In this episode, Stacy talks with Larry Shively, owner of ProVetLogic, one of the sponsors of 2019 Online Cat Conference, about controlling the spread of disease among cats, particularly in shelter-type environments.

Nine years ago, Larry & his wife Colleen started ProVetLogic after being called in to assist with a "big cat" situation – and by "big cats," he means lions and tigers! A zoo's big cats weren't eating, and with the help of a veterinarian, Larry discovered that the cleaning products the zoo was using were so strong that the cats couldn't smell their food anymore. Out of that process was born the idea of a trying to create protocols and products that would be effective and safe for both dogs and cats.

At the time, most shelter and veterinary clinic cleaning products were geared towards dogs, and were simply too strong to use around cats. So ProVet Logic developed products that are effective, as well as protocols for how to safely use their products around cats. They provide discounted pricing to rescue organizations, as well as free equipment and financial support. In addition, they offer a variety of basic animal care sanitation training programs designed to help clinics and shelters make sure their animal care staff can be trained in the basics quickly – and for free!

Larry feels that having simple, strong cleaning and disinfecting protocols – and making sure that those protocols are followed at all times – is the key to keeping disease rates down in shelters and kennels. If there's a problem, he tells us, it's usually not the product you're using; it's the protocol. They offer laminated protocol charts, and their online classes are available to anyone, whether you use ProVetLogic's products or not.

Larry & Stacy discuss some vital keys to preventing disease transmission in the shelter environment – from making sure you're cleaning the "touch points" in your cat care areas (and this doesn't mean the areas the cats touch!), to keeping good airflow going, to cleaning carriers. They talk about the fact that, as Larry puts it, "humans are the main transmitter of disease to animals" – and about why it's a good idea to keep the shoes you wear at the shelter or clinic separate from the ones you wear elsewhere!

Larry has seen things improve for cats over the past 10 years, and he hopes that things will continue to change for the better. He hopes everyone will help cats in whatever way they can – small or large – and that everyone who has a municipal shelter near them will make sure to support those folks! He reminds you to not just read the labels of the products you're using, but also to be sure to ask your sales reps for efficacy datain writing, as a product must be EPA-certified to prove that it works!

As a final note, Larry reminds people that cats are very susceptible to toxic reactions by absorption through their paw pads – so be sure those freshly cleaned floors are DRY before letting cats back on them!

To learn more, visit ProVetLogic's website, where you'll find lots of educational tools, as well as their products. Also check their Facebook pagefor a new basic educational video series coming soon. You can also email [email protected]if you have a question about disease control or sanitation – Larry promises you'll hear back quickly!