The Cat Conference 2026
Take part in two days filled with cat-centric content, speakers from a wide variety of animal welfare roles share their perspectives on the field, providing valuable insights to help you or your organization create a more humane world for community cats.
Scroll down to learn more about the speakers and presentations included in this year’s conference. Plus, attendees can take advantage of the interactive format, useful handouts, and get access to an exclusive Facebook group to network with other cat-focused volunteers and professionals.
Speakers and Presentations
Click here to download the full schedule, speaker profiles, and presentation descriptions. And don’t forget to subscribe to our email newsletter to get all the details and updates sent straight to your inbox.
Access to Veterinary Care and Cat Families
Kaitlyn Andres, MS, MPH
Research Associate, University of Tennessee, Knoxville – Program for Pet Health Equity (PPHE)
The Cat’s Meow: Using Data to Drive Feline Adoption
April Huntsman
Senior Director of Animal Welfare, Adopt a Pet
Full Circle TNR: Stopping the Cycle Where the Kittens Begin
Jackie Noble
Executive Director, Orphan Kitten Club
Feline Leukemia (FeLV): Just Where Do We Stand and How Can You Help?
Margaret Tompkins
President, Tompkins Foundation for FeLV Advocacy
What Does It Take to Start and Run a Cat Cafe?
Uri Harel
President, Kitty Cat Cafe and Adoption Lounge
Extreme Trapping: Lessons From the Burn Zone
Bryan Kortis
National Programs Director, Neighborhood Cats
Pushing Upstream: Building Multi-Country Evidence-Based Strategies for Cat Population Management
Harry Eckman
Global Advisor for Cat Population Management, International Cat Care
Cat Acquisition and Care: Trends and Implications for Outreach
Megyn Scott-Hintz
Graduate Research Assistant, Program for Pet Health Equity
Building Capacity Where It Counts: How Veterinary Training Fuels Community Cat Programs
Brianna Lovell Myers
Executive Director, United Spay Alliance
What Does It Take to Start and Run a Cat Cafe?
Anne Beal
Founder, Meow Cat Lounge
Raising the Bar: Strengthening Community Cat Program Leadership – A Panel Discussion
Elizabeth Finch
Education Coordinator, Community Cats Central
Access to Veterinary Care and Cat Families
Katy Carpenter
Editorial Operations Manager for the Journal of One Health Systems
Access to Veterinary Care and Cat Families
Kayla Anderson
Veterinary Social Worker, University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s Program for Pet Health Equity (PPHE)
Access to Veterinary Care and Cat Families
Claire Schuch
Associate Director of Research, University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s Program for Pet Health Equity (PPHE)
What Does It Take to Start and Run a Cat Cafe?
Stacy LeBaron
Founder & Head Cat, Community Cats Central
Raising the Bar: Strengthening Community Cat Program Leadership – A Panel Discussion
Aubry Eilenstine
Community Cat Program Coordinator, KC Pet Project
Raising the Bar: Strengthening Community Cat Program Leadership – A Panel Discussion
Amanda Ondrof
President, Communities Promoting Animal Welfare (CPAW)
Grants Chat
Stephanie Mathers
CEO, Grants 4 Animals
Conference Sponsors
We are proud to receive support from the following sponsors for this conference. We are currently accepting sponsorships for our 2026 educational season. This year’s packages include a range of valuable benefits. Review the sponsorship details, and if you have any questions, please email stacy@communitycatspodcast.com.
