ABC's Shark Tank. More recently, Andrey is also the founder of Brook Fountains – the first all-glass cat water fountain – the most hygienic and functional hydration station for thirsty felines! Andr...

It's that time of year! Holiday time!

You know what that means.....our annual holiday episode!

Joining hosts Dan and Michelle for this year's holiday episode are Caitlin and Anne Marie Buonomo from Rescue Advocates of Long Island to discuss their 2025 Holiday Drive for Homeless Pets!

You can find Rescue Advocates of Long Island on the web, and donate at:

https://www.rescueadvocatesli.org/

Follow Michelle The Meow Maven on her personal T...

Season Four Premiere!

Jackson Galaxy is a two-time New York Times bestselling author and the host of My Cat from Hell, Animal Planet’s long-running hit show that helped millions of cat guardians solve feline behavior challenges and build stronger bonds with their pets.

Beyond television, Jackson is a leader in the animal welfare world, working directly with shelters and rescues to improve the lives of cats i...

Episode 69: Cat Treats: Holiday Safety Tips!

Host Dan The Cat Man, along with Producer Stephen Quandt of catbehaviorhelp.com, discuss important holiday dangers and tips to follow this holiday season to keep your cats safe.

You can keep your cat safe and enjoy the holidays with your feline family members!

You can reach ASPCA Poison Control at this link:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control

Get well soon, Michelle!

Follow M...

Shelters are overcrowded and need our help!

Adopt a cat (or dog) today!

In our latest Cat Treats episode, Stephen Quandt, our producer and cat behavior expert from catbehaviorhelp.com, rings the alarm! Animal Care Centers of NYC, where Stephen works part-time, is over capacity and needs more adoptions. Now is a great time to adopt! Many shelters are overcrowded and overstretched and need adoptions, please consider adopting today!

Di...

Just when you thought it was safe to turn off your favorite podcast platform, The Shelter Cats Podcast is back with a between-seasons series of mini "Cat Treats" episodes while Michelle the Meow Maven recovers.

In this "Cat Treat," Stephen describes what is called "The Fraidy Cat Club," a special method used at NYC ACC to help extremely scared, hissing cats learn to calm down.

It is possible!

If you would like a printout of The Frai...

Author David Grimm joins the panel!

David Grimm is an award-winning journalist and the Online News Editor of Science, the world’s leading journal of science news and scientific research. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Citizen Canine: Our Evolving Relationship with Cats and Dogs, which traces the journey of dogs and cats from wild animals to family members, both in our homes and in the eyes of the ...

Katy Hansen is the Director of Marketing & Communications for Animal Care Centers of NYC. 

Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) is dedicated to ending animal homelessness in New York City. They also provide compassionate refuge for animals in need. Founded in 1995, ACC serves homeless, lost, and neglected animals across all five boroughs—Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. As the city’s only o...

Terri Grow, pet sage and feline nutritionist, joins us to dispel the myths regarding the food we feed our cats and offer advice on what a healthy diet should be for our cats.

Terri has spent 30 years in the pet industry, working with veterinarians, trainers, behaviorists and pet parents, all while digging into the inner-workings of the pet food industry and voraciously studying pet nutrition, health and behavior.

As Terri puts it:

"N...

Jeff Carstens, feline advocate from Floral Park, New York, joins us to discuss his efforts to overturn feral cat feeding law #7 in Floral Park.

According to Jeff:

"The imposition of law #7 deprives homeless cats of a vital source of food, further endangering their already compromised lives. Communities around the world are adopting TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) programs as humane ways of controlling cat populations, instead of seeking ...

Another in our cat treats series, where we answer one question related to cat behavior!

We posed the following question on our social media and then asked Google Gemini AI:

Why do cats make biscuits?

Join us to find out what everyone and AI thought!

The Shelter Cats Podcast has joined the Chewy Shelter and Rescue Affiliate Program!

Chewy’s mission is to be the most trusted and convenient online destination for pet pa...