Listen to this Diary of a Cat Mom podcast episode and picture a scared little kitten hiding at the back of a shelter room, refusing to come out. Then picture a quiet check-in, a covered bed, and a little patience, until a sassy, cuddly personality shows up. That is a normal day for Sean-Patrick Malloy, Behavior and Enrichment Specialist at the SPCA Finger Lakes.

In this interview, host Dagmar sits down with Sean-Patrick for a practical, heartfelt guide to helping animals. It covers five segments: getting to know your local shelter, adoption, fostering, volunteering, and donations. You'll hear how to read your cat's emotions, what to do when you find a stray, how to pick the right cat for your home, and how to make your shelter donations count.

What You'll Learn

• What a shelter behavior and enrichment specialist does, and why emotional enrichment matters for cats
• Essential cat products: breakaway collars, ID tags, interactive toys, and a variety of scratching posts
• Why microchipping matters and how to keep your registration info current
• How spay/neuter affects cat behavior and health, and where to find low-cost options
• What to do if you find a stray, and how to check for a microchip
• How to report suspected animal abuse, and why photo or video evidence carries weight
• How to prepare your home before adopting, and why you should meet every cat before choosing
• How shelter adoption processes and fees work
• What foster-to-adopt means, and which animals need foster homes most
• How to volunteer, even if you don't want to walk dogs
• What shelters need most, and what not to donate

Timestamps & Chapters (final edit, 57:24)

• (00:00) Intro: From Stray to Stay
• (00:16) What a Behavior & Enrichment Specialist Does
• (04:12) Why Cat Parents Should Learn Cat Behavior
• (06:42) Segment 1: Must-Have Pet Products (Collars, Toys & Scratchers)
• (08:36) Microchipping & Updating Your Info
• (11:00) Spay/Neuter: Health, Behavior & How Fast Cats Multiply
• (15:23) Found a Stray? What to Do (and How to Check for a Microchip)
• (18:49) Reporting Animal Abuse Anonymously
• (20:29) Segment 2: Why Adopt from a Shelter & How to Prepare
• (26:45) How the Adoption Process & Fees Work
• (29:35) Picking the Right Cat (Including Multi-Cat Homes)
• (34:42) Segment 3: Foster-to-Adopt Explained
• (37:53) Fostering Requirements & Who Needs Fosters Most
• (44:40) Segment 4: Volunteering (Cats, Dogs & the Barn)
• (47:55) Segment 5: Donations, What Shelters Need & What to Skip
• (55:26) Where to Connect & Sean-Patrick's Message

Podcast Guest:
Sean-Patrick Malloy, Behavior & Enrichment Specialist at Finger Lakes SPCA, https://www.fingerlakesspca.org/
Reach Sean-Patrick at sean-patrick@fingerlakesspca.org.

Disclaimer: The guest, Sean-Patrick Malloy, Finger Lakes SPCA, is solely responsible for the content, opinions, and advice he shares in this episode. This episode is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.

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Diary of a Cat Mom is a gentle, diary-style cat podcast about everyday life with cats—created especially for cat moms 35+ in multi‑cat homes who see their cats as family.

Resources for Cat Parents
Everything I use for my cats is here: https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/

About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast

Diary of a Cat Mom is a personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell, sharing real moments from life with cats. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom, not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, always consult your trusted veterinarian.

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