September 02, 2025

Building Professional Community Cat Programs: From Strategy to Implementation, Featuring Elizabeth Finch, Educator, Author, and Community Cat Program Consultant

31 minutes

"A community cat program does not just help cats. You think you're going in there to help cats and you turn out really having more impact on the people in that community."

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie's Fund and 6 Degrees of Cats.

In this insightful episode, host Stacy LeBaron welcomes back Elizabeth Finch, an impact-driven leader who has been transforming community cat programming since 2015. Elizabeth's journey from launching a robust community cat program serving over 4,000 cats annually in metro Atlanta to becoming an educator and consultant offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to create systematic change. Her experience reveals how effective community cat work extends far beyond individual rescue efforts to become a comprehensive approach that benefits both cats and the people who care about them.

Elizabeth shares the strategic thinking behind successful community cat programs, emphasizing the importance of moving beyond "onesie-twosie" approaches to tackle entire colonies, neighborhoods, and zip codes systematically. The conversation explores how she and Stacy partnered to create the first-of-its-kind Community Cat Program Management Certification course at University of the Pacific, addressing the gap between skilled trappers and comprehensive program management. Elizabeth discusses the eight-module curriculum that covers everything from funding and marketing to legal roadblocks and public engagement—skills that most passionate trappers never learned but desperately need.

The episode also touches on Elizabeth's creative outlets, including her book "Colony Tails: Lessons from the Alley," which captures the human side of community cat work through short stories that honor frontline caretakers. Whether you're running a small TNR group, working in municipal animal services, or considering starting a community cat program, this conversation provides both strategic insights and practical tools for professionalizing this critical work while maintaining its heart and compassion.

Press play now for:

Elizabeth's journey from individual cat rescue to systematic community cat programming
Why community cat programs help people as much as cats in underserved communities
The strategic approach to TNR: targeting whole colonies, neighborhoods, and zip codes rather than individual cats
How the Community Cat Program Management Certification course fills the gap between trapping skills and program management
Details on the eight-module curriculum covering funding, marketing, legal issues, data management, and public engagement
The partnership between passionate educators with different strengths (methodical writer vs. dynamic speaker)
Live weekly sessions, Q&A opportunities, and expert guest interviews from field veterans
The Sue Black Memorial Scholarship honoring a dedicated community cat program manager
TNR certification workshops and the movement toward professionalizing community cat work
Elizabeth's book "Colony Tails: Lessons from the Alley" and upcoming series of standalone management guides
Why effective TNR requires far more than "traps and tuna" to create lasting community impact
Partnership opportunities for organizations wanting to support volunteer training

Resources mentioned:

University of the Pacific Community Cat Program Management Certification Course(https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/university-of-the-pacific-community-cats-program-management-certificate-program-853-372/)
Community Cat Champions - Sue Black Memorial Scholarship (https://communitycatchampions.org/)
Colony Tales: Lessons from the Alley on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Colony-Tails-Lessons-Elizabeth-Finch/dp/B0DGG2SMSS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ODXF70MNCC5C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tONPSO-TUDZMhENuCmEHoOVqaKfXgEoTcOhTEH0gq7XUpOH3wONtfcdWlwWfOAaP.7RgU5T0GsT_FpRvxTxxIHNJNrWPTrd6nhZ83TwFwc2Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=colony+tails&qid=1756150798&sprefix=colony+tails,aps,98&sr=8-1)
Community Cats Podcast TNR Certification Workshops (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/events/)
Community Cats Podcast Partnership Programs (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/)
Contact Elizabeth Finch: [email protected]
Contact Stacy LeBaron: [email protected]
Additional certifications: Drop Trap Certification, Trappers Tips & Tricks, Colony Caretaking Tips & Tricks(https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/conferences-and-events/)

Sponsor Links:

Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies623)
Six Degrees of Cats (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-degrees-of-cats/id1669849217)

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