With The Cat Behavior Alliance, Rita Reimers And Linda Hall
Does your cat pee on the rug? Is your feline unwelcoming to your significant other? Are you out of patience because your cat wakes you up at 3am for food? Do you feel just plain confused about what your cat really needs and why he acts the way he does?
Let Certified Cat Behaviorists Linda Hall and Rita Reimers of The Cat Behavior Alliance come to your rescue! Rita is cat mom to 19 rescue cats, Linda to 11 rescue cats (and 1 rescue dog!). With over 40-years of combined experience as cat parents and cat-industry experts, Rita and Linda understand cats like no one else.
These modern-day cat ladies tell it like it is: What is it really like to live with cats! The good, the bad, the challenging, the funny, and the messy side of being a cat parent are all discussed. We welcome people in the cat wellness industry, cat rescuers, celebrities, and anyone else who has something to say about making life with cats even better. Nothing cat related is off limits!
If you’d like to schedule Linda and Rita for a private consultation, please visit CatBehaviorAlliance.com
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.
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.
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.
Pandora Syndrome can cause many health issues in our cats and comes from anxiety. Dr. Jeff Feinman is here to tell us more about Pandora Syndrome, what is it, how it affects our cats, and what we can do to help cats who have it. Join us to learn more about the issues it causes and how you can help your kitty to lessen their likelihood of suffering from this common ailment. Dr. Jeff Feinman holds degrees in veterinary medicine and molecular biology. He is also a holistic veterinarian.
Michael Herbert took one of his cats to the vet. After coming home, aggression immediately started between his cats. They always got along before, what happened? He was shocked to learn about Feline Non-Recognition Aggression, which happens when a cat’s scent has changed due to a vet visit, grooming, or boarding visit, or other such time when the cats lived apart. Why hadn't his veterinarian warned him about this possibility when one of his cats had to stay at the animal hospital for treatment?
Does this sound familiar? Your cat is doing something super adorable. You grab your camera and snap a picture, but the photo never does your feline friend justice. Then there's those black beauty kitties! You snap a quick pic of your sleek black panther and the photo looks like a lump with no face.
How do people get such great pictures of their cats? Your cat is just as beautiful (possibly more beautiful) than theirs! When Rita and Linda met Suzie Inverso, who photographs pets professionally at her studio, Crimson Cat Photography, they knew they wanted to talk to her! Listen in to hear more and pick up a few tips for your own cat cover-girl... or boy!
Earlier this year, we, and the world, suffered a tremendous loss in the very unexpected passing of our friend and former boss, Richard Simmons.
To say we were devastated would be an understatement. If it wasn’t for Richard, we never would have met. If it wasn’t for Richard, we wouldn’t have the comfort with media that we have. And lastly, if it wasn’t for Richard, Cat Behavior Alliance, the Carolina Cat Sanctuary, and 19 Cats and Counting would not exist .Please join us as we talk about how we each came to meet and work for Richard, and how fate helped us to become BFFs, business partners, cat behavior experts, and cat behavior trainers.
FIP. It’s a diagnosis every cat rescuer and cat parent dreads. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats caused by certain strains of a virus called the feline coronavirus. Once this disease was considered a death sentence because there was no cure. Then a cure was found, and people had to get it from places other than the vet, because the drug that cured FIP was really for something else. Using it for FIP was considered “off label” and was not approved to treat FIP in the United States, so people had to find creative ways to get it. (Listen to Episode107 – Peter Cohen and the FIP Warriors to hear more about that.
Oh, we love those Two Crazy Cat Ladies! They're back and they have something new to share.
Every wonder why some cats are affected by everything and even seems to be allergic to cat food? The ones who pee on the floor versus the ones who don’t? What is different about the cats that are laid back and the ones who are afraid of their own shadows, or who constantly get into mischief all the time?
There are certain medical conditions that seem inescapable as our cats age. Kidney disease is one of those conditions. Linda and Rita have both lost many cats to this dreaded disease that we cat parents feel helpless to avoid. But, is it indeed avoidable?
Dr. Kelly Cairns is joining us again and will tell us the signs to look for, what to do if your cat has kidney disease, and, most importantly, what we can do to be proactive. There are new treatments and preventatives on the horizon that you won’t want to miss! Join us now!
In an attempt to make feeding raw a little less confusing, Rita and Linda invited the CEO of Boss Brand Pet Foods, Basel Nassar, to discuss their raw food for cats. Not only is Boss Cat complete with the nutrients our kitties need, but it’s also been infused with probiotics for even more health benefits. Boss Cat is freeze dried, which makes it easy to serve as either a treat or a meal, and the cats all love it! In fact, one of the cats in our sanctuary, Subra, is a shameless beggar and won’t leave Linda alone until she’s given a taste of that good stuff! Listen in to hear why we love Boss Cat, and why we think you and your cats will love it, too!
There has been much in the press about pet foods lately, with many recalls and questions about just how safe commercial pets are. It feels like the big companies don’t care about what is actually in our pets’ food. But that’s all about to change. Spokesperson: Chad Wethal, Senior Global Marketing Manager, Pet & Lifestyle for Cargill's Animal Nutrition business, is here to talk about big changes happening in the petfood industry that will benefit our pets and help them live long and happy lives. Join us as we talk with Chad about Cargill, what they do in the petfood industry, and what changes they are driving to ensure our pets live a long, happy, healthy life. Cargill Cares.
How we LOVE our good friend, Arden Moore! If you haven’t caught her Podcast, Oh Behave! on Pet Life Radio, you’re really missing out! In addition to podcasts, and the a-meow-zing pet first aid and safety catches she teaches, Arden is really an expert on all things cat AND dog!
So when Linda's husband decided he wanted to add a dog to their 11-cat household, Rita suggested we reach out to Arden right away! Arden lives with both cats and dogs and has the magic down to creating a multi species household. She has a multiple dog AND multiple cat household, and everyone gets along PURRfectly! If you’re considering adding a dog to your cat household, or vice versa, this is the episode for you!
Rita and Linda work with many clients and see all kinds of cat behavior issues. Although it's rare, there are times where the anxiety in that cat is so extreme, they often wonder if a neurological consult might help. However, many clients hear "neurologist" and think it's going to be insanely expensive.
So, they invited Dr. Karen Kline, who specializes in neurological conditions, to know talk to chat about the various problems we might see, and how they are addressed. Dr. Kline took the fear out of the neurological consult and shared so much great information and education. We know you won't want to miss this one!
Dr. Andy Roark is a veterinarian who not only helps animals, he also helps to educate their humans and veterinarians, too! In addition to conducting training sessions and attending speaking engagements, he also hosts a podcast entitled "The Cone of Shame". Dr. Andy is also active on social media giving great tips and information.
Be warned! He does pull out the occasional Dad joke... if your dad was a veterinarian. Rita and Linda had a great time talking with Dr Roark and he even threw in one of his signature jokes at the end. Wait for it…
We all know dogs can be therapy animals, but did you know cats can as well?? We were surprised, too, until we met Mary Margaret Callahan. Pet Partners’ mission is to improve human health and well-being through the human-animal bond. Humans and animals share a deep, innate connection, and we believe that through the human-animal bond we can improve the physical, social, and emotional lives of more people and communities.
Listen as Mary Margaret tells us how YOUR CAT can become a therapy cat and bring joy to people who would otherwise not get to spend time with animals.
Shichic was founded by Paul Joly and his tuxedo cat, Mateo. Two cat lovers fed up with the horrors of open, smelly, plastic litter boxes ruining their homes & spoiling their paw-some relations with their feline companions! After Paul and Mateo moved to Paris after living in the French countryside, Mateo no longer went outside, so Paul had to buy a litter box. Paul was perplexed as to how to solve the age-old problem of stinky litter boxes, and where in the house could they be tolerated.
Do you have a diabetic cat, or one you suspect might have diabetes? It’s much more common that you might think. If fact, 3 times as many cats as dogs develop diabetes.
Cats are so skilled at hiding signs of illness that the early stages of the disease can sometimes be hard to spot. Signs include increased thirst, increased hunger, and excessive urination. It is estimated that 1 in 500 cats will become diabetic at some point in their lifetime. The major contributing factor for cats developing diabetes is obesity.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell when a cat’s issue is a medical one verses a behavioral issue. Is your cat peeing outside of the box because she has a UTI? Or is it due to anxiety over the cats that hang around outside. Is your cat attacking because he doesn’t feel well or is in pain, or is it because he is feeling insecure?
The awesome Dr. Rachel Geller is here to talk about Behavioral vs Medical issues, and how to tell the difference. Along with her is Daniel Fissel, an experienced and respected Vet Tech who will talk to use about medical issues that could be the catalyst for issues that later become behavioral. Vet Techs are our unsung heroes, yet they are often the first ones you talk to when explaining your cat’s issues. They work hand in hand with your vet to discover and treat those medical problems to help solve some of those behavioral challenges.
Dr. Kelly Cairns joins Rita and Linda to talk about cats and appetite. Some common questions we hear from cat parents, and we sometimes ask ourselves: Why is my cat hungry all the time? My cat seems hungry but refuses his food, why? Am I feeding my cat too much? Too litter? Is what I am feeding the best and right food for him? Dr. Kelly is here to talk about all that, what may cause a cat to not eat or to overeat, and when it’s time to take your cat to the vet to find out what’s going on.
Meet Jody Teiche, pet health expert and pet parent coach. Her unique holistic approach to pet issue ranging from nutrition to anxiety have helped calm both pets and pet parents alike. She is a Certified Pet Homeopathic Educator and her program, 3 Key Health Pillars Every Pet Parent Should Know (And Why They Lead to a Longer Life), is offered a couple of times a year.
Jody focuses on nutrition, anxiety, increasing energy and vitality and giving senior animals a more vibrantly alive life. Join Rita and Linda as they talk with Jody about helping our pets live long, happy, healthy lives.
How would you like to buy one toy for your cats that never needs replacing? That you can store away neatly on its own hanger. That you can buy multiple different toys to dangle on the end, PLUS you can add a long lead to make it even more fun for your cats?
Enter the Forever Stick at Repounce.com! Created by engineer and cat dad Anton Kreicbergs, this is the more durable and customizable cat toy on the market today. Anton was inspired by his own two cats, handsome Russian Blue brothers, Gorba and Tolstoy, Anton wanted to create a toy that was made to last and that would keep his cats interested. He also insisted upon using sustainable materials that are of the best quality. On top of all that, the handle of the toy is ergonomically designed for the comfort of we humans, too! Linda and Rita love Anton and the Forever Stick, and we know you will too!
Bryan Kortis was a Manhattan lawyer when he stumbled up some kittens who needed homes. After that experience, he then got involved with TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) and finding homes for animals on the street. Rescue became his passion, and he happy to be making changes happen.
Today, this once Manhattan attorney is living in Maui (talk about change!) and has been helping to be reunite and/or rehome cats who were displaced during the Maui wildfires. Linda and Rita found Bryan and his new calling in life fascinating and think what he is doing a-meow-zing things! We think you’ll love Bryan as much as we do!
Julie Bradford, Partner and Medical Director at Goodvets.com, is here to tell us about a new concept in vet care. Goodvets is an innovative network of animal hospitals that are each co-owned by the local vets who run them. In this structure, local vets get the autonomy they need to run their practices, yet they have the support of a team and the good name of Goodvets.com. Listen as Julie explains how this model works to benefit not only the veterinarians, but also benefits you and your pets, too!
We all love our pets, and we’d do anything for them. But what happens when we can’t, or aren’t there to make sure they are well cared for? Some of us plan for our cats should we pass unexpectedly. But what happens when we are sick, temporarily unable to care for our pets, or wind up having a lengthy hospital stay. A timely topic in view of Rita’s current bout with Covid, what would have happened to her cats had she been hospitalized? Or worse? As prepared as Rita thought she was, there is a big hole in her plans.
Dr. Kelly Cairns, VP of medical excellence for over 400 Thrive Pet Healthcare clinics, is back with Part Two of our Holiday Safety Tips for cats and dogs. With all the special foods, plants, presents, decoration, as well as people coming into your home, the holidays can be a dangerous time for our pets.
How do we keep them safe? Tune is as we talk with Dr. Kelly about everything from Christmas Trees and Menorah’s to how to safely wrap our holiday gifts, so our cats (and dogs) won’t get hurt. We’ll also talk about what to look for in cat toys, so we give our cats enjoyable yet safe presents this holiday season.
Your cat just chewed up one of your plants. Should you be worried? Is it poisonous? If she starts throwing up, should I take her to the vet? Before you panic, there is a place you can contact BEFORE you even head to the vet’s office with your pet: PetPoisonHelpline.com
Manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the people at Pet Poison Helpline can tell you if you should be concerned, if you can treat your cat (or dog) at home, or if you need to go to your veterinarian. They’ll even tell you exactly what to tell you vet should it be determined that your cat needs to be seen. Dr. Renee Schimd is here to tell us all about this amazing service. (855) 764-7661 is the number you need to tack up on your fridge, especially for the holiday season when your cats (and dogs) may well eat something they shouldn’t!
Stacy LeBaron has long been a champion of TNR (Trap Neuter Release) to help stop the growth of the feral cat population, affectionately referred to as Community Cats. But it’s not just ferals who are part of the community: people who let their cats wander outside, cats that have been cast out of their homes, and any cat, feral or domestic, that lives the majority of their lives outside can be considered part of the outside Community Cats.
Dr. Kelly Cairns, VP of medical excellence for over 400 Thrive Pet Healthcare clinics, shares her feline knowledge with us here each month. As the winter holiday season is upon us, Dr. Kelly is here to talk about holidays, cats, and the things we need to be careful with around our feline friends as we celebrate.
Can I share my Thanksgiving feast with my cats? What foods are okay for our cats, and which foods are dangerous? Will all the people coming and going from our home be upsetting to our cats? Join us and let's plan for the upcoming holidays, and how to make the season joyful and safe for all of our holiday guest, both human and feline.
Catification. It’s a big buzz word in the cat world, but what does it really mean? Does it mean you need to live in a home filled with cat trees and shipping boxes in order to make your cats happy? Well, in fact it’s quite the opposite. Kate Benjamin of HausPanther.com is here on our show to talk about bringing great cat items into your home that are also aesthetically pleasing to we humans. And it does not have expensive either. Join us as Kate shows us real examples in her how home that are inexpensive, functional for cats, while adding style, too.
Enabling cats to climb and run, sleep and hide, replicating what they do when living outside in nature, gives cats the type of environment they need to thrive. A happy cat is less prone to unwanted cat behaviors, too, so this is a show you won’t want to miss.
We LOVE Peter Cohen. Talk about Catification - his a-meow-zing home is often featured on his social media and has been built with the cats in mind. However, Peter’s focus is on FIP research and the quest to make the off-label use of drugs that cure FIP available for veterinarians to prescribe. His kitty, Cookie Monster, was one of the first cats to be treated for - and cured of – the once always-fatal FIP.
Once a death sentence, there are medications that cure FIP and allow these cats to live out full lives. BUT – you can’t get these drugs through your veterinarian. Peter and other FIP warriors are working to help all cat parents who are dealing with FIP to have access to these treatments through their veterinarians, and allow their cats to live long, healthy lives free of FIP. Listen as we find out what is FIP, why curing FIP is considered an “off-label” use of these certain drugs, and why your vets cannot prescribe them.
Rita and Linda adore the Two Crazy Cat Ladies, Jae and Adrienne and now they love them even more! The ladies have created a new cat symptom checker on their website, TwoCrazyCatLadies.com!
Instead of searching through different websites on the internet to find the answers to your questions about the various symptoms of cat illnesses, Jae and Adrienne have created a One-Stop resource for cat parents everywhere. From skin and coat issues, to urinary symptoms, joint pain, dental problems, and so many other topics, you can enter your cat’s symptoms and read about what may be the cause. That way, you can make that vet appointment a little more informed about your cat’s symptoms and what your vet may be looking for. Join us as we talk about the details behind the creation of this wonderful tool!
Should we be worried when our cats scratch so much they leave scabs and raw sores? When our cats are so itchy that they drive themselves (and you) and little crazy, if they seem to be in pain, and/or full of little scabs, it is definitely time for a visit to your veterinarian. Dr. Kelly Cairns is here to let us know what might be, or not be, causing your cat so much discomfort, and what your veterinarian is on the lookout for, so we can get your cat back to feeling like his usual kitty self.
Do we have a treat for you! On this episode of 19 Cats and Counting, the legendary Sandy Robins joins Linda and Rita to talk tech.
There are so many advances in technology that benefit so many different industries, and Cat Health and Wellness is no exception. From litter boxes that scoop and sanitize to microchips that allow you (and maybe your pet sitter) to locate shy cats who like to hide away, cats have benefitted from technology in ways we never thought possible. Join us as Sandy Robins shows us some of these new items, many of which will be on every cat lover’s holiday gift list this year!
Carla McCarty, who goes by the name @MsCurlyMcCatLady on social media, is a schoolteacher in Chicago, Illinois. She also happens to be the go-to cat lady in her neighborhood, single-handedly saving 23+ cats from living outside, without shelter or love. That’s right, 23, even more than Rita and each Linda have!
As much joy as our cats (and dogs) provide, they come with the knowledge that their time with us is all too brief. Our pets grow old, get sick, pass away, often leaving us with a deep sense of grief and sometimes even guilt that we were not able to save them. We ask ourselves questions like: Why didn’t I notice the illness sooner? Did I wait too long to say good-bye? Did I not wait long enough? Did I do the right thing in the end? Was my pet suffering?
As much joy as our cats (and dogs) provide, they come with the knowledge that their time with us is all too brief. Our pets grow old, get sick, pass away, often leaving us with a deep sense of grief and sometimes even guilt that we were not able to save them. We ask ourselves questions like: Why didn’t I notice the illness sooner? Did I wait too long to say good-bye? Did I not wait long enough? Did I do the right thing in the end? Was my pet suffering?
Can you believe we’ve been on the air for 100 Episodes! Listen in as Linda and Rita share their favorite podcast memories, along with some cat behavior tips and tricks! Thank you for being loyal listeners of 19 Cats and Counting. Keep listening; the best is yet to come! And a special thank you to Mark Winter for all you do for us! Visit CatBehaviorAlliance.com for more information about Cat Behavior or to book a session.
At our behavior practice, CatBehaviorAlliance.com, we’re seeing more and more families that have both cats and dogs. We love that! There is nothing cuter than seeing a cute kitty snuggled up with a big dog! Although Linda and Rita both grew up with dogs, they understand cat behavior much better than dog behavior, especially since behaviors vary among dog breeds.
Enter our friend, Arden Moore! Arden is both a fear-free certified cat behaviorist AND a dog behaviorist. Not only that, Arden lives with multiples of both species, so, “Arden Knows” what to look out for in order to have a successfully blended multi-species household. Not only that, Arden is also pet first aid expert for both cats and dogs as well.
If you have cat (or two), you’ve no doubt stepped in something squishy in the middle of the night. Or you’ve ran a sprint trying to get your cat onto the floor as he is preparing to cough one up… Yes, we’re talking about every cat owner’s nemesis – the dreaded hairball… Somehow, it’s become an accepted fact that cat’s vomit, and do so often. But is it normal? Is it nothing to worry about? Or should we be concerned when our cats cough up hairballs, undigested food, and the icky clear stuff that we all hate wiping up…
Dr. Kelly Cairns of Thrive Pet Healthcare is here to talk about cat hairballs and the assorted other types of cat vomit and when should be concerned enough to call our veterinarians.
Finding the right cat food is confusing! Antibiotics, fillers, grains, and pesticides are everywhere. Fish is a healthy, low fat, high protein choice, but the mercury in fish is an issue, too. Mercury poisoning can cause a myriad of health issues and even death, for both humans and felines, as Pure Cravings’ Founder, Sean Wittenberg, well knows.
Sean came home from college to find his mother very ill. After a difficult journey, they were finally about to identify the issue... It was mercury poisoning. This experience changed the course of Sean's life, as he set out to conquer the mercury issue, so no one else had to go through what his mom did.
Did you know there is a rescue sanctuary dedicated to blind cats? Linda and Rita were amazed to find such a wonderful rescue, full of happy cats who don’t miss their sight at all. Since cats mainly rely on their sense of smell and the vibrations of their whiskers to make their way through the world, their lack of site doesn’t slow them down one bit.
Meeting Katherine Hilton, Program Manager or Donor Relations and Stewardship for Blind Cat Rescue, was a heartwarming experience. She has so much love for these special cats, who get around just as well as any other cat. You can even visit BlindCatRescue.Com and see for yourself via their 24-Hour LIVE CAMS!
We had never heard of it either… During our monthly visit from the PAW-some Dr. Kelly Cairns really opened our eyes to this affliction, and how common it really is. Some of the client cats we see at our practice at Cat Behavior Alliance have this all-to-common condition. Pandora Syndrome often gets lumped in with other urinary diseases, such as FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease), however it is so much more than “just” a typical urinary infection or disease.
Cats that are prone to being high strung often suffer from Pandora Syndrome, take longer to recover, and tend to get re-afflicted with urinary issues over and over again. Join Linda and Rita as Dr. Kelly tells them about Pandora Syndrome, and how you can best help those anxious cats.
Linda and Rita always thought of pet insurance as a luxury only people that was not necessary and largely unaffordable by most pet owners. Their interview with Brian Jorgensen, head of MetLife's pet insurance division, has changed their minds.
MetLife's pet insurance is currently covering over 140,000 US pets in all 50 states and DC. In addition to our beloved feline friends, they cover dogs, birds, rabbits, lizards, potbelly pigs and more. Unlike many other insurers, MetLife even has a multi-pet policy option. How cool is that!
It's no secret that Rita and Linda love the Two Crazy Cat Ladies! If you don’t know them yet, well, you should! Long time advocated for feline health and well-being, Jae and Adrienne created a line of holistic remedies just for cats called Feline Essential. They have even partnered with Jackson Galaxy on a few of their products.
But for Jae and Adrienne, somehow it just wasn’t enough… They wanted to be a one-stop place where cat parents could go for help and advice, not only from them, but from other well-known cat wellness advocates as well. Their dream has finally become reality, through lots of hard work to make it come true. Their newly re-vamped website, TwoCrazyCatLadies.com, is now live, and they can’t wait to share it with you!
Jae and Adrienne’s products are a-MEOW-zing and the tips they share for kitty loving people are invaluable. Listen in as these four cat ladies gather to share the mews!
As cat behaviorists, we sometimes get involved with topics that aren’t exactly behavior related, but that do affect our cats and their overall health and well-being. As cat parents, sometimes we are shocked about what we learn. This is the case when recently one of our clients was talking with us about cat food. What is best to feed your cats? What should we look for on the label? What should, and should not, be on the ingredient list?
We contacted Susan Thixton, founder of the Association for Truth in Pet Food and advocate for cleaning up our pet foods, to ask the hard questions. While we though we knew what to look for (meat as first ingredient, no corn or wheat), what we learned from Susan shocked and dismayed us both. So what do we do? Do we need to start making our own cat and dog foods, and if we do that how do we make sure that our pets get the right nutritional support?
Isabel Alvarez Arata, host of Pet Life Radio’s Covered In Pet Hair, made a life-changing decision recently: she decided to adopt a cat! After being a dog parent for a number of years, she recently lost her last dog. Isabel’s lifestyle has changed now that she has 2 kids, so getting a puppy felt like too much for her to handle right now.
But what about adopting a cat, she thought. A cat would give her, her husband, and her kids the furry companionship they wanted, without having to walk a dog, constantly keep him entertained, and all the work that goes into training a puppy. Yes, cats need social interaction, but not quite to the degree a dog, especially a puppy, requires.
Behavior consultant and lifestyle expert of the feline kind. That’s how Daniel Quagliozzi, affectionately known as DQ, refers to himself. For that past 20+ years, DQ’s life has been all about the betterment of life for cats, and their humans, too.
As founder of Go Cat Go of San Francisco, GQ has been helping people with cat behavior. He has over a decade of experience working for the San Francisco SPCA and San Francisco Animal Care and Control as a specialist in cat behavior, intake and adoption, in addition to working privately with cat guardians in their homes and online. DQ’s PURRsonal philosophy about life is to be like a cat and “Live in the Meow.” Rita and Linde adore DQ, and they think you will, too. And don’t forget to go to his website and download his “5 Steps to PURR-VANA.”
Let’s talk about Parasite Prevention. Our favorite veterinarian, Dr. Kelly Cairns, is with us to talk about the importance of prevention, even for cats. What kind of parasites might plague our cats? Fleas, Ticks, Tapeworms, Ringworms, Ear Mites, and also Heartworm. Linda and Rita did not know that cats could indeed get Heartworm, although it is more prevalent in dogs.
Does your older cat show signs of slowing down, or even pain? A staggering 90% of cats over the age of 12 have arthritis, which means it starts setting in even younger. Cats are such masters at hiding illness and pain that often we don’t notice the signs.
Enter Dr. Kelly Cairns! Dr. Cairns is here to answer those questions and more, as well as talk about a new monthly treatment specifically for arthritis pain in cats: Solensia. One of Linda and Rita’s clients swears by Solensia for her cat’s arthritis pain.
Did you ever wonder what your cat would say if he could talk? Or what his text messages would say if he could use a smart phone? In Angie Bailey’s book, Texts from Mittens, she shows us just what is on the minds of cats everywhere, and just what they would test, if only they could type. Texts from Mittens is a series of comical text messages exchanged between a snappy, self-absorbed cat and his long-suffering human.
Angie’s new book, Texts from Mittens: The Friends and Family Edition, continues the banter and feline humor. This is a must-read for cat lovers everywhere! Listen as Rita and Linda talk about Angie’s books, and how she got the idea to write these hilarious books.
All Dogs (and Cats) go to Heaven, they say… But do they? Allia Zobel Nolan explores that very topic. Will we see our furry loved ones again when we get to heaven? After reading Allia’s new book, Heavenly Headbutts, we think you’ll feel much better about just where our pets go when they cross that infamous Rainbow Bridge.
Join Linda and Rita as they talk with Allia about losing a beloved cat, the inspiration for her book, and the hope that she found in researching her book. She is also the author of a number of humous books, such as “Why Cats are STILL Better than a Man,” “Cat Confessions,” and “Purr More Hiss Less.” You’ll want to read them all!
Cats are famous for hiding signs of illness, to the point where we sometimes don’t discover and illness until our cats are very sick. Also, we know cats slow down as they age, and their habits change but it happens so slowly that we often don’t notice. How can we change that and improve the quality and longevity of life for our cats?
Meet Ali Ganjavian, Co-Founder to Moggie.me, the first cat-only health wearable that tracks your cat’s activity to help improve their overall well-being. The small device attaches to your cat’s collar and keeps track of what they do every day. Has your cat been sleeping more, not jumping up on the cat tree anymore, spending more time in the litter box? This monitor will track your cat's behaviors and translate their needs into short messages with AI-powered technology. Linda and Rita are both on the waiting list to get this PAW-some tool for keeping track of their cats and their health. Look for Moggie.me to be available mid-Summer 2023.
April 19 is National Cat Lady Day! Linda and Rita are celebrating by getting their cats, and themselves, some cool cat products for their combined 27 cats! These two are TRUE Cat Ladies! On this episode, Rita and Linda will show you come of the cool things they were sent to review, as well as some of their own favorites, so you can be sure to spoil your cat lady, and her cats too!
We’ll show you everything from PJ’s for the cat lady made by Hello Mellow, a plushy cat from Bunnies By the Bay a leopard themed wallet from Kedzie and many other fun and useful items.
Remember to spoil your cat lady, and her cats, on April 19 National Cat Lady Day!
Death threats, lawsuits, media attention… None of this was on Howard’s mind when he met and fell in love with Carole. The dedication these two have to each other, as well as to the protection of those big cats, is incredible.
In part two of our talk with Howard Baskin, we learn even more about what he went through and how it felt to handle the public after Joe Exotic came into their lives. Once free to live in their town and talk to people in public every day, Howard watch Carole narrow her world more and more in order to protect herself.
Now that things are getting back to more “business as usual,” their dedication to saving Big Cats is stronger than ever. Let’s listen as Howard tells Linda and Rita more about Big Cat Rescue, and shares how YOU can help make a difference, too.
We all know who Carole Baskin is; she is the fearless champion of Big Cats everywhere. Big Cat Rescue was opened by Carole in 1992 as a safe haven for exotic cats who have been mistreated or displaced. And, of course, by now her name is synonymous with Tiger King Joe Exotic (more on that later...)
Aside from all the drama, what you may not know is that Carole and her devoted husband Howard Baskin, along with many volunteers and politicians, worked tirelessly for years to get the Big Cat Public Safety Act which passed into law this past December. This bipartisan legislation ends the private possession and trade of these exotic cats, so no more cats and cubs can be harmed. Howard undertook this challenge head on, and in the process has become a well-known advocate for those beautiful big cats.
Dr. Kelly Cairns, DVM is VP of medical excellence education for over 400 Thrive Pet Healthcare family facilities! She is passionate about health care for all our pets, but she has a special fondness for our feline friends. (We love that!).
One of the biggest issues for cat parents is getting that yearly wellness check for our felines. Since cats are masters at hiding illness, it’s more important to get them seen each year. Twice a year is recommended for senior cats. Dr. Kelly will tell us why this is so critical to your cat’s overall health and wellness.
We loved our talk with her so much, that we’ve asked Dr. Kelly to become a regular part of our show! Look for her to be a recurrent guest, helping us all take the mystery out of keeping our cat companies in optimal health.
Linda and Rita welcome back their favorite cat behaviorist, Dr. Rachel Geller, who is here to talk about her new course. In cooperation with the Community Cats Podcast, Dr. Rachel is teaching a class that we as a community need; the Surrender Prevention Workshop!
What is Surrender Prevention and why is it needed? 134,400 cats are surrendered yearly to US Shelters for behavior problems. And we are sure that is a conservative figure. Pet parents sometimes get overwhelmed and think they have tried everything to change their cat’s behavior; then get to the point of feeling hopeless to solve the issue. So, they turn to surrender, because they lack the knowledge to truly fix the behavior alone. Often, they feel surrender is only solution, no matter how much they love their cat.
We all know how stressful buying a house and moving in can be. Now, imagine you and your fiancé find your dream home, but the day of closing are “comes with a few barn cats” and the former owners of the house are hoping you will let them stay… Neither of you are "cat people" but, okay. How hard can it be to take care of a couple of old barn cats, right? Surprise, it’s actually FIFTEEN (15) cats, none of whom are spayed or neutered!
Now what do you do?
Well, if you are Dylan and Emily Bott from Freedom Farmhouse, two people with a heart for animals, you get them all spayed/neutered and vaccinated. You build a safe space for them to stay warm and cozy. You purchase heaters, a lot of food, litter etc. AND you build an addition onto your home where the cat will later be moved to.
With 27 cats between them, Linda and Rita know cat’s, and what motivates them. Of course, they have not always been so knowledgeable about what drives cats and their unique behaviors, nor how to steer them into behaviors we can live with.
Meeting hundreds of cat parents ever year for cat behavior sessions and having made their own share of mistakes along the way, the gals of Cat Behavior Alliance have heard plenty of stories about what people have tried (and failed) to change their cat’s behavior. They want to share with you some of the common mistakes that most of us make when we first bring a cat into our lives.
Rita and Linda have quite a lot to share, and you won’t want to miss a word of their advice on this special episode. Dog owners, listen up! Dogs and cats are not trained alike, so if you are new to cat companions, you really need this show.
Is your cat happy? Do they feel okay? We know how cats can hide signs of illnesses. Is there something they'd like us to do for them? If only cats could talk! Well, cats may not be able to talk but Linda and Rita specialize in reading cat body language and signs to help our cats. But what if we could do more? What if we could let our cats know how we feel about them and have better communication?
Kara Udziela, Animal Communicator and Owner of Pet's Eye View, met up to chat with the ladies and share her animal communication techniques. She even gave some brief readings of some of Rita and Linda's pets and they were very surprised! Join us to hear what Kara told the ladies, and how she turned Rita from skeptic to believer!
What would happen to your beloved feline friends if something happened to you? If you needed to be in the hospital for a month, or if you pass away, who would take care of your fur-babies? Would that human know the details about your cat's health, likes and dislikes, routines etc.?
Rita and Linda thought they had it all planned out, until they met with Malissa Church, a South Carolina attorney who works with estate planning. She has a plan laid out for us, to know what to do and we put Rita to the test. Is she really prepared? Did she pass or fail? Listen to this episode of 19 Cats and Counting to see if you are prepared.
Did you know that between 20 and 50% of cats over the age of 15 have some degree of kidney disfunction going on? Kidney disease is 3 times higher for cats than dogs, too. It’s also unfortunate that many of these cats aren’t diagnosed until the disease has progressed to an untreatable state. Cats are notorious for hiding signs of illness, and just as notoriously difficult to get inside the carrier…
Enter Dr. Hillary Sweet and Dr. Matthew Nickel, founders of SN Biomedical Inc, which owns KidneyChek.com. Wish a simple swab from the inside of your cat’s mouth, the Kidney Chek strips can tell you immediately if your cat has the beginnings of this dreaded disease. All without subjecting your cat to the carrier, the car ride, and the vet’s office! We think these kidney tests should be a standard part of every cat parent’s toolbox. Listen as Dr. Sweet tells us all about these life-saving kits.
On TV, they call the fire department to save kitty, but many don't do that anymore or their ladders just don’t reach high enough. We know it can be difficult for cats to get back down due to the shape of their claws. Their forward hook of cat claws is great for grabbing hold and quickly climbing up the tree to escape danger. But coming down, those claws are actually a hindrance to heading down. What do we do?
Well, if you are in central Ohio, you could visit GetMeowTaHere.com to get some help. Duane Hook loves to climb trees ... BIG trees! He has turned that skill into a way to help kitties and cat parents by rescuing those fabulous felines who are stuck up a tree. Duane’s website also links to a list of other climbers around the country who are ready and willing to get Fluffy down from the treetops.
Jenna Mahan is a registered vet tech and is also the Director of Claims at Embrace Pet Insurance. Jenna joins Rita and Linda on this episode to discuss tips for keeping your cats (and dogs) safe during the holidays. They also discussed pet insurance, how it works, and the incredible value it provides. Surprisingly, it’s not as costly as we thought, either! If you have cats (and/or dogs), you will benefit from the information Jenna shared with us how pet insurance policies work.
You may know Sheri Lynch from The Bob and Sheri show, which is syndicated in 70 nationwide affiliates, 177 countries, and 150 ships at sea through American Forces Network. But you probably didn’t know that Sheri is a cat lover, who is owned by 3 adorable cats! Inspired by her Italian roots, Sheri wrote a cookbook called Cooking with Cats. This book is full of recipes, fun feline kitchen helpers, and even some recipes for yummies for your cat. Join Rita and Linda as they talk (and laugh) with Sheri and talk about cats, cooking, and whatever else comes to mind.
Soda Pup is a veteran-owned business started by Adam Baker that makes amazing, durable toys for super chewer dogs. Wait! What does that have to do with cats?
We're so glad you asked! Soda Pup also make a-meow-zing lick mats and slow-feed bowls, which we recommend often. Lick mats can slow you cat down when eating to avoid scarf and barf. Not only that, these bowls and mats also provide GREAT intellectual stimulation and make your cat work for their food like they do out in nature.
That's great for cats, but they also appear to we humans. They come in really cute colors and patterns, and even holiday designs! Soda Pups products are functional, durable, and proudly made in the USA!
We are purring with excitement over Affordable Pet Labs! Dr. Rory Lubold and Dr. Joe Menicucci are both veterinarians, as well as friends since college. They decided our animal's health care tests needed to both easier and more affordable to us humans.
Their company, Affordable Pet Labs, offers a large number of diagnostic tests that we can do at home and simply mail in to get the results. Then, Affordable Pet Labs will share the results with both the pet owner and their vet. Their tests are also much more affordably priced, too. Added bonus: you won’t need to get your cat into a carrier and take him to the vet for these tests!
Alden Martinez is the proud founder of Katio Dogio. Along with his trusty partner, Kelly (his wife), their company is making products that solve some common problems for cat lovers everywhere! We tried the floating bowls and found them very helpful for our cats’ digestion, as well as giving us much less incidence of hairballs and vomit. Who doesn't love that?
Alden and Kelly are also revolutionizing the litter box in a way that will make it much easier on all of the humans who live to serve their feline loves! Listen in to hear Alden's a-meow-zing products and why he started this mission!
Amy Shojai dreamed of becoming a Broadway star as a child. While that dream did not come true, she turned her creativity toward cats, dogs, and writing! Her Mom told her friends, “When Amy grows up, she won’t have babies—she’ll have puppy dogs and kitty cats.”
Her Mom was right… As a Certified Animal Behavior Councilor, Amy has written many books about cat and dog care, from kitten care to the aging cat, and everything in between. She has also written a number of thrillers, featuring our companion animals. Her knowledge and love for cats is evident and she will have you laughing while she's at it! Tune in and laugh along us as we talk with Amy!
Rita and Linda adore Chris Roy! He has worked tirelessly to bring animal rescue, transport, fosters, and adopters all together on one platform; Doobert.com. Now, Chris has gone one step further. He has created a platform where you can shop for your pet's food and other supplies, while helping rescues at the same time. A percentage of every sale is donated to the non-profit animal wellness organization of your choice!
Just shop at the Doobert Store, buy your usual pet supplies, and benefit animal recues! It’s that easy and it doesn’t cost you a thing. Listen to this episode of 19 Cats and Counting to learn how you can help rescues while shopping for your pet's food.
Did you ever have a guest you loved so much that you invited them to come back ASAP? That's how Rita and Linda feel about Pam Roussell. As a cat mom, behavior expert, holistic wellness expert and lover of all things feline, Pam is a wealth of information! Join us as Linda and Rita chat with Pam about mental, physical and emotional health practices, and how color therapy can help your feline friends!
If you've ever wanted to know more about big cats, you will love this episode of 19 Cats and Counting! Rita and Linda talk to Jeanna Hensler from the WildcatSanctuary.org. They focus on giving big cats a sanctuary to live the rest of their lives, as naturally as possible. Their residents include 4 big cats rescued from Tiger King Park, as well as many others rescued from private homes and other facilities.
Wildcast Sanctuary works tirelessly to not only care for these cats, but to educate all of us about what these big cats need to thrive, and why they should not be our purrr-sonal pets!
If you haven't met Molly DeVoss yet, you are in for a treat! It took us months to get time on her busy schedule, but it was well worth it! As a Certified Feline Behaviorist, Molly is the owner of Cat Behavior Solutions, helping those kitties both in their homes and in the shelters.
Cat behavior is not her only focus; Molly is also a Certified Reiki Master. On this episode of 19 Cats and Counting Molly discusses how Reiki can help our feline friends and improve their health and well-being. Tune in and hear all about it. You may find yourself looking for a Reiki master for your favorite furry friend... or even for yourself! Visit CatBehaviorSolutions.org to learn more.
Nicole Kay has a little Superwoman DNA in her! She founded JustCatsStore.com to focus on providing feline essentials that are the best of the best. A store that includes other animals and sells less than the best would make more money, but that's not Nicole! She is focused on "providing cats and their people with high quality products" and have "selectively chosen the best, high quality products for you and your feline." Additionally, she has partnered with a rescue to help get cats adopted and you can even donate to support a rescue! Nicole donates time, money, and resources to help local as well as national, pet rescue groups.
Phinney’s is working hard to keep people and their beloved pets together! They help with education, taking pets to the vet, providing care and even short-term fosters in case of hospitalization or other emergency needs. What a meow-velous idea! And they are working with the a-meow-zing Dr. Rachel Geller to help with behavior issues! Phinney’s is doing great work in Massachusetts, and we would love to see this idea go global!
Join Rita and Linda to learn more about what Phinney’s is doing, why they are doing it, and how they are accomplishing miracles! Also find out how you can help with their cause! Me-WOW! Be sure to visit phinneys.com to learn more about Phinney’s.
Ava is a typical 14-year old. She loves her family, her friends, and her pets. What is amazing about Ave is that she is the 14-year-old Founder and Chief Pet Officer of Ava's Pet Palace. Did you read that right? Yes, 14!
Ava’s Pet Palace has happy customers in all 50 states! Her mom has been able to leave her job and work for Ava's Pet Palace full time, shipping hundreds of bags of treats each month. Let’s talk to this extraordinary girl, who we believe has even bigger things ahead.
Cat mom, fitness enthusiast, swimmer, holistic health seeker, yogi, aspiring gardener, lover of sunny Cancun beaches, gentle spirit, high sales achiever and entrepreneur. These are just a few of the ways Pam Roussell describes herself. As a cat lover all her life, Pam has always had cats as pets. Her first baby pictures show her as a newborn stuffed in a Christmas stocking with a beautiful white kitty sitting relaxed beside her.
Listen as Rita and Linda talk with Pam about holistic remedies and the difference they make in the lives of cats and their people.
Cat mom, fitness enthusiast, swimmer, holistic health seeker, yogi, aspiring gardener, lover of sunny Cancun beaches, gentle spirit, high sales achiever and entrepreneur. These are just a few of the ways Pam Roussell describes herself. As a cat lover all her life, Pam has always had cats as pets. Her first baby pictures show her as a newborn stuffed in a Christmas stocking with a beautiful white kitty sitting relaxed beside her.
Listen as Rita and Linda talk with Pam about holistic remedies and the difference they make in the lives of cats and their people.
Justin Donne loves cats so much, he calls himself “Cat Lady Justin. His goal is educating people about How To Pick, Pamper & Protect your practically perfect pussycat, for a lifetime of unconditional love! Justin calls this the 3 P’s. During Justin’s guest appearance on our show, Rita asked him the question “Are you The Kitty Boss, or is your Kitty the Boss?” The term “Kitty Boss” can be taken either way! Tune in to find out!
Alexandria (call her Alex) Ade caught Linda's eye when she posted on a local community forum in Defiance, Ohio. Alex has started her own photography business, Alexandria Hope photography, specializing in weddings, couples and elopements. But when her beloved kitty, Frank, was ill, she used her photography skills to take beautiful pictures of him before he passed. These photos are a beautiful and loving reminder of that time she shared with Frank.
Sterling Davis is known around the world as the Trap King! Sterling left his music career to dedicate his life to feline TNR (trap, neuter, release). He purchased an RV that allows him to travel and trap, while also serving as his home. Sterling changed his entire life to help cats, and that is the kind of human Rita and Linda love!
Join Rita and Linda to hear more about this a-meow-zing man and his mission! We think you will fall in love with him too!
Julie Kelley is the founder and director of Let's be S.M.A.R.T. (Successfully Managing Animal Rights Today), an international non-profit animal welfare organization. They are dedicated to providing education and awareness about animals. SMART is active in taking in animals, fostering them, and finding them forever homes. In addition, they've developed an education course for young children to be used in schools that includes videos with characters that appeal to kids.
After a few trips to Greece with a friend, Julie was saddened by the immense stray and feral population in Greece, so she moved to Greece and started Let's Be Smart Greece! She travels between Greece and the US, devoting herself to helping animals. Join Linda and Rita as they get the scoop on Let's Be Smart, what they are doing to help our feline friends and what we can do to help!
Dr. Rachel Geller is a-meow-zing in her love for cats, and she works tirelessly to continue educating humans and helping cats in any way she can. Linda and Rita were especially interested in chatting about Dr. Rachel's role as pet chaplain and what that entails! They give Dr. Rachel two paws up for all she does!
Dr. Jeff Werber is a renowned veterinarian who continues his practice in addition to being a veterinarian medical journalist. In September of 1997 he became the pet expert for CBS news in Los Angeles and even won an Emmy for his pet health reporting! He is a frequent contributor to CNN, E! Entertainment, KCBS/KCAL-Los Angeles, KTLA and Inside Edition! Dr, Jeff is also host and segment writer for the pet Care Television Network as well as for "Ask the Vets with Dr. Jeff," his weekly syndicated call-in radio show on Pet Life Radio.
Abigail Tucker is author of The Lion in the Living Room, which became a New York Time's Bestseller. This wonderful book was also named a “Best Science Book” in 2016 by Library Journal, and Forbes and is now translating it into thirteen languages. It also happens to be Rita's FAVORITE book about cats and trust us... Rita's read a lot of books about cats!
Among her many achievements, Abigail is also a correspondent for Smithsonian Magazine, and has been featured in The Best American Science and Nature Writing. She recently came out with a new book entitled, "Mom Genes."
Lashonda Geffrard grew up without a pet in her home, but she always had a passion for animals. She blazed her own path in the pet care world, and now owns a Pet Grooming service for dogs and cats, The Paw Shop. Her business also includes a boarding facility.
Rita and Linda were blown away by her love for animals, her talent, and her heart to help others by creating not one, but two non-profit organizations. We love everything Lashonda is doing and appreciate her opening up with us on the subject of diversity. It’s an important conversation, don’t miss it.
Chris Roy is a brilliant tech guy who wanted to connect rescues and shelters with people who are willing to foster pets or offer to transport them to other cities. He planned the software, designed it, and implemented it himself. Rescues can sign up at Doobert.com (named for his late cat, Doobert) to showcase the animals they have ready for adoption. You can search for dogs, cats, horses, wildlife and so many more types of pets that are searching for their loving fur-ever home.
Not looking to adopt? You can sign up to foster or transport animals, too! Taking a trip? Put your start and end point of your route into Doobert, and they can hook you up with someone who needs to transport a pet along your route. Would you be willing to do transport only on Wednesdays within 100 miles? Sign up! Do you only want to foster seniors or animals with medical issues? You can choose your parameters and help! They also accept financial donations to keep this service going!
We all know Margaret Cho as a talented actress and brilliant comedian. She also sings, designs clothes, and writes books! She is one busy lady! But, did you know that Margaret is also an animal lover? After many years of rescuing dogs, she added some kitties to her home! She now has three beautiful kitties in her family, and of course, her sweet dog, Lucia!
Rita and Linda were thrilled with the opportunity to chat with Margaret about her life with her beloved pets: Uju the Wolf Cat, her two Sphynx cats Sacre and Sarong, and her Chihuahua, Lucia. She even showed us around her home, which is replete with many special places for her kitties, like the workout room and the food buffet!
As cannabis legislation is sweeping our nation and we learn about the benefits of cannabis for us humans, there has been an increase in curiosity toward the benefits it may also have for our pets. CBD for pets is popping up everywhere... but is it really good for our cats? Is it safe? How do we choose the product that is clean, safe, and helpful for our kitties? After months of searching for an expert on the subject, we who we were looking for in Dr. Tim Shu.
Join Rita and Linda as they chat with Dr. Shu and learn about the Endocannabinoid System that resides in all living beings yet that is never taught in medical school, and how we can help our cats and dogs with the right cannabis products.
Linda and Rita have a lot to be grateful for as they look back on 2021. They’ve met some PAW-some people on the show and helped cat parents from everywhere from Singapore to California understand their cat’s behaviors.
Take a listen as they talk about the good and the bad of the last couple of years, and share the amazing things that are coming in 2022. From innovators like Dr. Tim Shu of VETCBD, to amazing talented people like Callie McCullough and Margret Cho, the shows this year will bring both good information and delightful entertainment to you, so don’t forget to subscribe!
Callie McCullough is an a-meow-zing country music artist who received a 2021 Canada CMMA award nomination for her album, After Midnight. She is a talented lady with a wicked sense of humor and a huge passion for cats, including her new kitty, aptly named, "Kitty".
Rita and Linda had a blast chatting about Callie's music, especially her new song, Three Quarter Time and of course her love for Kitty. They got the details on her move from Canada to Nashville, TN, the stories of Kitty's extra energy and her exploits as she tours with Callie on the bus! Listen in as these three new BFFs dish on Callie’s life on the road with Kitty, Kitty’s pregnancy scare, and her upcoming video for "Three Quarter Time", which comes out in January.
If you heard our show’s Episode 33 with Made By Nacho’s vet, Dr. Katja Lang, you heard Rita ask Dr. Lang why is there no mouse flavored cat food? It was a joke, but low and behold, we found some… Well, actually they are mouse flavored cat treats, made with cultured mouse meat. What is that, you ask?
Because Animals is a company that makes dog and cat treats made from cultured animal meat! NO animals are harmed; the meat is grown in a lab from a single sample from the mouse (or other animals) that goes on the live it’s best life. Listen as Dr. Shannon Falconer explains the mission of Because Animals, and why this innovative technology is good for the animals and also good for our planet.
Rita and Linda spend many years running a bi-coastal Cats Only pet sitting company, Just For Cats Pet Sitting. Once the pandemic hit and no one was traveling, Rita decided to sell the remains of JFC to the awesome Cat Sitting Company, Meowtel, so she and Linda could focus on Cat Behavior. Now that people are traveling again, pet sitters are in high demand again, and cat-only sitters are busier than ever.
Linda and Rita interviewed one of Meowtel’s top cat sitters, Racheline Maltese, to find out why she does what she does for a living, and discuss why it’s so important to hire a sitter who specializes in cats to care for your furry felines.
Kristen Levine knows all about life with pets. On her website and her newsletter, she shares helpful information about how to make life with our pets better, for them and for us.
Today, Kristen joins Rita and Linda to talk about helping your new cat adjust to his new home – your home. A topic that is near and dear to our hearts, Kristen is here to give us practical tips and guidance to becoming best friends with your new feline. Linda and Rita loved her advice, and they’re sure you will too!
Have you ever had a cat escape? Even indoor-only cats find a way to get loose when someone comes over. OR they find a hole in the window screen, and suddenly he’s gone! It's a horrible feeling of panic! Both Rita and Linda have had this horrible experience, as have most cat parents at one time or another.
What do you do when your cat escapes? How do you find them? Enter Kim Freeman! She is the Lost Cat Detective. Kim has written a book called How to Find Your Lost Cat” where she gives us some great advice about how to get your cat back indoors. Rita and Linda thought they knew how to go about finding a lost cat... But they were WRONG!
Did you ever see a girl who looks like Marilyn Monroe but can also rock a power tool? Meet Daralyn Kelleher, a comedian and YouTuber who does DIY woodworking and upholstery projects. Daralyn joins Rita and Linda to share her love of cats and the story behind how she got to make a cat couch for the a-meow-zing Mayim Bialik!
Every year in the United States, 134,400 cats are surrendered to county shelters because of behavior issues. Of course, that number doesn't include the cats that are simply kicked outside, left behind, or sent to private shelters. Unless neurological disorder is involved, a Cat Behaviorist can help you and your cat! If every cat parent reached out to a Cat Behaviorist, we could prevent 134,400 cats EVERY year from going into a shelter, and maybe never coming back out!
In this episode of 19 Cats and Counting, Rita and Linda chat with Pam Webster, a recent graduate from Animal Behavior College, to discuss naughty behaviors and what Cat Behaviorists are doing to help keep these kitties in happy, loving, forever homes!
If you have cats, you have probably had to make some tough decisions at the end of his life, or you will in the future. It’s THE decision that every pet owner dreads. How do we know when it's time? Is it too soon? Did I wait too long? How do we do this in a way that's best for the cat and the human?
Linda and Rita had the pleasure of discussing this sensitive topic with Dr. Diane Eigner, VMD, MBA, CVPM, CHPV. She is the owner of The Cat Whispurrr and is also the President-Elect of the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care. Dr. Diane is here to tell us all about making these decisions, how to do what is best for our cats and ourselves, and the proper comforting way that euthanasia should be done.
This week Rita and Linda chat cats with Michelle Fern, the host of Pet Life Radio's Cattitude podcast about what it's really like to have a multi multi multi cat household! How much does it cost to feed them? How many litter boxes do you need? Can you ever go on a vacation? Tune in for answers to these and many more cat questions!
Rita and Linda are well known as the two (crazy cats) ladies. Imagine their surprise when they found a website named Two Crazy Cat Ladies!
Listen in as Linda and Rita chat with Jae and Adrienne, the other two cat ladies! Join them for lots of laughs and fun as well as learning about what cats need and how to do it in a healthier way!
If you run a business, especially a cat-focused business, you know that your website is your calling card. But keeping your website updated with current and interesting content is often a challenge.
Meet Dan Reinhold, professional writer and founder of Copy for Cats. Dan provides content for cat-based business that is all about cats. He helps with website copy, newsletter creation, and even email marketing, all written to keep cat lovers enthralled and coming back to your website for more. Listen as Rita and Linda ask Dan how and why he started Copy for Cats.
Halloween is coming, and along with ghosts and skeletons, black cats are a popular decoration. Those cats with their arched backs, puffed tails and scary eyes are spooooky and fuel the ideas of black cats, bad luck, and silly superstition.
Michelle Fern, host of Cattitude on Pet Life Radio, reached out to behavior experts, Rita, Linda and Pam Johnson-Bennett with her desire to do a roundtable discussion about black cats!
Is it true that black cats are bad luck? Are they harder to find homes for? What's the deal with those black beauties? Join Rita and Linda, along with Michelle and Pam, as they discuss all things black cats!
When Rita and Linda stumbled upon animal communicator Lesley Nase, they had to find out more! Having no experience with animal communicators, they were a bit skeptical, but Lesley made believers out of them in no time!
Lesley has a natural ability to tune in to both animals and people and is doing a-meow-zing work to help people connect with their animals and form a stronger bond! She teaches humans how to connect with them on your own as well! Lesley uses her incredible gifts in the areas of animal communication, animal healing, shamanic healing, quantum energy, psychic medium, online education, speaking and wrote a book entitled "Who Paints the World".
When Bobby Flay and his cat, Nacho, started to create the feline foods that would become the Made By Nacho brand, he wanted to be sure he included everything that would not only appeal to the feline palate, but also support their bodies with complete and proper nutrition.
Who better to ask for advice than his personal veterinarian, Dr. Katja Lang!
Dr. Katja is the Chief Medical Officer at the Heart of Chelsea Animal Hospital in New York City, so she sees lots of kitties. She has a passion for nutrition, and know what cats need to eat in order to have strong bodies and a healthy cattitude! Listen as Rita and Linda talk with Dr. Katja about some of the myths about cat food and feline nutrition, and tells us what to look for in our cat’s food.
We are thrilled to again welcome Peter Cohen, Founder of the non-profit Zen by Cat, as well as his kitty abode, House of Nekko (which means House of Cat). If you’ve visited the Zen by Cat Instagram or Facebook page, you’ve no doubt see how Peter’s 24 cats live in peace and tranquility in an environment that would make any cat drool with envy! Well, House of Nekko has been under renovation, giving the kitties and Peter a new space to hang our together.
Kitten Lady Hannah Shaw is our guest, and we’re honored to have her back to talk about her ongoing venture with Royal Canin. She’s here to talk about fostering kittens, and why it is so important to their development and adoptability.
Rita and Linda talk with Hannah about the different ways you can foster, everything from taking on those very tiny bottle-fed cats all the way to adopting a fragile senior cat who is unexpectedly without a home after being a loving companion for many years. Tune in and learn about Fostering, how Royal Canin is helping to spread the word, and how you can help cats and kittens in need.
Started in 2011 by Amman Ahmed and Ricardo Henriquez, Relax My Cat and Relax My Dog were inspired by an incredibly cute dog called Rocky, and a cute cat called Mia. Ricardo and Mia both experienced a life of political unrest and violence in their local communities, leaving them less than relaxed.
Relax My Cat has had a positive impact on over 10 million cats and dogs so far, including Rita and Linda’s cats. Listen as Rita and Linda introduce you to the wonderfully talented Amman Ahmed and find out how your cat can try Relax My Cat and Relax My Dog, too.
Liz Miele is a gifted comedian who has been doing stand-up since she was just 16! At 18, she was profiled in The New Yorker Magazine, at 22 she appeared on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham.” She recently appeared on Comedy Central’s “This Week at the Comedy Cellar,” NPR’s “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me,” Hulu’s “Coming To The Stage,” AXS TV’s “Gotham Comedy Live,” and was profiled in the March 2015 issue of Runner’s World. Liz released her first special “Self Help Me” in May 2020, which is free on YouTube.
As a cat mom, and after telling one cat joke too many on stage (ha ha), Liz had the idea to write her first book, “Why Cats Are A*holes.” Join Rita and Linda as they talk with Liz about her career, her cat, and why she wrote this very relatable book about being a cat owner.
Have you ever wondered if your cat is really happy? If he’s acting strange, is it because he is ill? After surgery, does he really need these pain pills or are you medicating your cat needlessly? Sylvester AI can tell you!
Join Rita and Linda as they talk with Miche and Sajna about this amazing software, called Tably, how it works, and how our own Linda Hall saved the life of her cat using Sylvester AI while we were testing it for the show! Linda’s story actually changed the target demographic for the release of Tably, so that not only can veterinarians use it in the office, but virtually everyone can use it at home, too. You don’t want to miss this ground-breaking show!
April is Autism Awareness month, and studies have proven that cats provide great comfort to those on the spectrum!
Caden is a very smart, funny and talented young man who has Autism. Like most teens, Caden loves pizza, tacos, and video games, in addition to his love of cats. Join Rita and Linda as they chat with Caden and his Mom, Courtney, about life with Autism and our mutual love of kitties. We love Caden and we know you will, too!
Steve Dale knows pets. He is a celebrated Animal Behaviorist and animal welfare advocate, with not one, not two, but THREE radio shows! Rita had the pleasure of meeting Steve a few years ago at a conference about Cat Behavior. Steve is one busy guy, and we’re honored he made the time to be on our show!
If there is one thing Steve is passionate about, it’s the health and well-being of all of our beloved pet companions. As a board member to the Every Cat Health Foundation (formerly known as The Winn Feline Foundation), everycat.org, Steve has his finger on the pulse of feline disease management breakthroughs as they happen.
We’ve all heard that music soothes the savage beast, but what can soothe our family housecats? David Teie, a solo Cellist for the National Symphony Orchestra, has the answer. David has brought science and music together in a unique combination to create Music for Cats.
Listen to David explain this fascinating way to help your cats remain calm, cool, and collected, then visit www.MusicforCats.com and give your cats a soothing experience.
Darlene is a very old and very dear friend of Rita’s, who happens to share Rita’s love of cats and a passion for writing. As a cat (and dog) mom and successful writer, Darlene decided to create a series of children’s books, staring her very own cats!
Join Rita and Linda as they talk with Darlene about her real-life cats, her move cross-country, and how much easier her Litter Robot has made taking care of cat business! We’ll also discuss how she came up with idea for The Mischief Kitties series. Be sure to look up The Mischief Kitties on Amazon and read these enchanting books to your kids as you follow the cats though their many misadventures.
Cindy is a tireless cat rescuer, often spending countless dollars of her own to save and vet stray cats, and find then a loving forever home. Named after one of the kittens she could not save, Cindy started The Sunshine Fund, a (soon to be non-profit) rescue dedicated to those kittens who are in the greatest need of saving in the Houston, TX area. Join Cindy, Linda, and Rita as they talk about how this dedicated lady has become the advocate for needy kittens as she gets them ready for their new lives.
The number two question Rita hears from clients is “how do I get my cats to get along?” Enter Dr. Sally Foote! Although Rita is quite experienced at multi cat integration, Dr. Sally is an expert, offering video step-by-step guides on how to go about those sometimes scary cat-meet-cat introductions. Join Rita, Linda, and Dr. Sally Foote as they talk about introducing cats and getting them to peacefully co-exist.
FIP is a horrible feline disease that once was 100% fatal. But not anymore! Peter Cohen was lucky enough to partner with a wonderful veterinarian who has discovered the cure! However, the medication is currently cost prohibitive for most cat parents.Enter Peter, and his wonderful organization, Zen By Cat! Peter and his “Zen Warriors” are dedicated to making this treatment affordable for all cat parents who need it. How? Tune in, and find out how you canbecome a Zen Warrier, just like Rita and Linda! Then visit zenbycat.org for more information.
Beth and Rita have so much in common; they are both cat enthusiasts, are popular cat behaviorists, and both have successfully run Cats-Only pet sitting companies. With all her experience catering to and understanding thousands of cats, it was only a matter of time before Beth was approached to write her book, Understanding Cat Behavior.
Tune in as Beth, Linda, and Rita discuss her new book, and offer some practical advice about the finicky nature of our feline friends.
As more and more people are having to move in with friends and family due to the affects of Covid on the economy, Rita continues her discussion with Linda Hall about blending two multi-cat households into one. Linda noticed changes in the behaviors of her 7 cats and 1 dog with the addition of Nikki and Sebastian’s 4 cats to their household. Linda and Rita also discuss how humans and felines alike are coping with the household changes. How did the cats’ personalities change? ALSO: How can you help someone who needs to move in with you when they have pets? Hear one mother’s story; a friend of Rita and Linda’s, Bee learned the hard way that there are horrible people out there, and sadly 4 cats paid the ultimate price. Please, don’t let this happen to YOU!
In this time of isolation and social distancing, Isabel offers us a safe way to be socially connected to one another. On her new Pet Life Radio Show, Covered in Pet Hair, Isabel’s show is a refreshing to connect with each other, have a drink, and let our hair down as we discuss the things we miss, as well as those things we can all still enjoy. Tune in to hear about Isabel’s show, which debuted on December 7, 2020. Then be sure to subscribe!
Linda Hall had been absent from the show, as she and her entire family battled Covid-19. In addition to sharing how 2020 has affected her family forever, Linda and Rita also discuss the challenges of adding 4 more cats and another adult to her household. Cat dislike change, and some major changes came along with Covid-19: the loss of Linda’s son-in-law Sebastian, the loss of her cat Warren, and her daughter, Sebastian’s widow, Nikki, moving in with their 4 cats, while they all grieve the loss and the life changes no one wanted. How did she do it and how did the cats adapt? Tune in to find out how to blend two multi-cat households, as more people are having to so during these trying economic times.
Arden Moore puts the FUN in Pet Safety! With her Pet Safety Cats Casey & Rusty, and Pet Safety Dog Kona, Arden makes learning Pet CPR and First Aid enjoyable and memorable, with her one-of-a-kind online certification classes. She even has classes that are for cats only! Tune in as Arden shares with Rita and Linda just why her certification is so important for pet parents and pet professionals alike. Your pet’s very life may depend on knowing what Arden and her furry friends teach in this incredible class. Earn your 2-year certification today!
When Rita and Maria attended Kenmore East Senior High together back in Tonawanda, NY, never did they dream their lives were intersect years later in the world of Pet Rescue! Maria, like Rita, is a dedicated animal rescue volunteer, foster mom, pet sitter, and pet mom. With so many pets needing homes, and so many rescues needing funds, Maria decided to combine her love for jewelry and pets into one mission: sell jewelry that supports pet rescue! Maria’s unique designs at MCL Jewelry Designs are beautiful pieces, with the sale of each one benefiting various pet rescues throughout the USA.
When Dean Nicholson started his mission to cycle around the world, little did he know that he would pick up a furry hitchhiker along the way! In the now-famous video, we see Dean meeting Nala, a tiny 8-week-old abandoned kitten who was chasing after him, meowing to get his attention. Nala would change the meaning of his journey, as she enables Dean to meet people and experience their cultures in a very personal way. The title of his new book says it all: it’s “Nala’s World .”
Hannah Shaw is changing the lives of orphaned kittens everywhere. From the kittens she herself fosters to teaching others how to do what she does through her book, Tiny But Mighty, Hannah has made it her mission in life to help those vulnerable kittens who otherwise might not have had a chance. As Hannah’s website says: Kitten Lady provides educational media, training resources, and instructional workshops that help individuals and animal shelters learn how to save the lives of kittens--in a fun and engaging format. Listen in as she tells us how it all began, and what you can do to join Hannah’s mission.
When Steven Appelbaum started Animal Behavior College in 1998, he had already been working as a dog trainer with his company, Animal Training and Behavior Associates, for over 10 years. Realizing that pet owners needed people who were experienced at training all types of animals, Steven added a Cat Training Program to his curriculum. It wasn’t long before Animal Behavior College became THE place trainers go to get up-to-date skills on training both dogs and cats. Listen as Steven tells us how this all came to be, and Rita decides to take his Cat Training Program through it’s paces as an Animal Behavior College student herself!
Today’s guest has the PURRfect last name to work with cats. Sonya Petcavich is the Founding CEO of Meowtel is a Cats- Only Pet Sitting company, with locations in many cities across the United States! Sonya’s company and Meowtel’s business model was so in sync with my own, that I merged my company, Just For Cats Pet Sitting, with Meowtel earlier this year. I now sit on the Advisory Board of Meowtel, but its all Sonya’s hard work, love for, and dedication to cats that makes Meowtel tick! Listen as Sonya tells us what motivated her to start Meowtel, and what makes her company special.
Our guest today is one heck of a cat advocate. Back in 1992, Lynea started turning her home and her property into a cat rescue. Nearly 30 years later, Cat House on the Kings is the largest cat rescue in California, with 700+ cats and 300+ kitten in residence. How does she do it? Tune in to find out how Cat House and the Kings helps over 500 cats and dogs get spayed and neutered every year, and how YOU can help support their mission by donating, fostering, or adopting. Be sure to follow their Facebook page @CatHouseontheKings
Ingrid Johnson is our special guest today, and what a resume she has! Ingrid is a busy lady, with a full-time job at a busy Georgia vet’s office as a vet tech and cat groomer, she also has a private cat behavior practice, she is the former co-chair of the IAABC for whom she also blogs, she is the current co-chair of the anti-declaw movement, Paw Project Georgia Chapter, and on top of all that, Ingrid also developed her own line of cat toys and puzzle feeders. WOW, she is one busy lady! Ingrid is involved with so many more things we can hardly list them all!
A gal with mega-watt talent and a lot of smarts (she has a Ph.D. to prove it!), Mayim also has a deep love for cats! Like me, Mayim calls herself a Cat Mom, and she has dubbed me one “RAD Cat Lady!” I am honored. Mayim has partnered with Royal Canin in support of the Take Your Cat to the Vet movement. Listen has she tells me about her love for cats, her own special needs cat Addie, and her upcoming TV series, Call Me Kat. All you cat lovers out there won’t want to miss this very special show!
We’re so excited to have as our guest today Samantha Bell, cat rescue advocate for Best Friends Animal Society and former Disney Princess! She is a tireless advocate for cats, and is a member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, aka The IAABC, (as is Rita).
Wondering how you can help cats find homes during the pandemic? Tune in to find out, as Samantha, Rita, and Linda discuss!
Today’s special guest is Tina Reddington, Director of the Los Angeles Volunteer & Kitten Programs, ASPCA. Tina has worked for the ASPCA for the last 12 years, holding various roles on the Direct Response, Fundraising, Member Communications teams. She developed the ASPCA Volunteer Program in Los Angeles over two years ago, and launched the ASPCA L.A. Kitten Foster Program in Fall of 2016. Her foster and diversion program has cared for over 3,000 cats since its inception, and the program continues to grow.
What is your cat thinking, what is he feeling at the moment? Watch that swishy cat tail for clues to your cat’s every mood! His body language, and especially that tail, will give you real insight as to your cat’s attitude, aka CATitude. So tune in and let Rita and Linda teach you how to tell his true feelings.
Cats love to play, and we want to play along with them, too. But just how safe are the toys we give our cats? Rita and Linda discuss various cat toys, what to look out for, and what really are the best toys for your cats. They also discuss their upcoming line of USA hand-made toys, “Just For Cats by Gracie and Esther.”
Our feline loves bring us so much happiness and joy! Unfortunately, their lives are not as long as we'd like, and it's inevitable that we will lose them some day. Learn about Rita's book, Sadie's Heart, where she chronicles her journey with her sweet little Sadie. Travel with us as Rita shares her adoption story, falling in love with her precious Sadie, only to later find out about Sadie's horrible heart condition. Learn how she fought for Sadie and turned her short life expectancy of less than a year into the amazing seven years she lived. Feel Rita’s heartbreak, as she lost her baby and learn how to deal with grief and get through this stressful time!
It isn't just the humans being affected by Covid-19. Our kitties are having to adjust to the new routines, and people are wondering where our kitties fit in to this scary time. Learn some keys to making this adjustment easier for kitties and their humans. Learn how to set a routine that your cat is craving for, both now and after things return to normal. Rita share her “4 PEGS of Cat Behavior,” which will help you get your cat back to a sense of normal.
What in the world is a cat behavior expert? In this, our very first episode of 19 Cats and Counting, you will meet Rita and Linda, and learn what a cat behavior expert is all about. Grab a cup of coffee and join in the fun while we chat, laugh, and learn how to make our relationships better with our kitty friends and family.
