Cats are both predator and prey — and that dual nature means they respond to emergencies unlike any other animal. They have five weapons of mass destruction, a flexible spine, and no apologies. When the uh-oh happens, are you ready? In this episode, Stacy sits down with Arden Moore, bestselling author, host of the longest-running pet podcast on the planet, and founder of Pet First Aid 4 U, to talk about what every cat caregiver — whether you’re a TNR volunteer, a shelter worker, a foster, or a pet parent — needs to know when a cat is in crisis.

Arden draws on 15 years as a master certified pet first aid and CPR instructor to break down how to safely approach an injured or unconscious cat, the right way to perform two-handed CPR (and yes, even kitten CPR), how to transport an injured cat without spiking their fear and stress, and what to keep in your car and home to be truly safety-ready. Stacy and Arden also talk about why community cats present a unique challenge — and how many of the same skills transfer directly to TNR work in the field.

You’ll also hear about the surprising void in veterinary education around pet first aid, why even vets have frozen during a pet emergency, and how Arden’s famous sidekick, Pet Safety Cat Casey — a shelter alum from San Diego Humane Society who stole the show at the Virginia Cat Festival with over 350 people in the room — makes learning these life-saving skills both practical and fun.

Stacy and Arden are proud partners through the Community Cats Central e-learning platform, where group packages allow organizations to get their entire teams certified together. If your group of 10 wants to watch, learn, and get individually certified, this is the course for you.

Less than 5% of pet owners have ever taken a pet first aid class. That’s a big void — and this episode is your invitation to fill it.

Press Play Now For:

• Why cats in emergencies are nothing like small dogs — and how to adjust your approach for their unique physiology and stress responses
• How to perform one- and two-handed CPR on a cat, including two-finger CPR for neonatal kittens
• The kitty Heimlich, safe towel-wrapping technique, and the right way to use a top-loading carrier for transport
• What to keep in your car and home for a pet first aid kit — and when to check it (hint: sync it with clock changes)
• Why TNR caregivers are uniquely positioned to respond to field emergencies, and why a transfer cage may be better than a carrier
• The ASPCA Poison Control and Pet Poison Helpline as 24/7 resources for toxic ingestions
• Why you should always call ahead to the vet — and put your hazards on during transport
• How Arden’s “Arden’s Army” of 500+ certified instructors is spreading life-saving skills across shelters, rescues, vet clinics, and beyond
• How to become a certified pet first aid instructor yourself through the ProPet Hero instructor program
• How the Community Cat Central / Pet First Aid 4 U partnership works, including group certification packages

Resources & Links

• Pet First Aid 4 U
• Arden Moore’s Website
• Oh Behave! Podcast on Pet Life Radio
• ProPet Hero Instructor Training
• Arden Moore on YouTube
• Arden Moore on Instagram
• Arden Moore on Facebook
• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center  (888) 426-4435, available 24/7
• Pet Poison Helpline  (855) 764-7661, available 24/7