This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and the Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants.

What happens when a prison island becomes a refuge for hundreds of community cats? In this powerful episode, host Stacy LeBaron sits down with Gloria Murli, retired Rikers Island captain, and Mike Phillips of Urban Cat League to explore the decades-long, compassionate mission to care for and manage the cat colonies of Rikers Island.

Gloria shares how a promise to a fellow officer turned into a lifelong commitment to Rikers’ feral cats, evolving into one of the nation’s largest TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) initiatives inside a correctional facility. Together with Mike, they recount the logistical, emotional, and bureaucratic challenges of working within a highly secure, sprawling facility, where cats once numbered over a thousand and lived in hidden colonies across 400 acres.

Now, the project is taking an inspiring next step: creating a dedicated sanctuary on Rikers Island, transforming a former softball field into a safe haven for cats. This model sanctuary will not only stabilize the cat population but also serve as a workforce development opportunity, training low-security inmates in animal care—providing skills and hope for post-incarceration employment while improving animal welfare.

We discuss creative solutions for feeding, the importance of partnerships with the Humane Society of New York, and how these lessons can guide sensitive area TNR and community cat care nationwide, from airports to correctional facilities.

If you’ve ever wondered how passion and persistence can drive systemic change for cats, this episode will inspire you to believe in what’s possible—no matter how challenging the environment.

Press Play Now For:

• The untold story of Rikers Island’s hidden cat colonies.
• How TNR became possible inside one of America’s largest prisons.
• Challenges of managing 27 feeding stations on a secure island.
• Why building trust with authorities is key to community cat projects.
• How the sanctuary model may revolutionize cat care in sensitive areas.
• Opportunities for incarcerated individuals to gain animal care skills.
• Creative fundraising ideas, including sponsor-a-feeding-station models.
• The power of long-term commitment to transform cat welfare.

Resources & Links:

• Rikers Island Cat Rescue (RICR): Donate, view wishlists, or sponsor a feeding station to support the cats of Rikers Island. (http://ricr.org)
• Urban Cat League (http://urbancatleague.org)
• Humane Society of New York (http://humanesocietyny.org)

Sponsor Links:

• Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies617)
• Rescue Cleaners and Disinfectants (https://communitycatclinic.com)

Follow & Review

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund and the Community Cat Clinic.

In the first half of this special two-part webinar replay, Bryan Kortis of Neighborhood Cats walks us through the foundational and intermediate techniques that can make or break a successful Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) effort. Drawing from decades of field experience, Bryan shares tried-and-true strategies for preparing a trapping site, creating effective feeding patterns, and managing large colony trappings with confidence.

Listeners will come away with an understanding of the practical tools—like gravity traps, bait techniques, and trap mats—that make trapping more efficient and less stressful for cats and caregivers alike. Bryan also offers valuable seasonal tips, including how to trap safely in winter and how to take advantage of predictable feline behavior. The episode wraps up with an introduction to the monumental post-wildfire trapping campaign in Maui, which sets the stage for Part 2.

Press Play Now For:

• The most overlooked basics that still trip up experienced trappers
• Mass trapping best practices: timing, trap placement, and baiting
• Choosing between spring-loaded vs. gravity traps
• Trap mats, feeding patterns, and sounds cats respond to
• Winter trapping insights that challenge common assumptions
• The setup behind Maui’s 600+ cat burn zone project

Resources Mentioned:

• Neighborhood Cats (https://www.neighborhoodcats.org/)
• Tomahawk Live Trap – GT606 & Roundhouse (https://livetrap.com/)
• PVC trap mat material example (https://tinyurl.com/yvecchb3)

Sponsor Links:

• Maddie's Fund (https://www.communitycatspodcast.com/maddies617)
• Community Cat Clinic (https://communitycatclinic.com)

Follow & Review

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then share a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.