Does your cat not always use the litter box? Maybe your feline runs and hides each time the doorbell rings. Those are two of many behavior problems you might encounter with your cat. 

On this episode of The Hissing Feline, I visit with Allison Hunter-Frederick, a certified cat behavior consultant and owner of Allison Helps Cats in Lincoln, NE. She discusses common feline behavior issues that prompt cat owners to contact her, and how she works with cats who have various behavior issues. 

Website: allisonhelpscats.com

Dr. Bruce Kornreich is the guest on this episode of The Hissing Feline. He is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

In this episode, Dr. Kornreich discusses the three components of the Center's mission: research, outreach, and education. He also highlights the kind of collaborative research the Center involved in, talks about the Center's CatGPT, and discusses cat-related research.

My guest today is Dr. Emily Coleman, a veterinarian and the executive director of The National Kitten Coalition.

Dr. Coleman talks about the organization, including its history, when it was started, and its purpose and goals. In addition, She discusses The National Kitten Coalition's educational programs and the most pressing concerns of the organization.

Next, Dr. Coleman helps listeners understand why fostering kittens is crucial, as well as why people should consider fostering. She explains what potential foster parents should consider before bringing kittens in their home, plus special preparations kitten fosters need to make for kittens in their home. She also talks about her recommendations for daily monitoring of a kitten. 

The National Kitten Coalition website has an article about potential health issues when mixing kittens from different litters. Dr. Coleman explains why that is an important concern. She also discusses the kinds of health issues kittens are susceptible to and how can parents of kittens can reduce the chance of illnesses in kittens. 

Finally, Dr. Coleman talks about how can people deal with allergies to kittens.

The guest on this episode is Dr. Joyce Carnevale, director of the Community Outreach Program at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. 

In the first segment of the show, Dr. Carnevale discusses the beginning of the Community Outreach Program and the goals of the program. She compares the growth of the program over the years and talks about how local shelters in mid-Iowa become involved.

The second segment focuses on the student side of the Community Outreach Program. Dr. Carnevale discusses the types of surgeries and health issues that students address. She talks about the biggest health issues students might encounter with cats. Additionally, she notes how students can become more involved in feline health through student chapters of two organizations: The Feline Veterinary Medical Association and The Association of Shelter Veterinarians, and how involvement helps students prepare for careers in veterinary medicine.

The guest on this episode is Crystal Jolly, a pet sitter with 15 years of full time experience and 25 years part time work in the field.

Topics on the show include how Crystal become interested in pet sitting, differences between dogs and cats for sitters, and the personalities of different types of cats. 

In the second segment, Crystal discusses deciding whether to employ a pet sitter or boarding an animal when an owner will be away. She also talks about what a person should consider when selecting a sitter for their pet.

From the standpoint of pet parents, Crystal talks about how best to prepare for a pet sitter, such as what should be included in the instructions for a sitter. She also discusses what a sitter can do during the time they are sitting, such as providing photos of the pet through daily text or emails.  

Today's guest is Carol Griglione, executive director of the Animal Rescue League  in Des Moines, IA. Carol oversees ARL operations and directs the leadership team. She has been involved with the ARL since 1993, including serving for 30-years as board president.

In this episode, you will learn about the work of the ARL, its background, and community outreach. Carol also discusses the approximate numbers and types of animals received and cared for each month. Sometimes there are sudden increases in numbers due to rescue situations. Examples from December 2025, include one situation that involved more than 60 cats and another that rescued just over 30 cats.

A highlight of the show is the ARL's CatSnip program, a Trap-Neuter-Release (TRN) program. Discover what is involved the program. Carol also talks about cat adoption: How much it costs to adopt a cat and what is included in an adoption (e.g., exam, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchip, and spayed/neutered).

This week's guest on The Hissing Feline is Dawn Poetting, the director of Noah's Ark Animal Foundation in Fairfield, IA. In this episode, Dawn talks about the history of the organization and its growth, as well as challenges of shelters in smaller communities. She also discusses the importance of the organization's volunteers.

My guest for this episode is Tonya Headlee, who is with the Grimes Feline Finders in Iowa. Tonya talks about how the people with Feline Finders are helping reunite cats with their owners. She also explains the steps individuals can take if their cat is lost.

Listen to The Hissing Feline starting in February.