6 Degrees of Cats

Felis catus - the “domestic house cat”. What does that label mean for the hundreds of millions of domesticated yet house-less cats - and how does the answer to this connect to both human and cat welfare? In this special episode, released during October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’ll be joined by Community Cats Podcast host Stacy LeBaron, who will share success stories of the “mosaic of support” that benefits both humans and their feline family members. We’re grateful to also have two special guests from the Urban Resource Institute who shed light on the #1 cause of homelessness in New York City, and why cats are a part of the solution. And we’ll have a cameo from returning guest Jackson Galaxy, star of Animal Planet’s hit series, My Cat From Hell and founder of The Jackson Galaxy Project, a program of The Greater Good Charities. If you or someone you know is healing from ongoing or past power-based interpersonal violence (IPV; domestic violence) you are not alone, there is never an excuse and you have resources - for U.S. listeners, thehotline.org has a clearinghouse of free, trauma-informed service providers. For international listeners, the No More Global Directory has region-specific hotlines at nomoredirectory.org. And if you’d like to get involved, visit righttobe.org for bystander intervention resources and more. Post-episode body scan exercise (materials courtesy The Greater Good Science Center at University of California - Berkeley): https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/body_scan_meditation Special thanks to Kristin DeFur of The Urban Resource Institute (URI) and Kyle of the TASC group for facilitating the URI interview. Support the podcast at https://ko-fi.com/6degreesofcats for as little as $1 / month for stickers, early access to new episodes and behind the scenes audio. View the show notes and more on The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. And check out these supplementary episodes: Community CATalysts: Kosovans Caring for Their Animal Survivors Beyond Taylor Swift: Who Are Cat People? Our Feline Fictive Kin: Are Cats Full Fledged Family? [Season 2 Finale] About the experts: Elizabeth Rose is a domestic violence survivor, mother and 2024 URI Celebration Triumph Award recipient. After escaping abuse in 2019 with her daughter Hazel and their cat Bebe, she found safety and healing through the Urban Resource Institute’s People and Animals Living Safely (PALS) program. Today, Elizabeth shares her story as a testament to resilience and the lifesaving impact of programs that keepfamilies and pets together. Teal Inzunza, L.C.S.W., is the Associate Vice President of Justice Initiatives at the Urban Resource Institute (URI), where she leads programs supporting survivors of domestic violence and homeless families. With a background as URI’s Director of Economic Empowerment, Inzunza is a nationally recognized advocate for economic justice, LGBTQ survivor support and systemic change. She co-chairs the NYC Domestic Violence & Economic Justice Taskforce and has been honored with awards from Her Justice and the Anti-Violence Project for her transformative work. Stacy LeBaron has been involved in animal welfare for over 30 years and considers herself a feline entrepreneur. She currently hosts the Community Cats Podcast where she interviews renowned experts about cat overpopulation and welfare solutions. The podcast hosts three certification programs covering the topics of Trap, Neuter, and Return, Surrender Prevention, and Return to Home. Stacy is also a partner of the Community Cat Clinic in Woodstock and Duluth, Georgia; President of PAWSitive Pantry in Vermont and Massachusetts; Treasurer at the Vermont Humane Federation, the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society and Community Cat Champions; and Treasurer and Director of Strategy at The United Spay Alliance. Stacy graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Urban Studies. She now lives in Vermont and

What’s really going on with fearful cats - and why should we rethink the label “scaredy cat”? Behavioral biologist Dr. Lee Niel shares expert insights on how to read cats’ signals and understand what they’re trying to tell us. Returning guest expert Dr. Kristyn Vitale explores the environments and conditions that can create so-called scaredy cats. Finally, meet arborist and emergency responder Duane Hook, who rescues cats stuck in trees and offers a unique perspective on feline fear, trust and resilience. Check out Cat in a Tree Emergency Rescue at catinatreerescue.com. Special thanks to Georgia Mason, Ph.D. of the University of Guelph. Support the podcast at https://ko-fi.com/6degreesofcats for as little as $1 / month for stickers, early access to new episodes and behind the scenes audio. View the show notes and more on The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. And check out these supplementary episodes: 5 Ways to Say ”I Love Mew”: Using the 5 Love Languages…With Your Cat? Cats Are the Consummate Domesticate: Origins and Evolution of Our Feline Friends [Pilot] About the experts: Duane Hook, an Ohio-based arborist and cat rescuer has been helping cats in North America down from trees since 2010. You can watch his harrowing rescue missions on TikTok (tiktok.com/@getmeowtahere) and YouTube (@DHook) - all happy outcomes! - and learn more about his work at getmeowtahere.com.  Kristyn Vitale, Ph.D., is the founder of Maueyes and star of Netflix’s hit feature film, “The Mind of a Cat”. Her innovative research on cat behavior and human-animal interaction has been published in multiple peer-reviewed journals and been covered by such international publications as Science, National Geographic, The New York Times, and The Times of London. Lee Niel, Ph.D., is a behavioural biologist trained in animal behaviour and welfare with expertise with both laboratory and companion animals. Dr. Niel holds the Col KL Campbell Chair in Companion Animal Welfare at Ontario Veterinary College at Canada's University of Guelph, and her research and teaching are focused on the behaviour and welfare of companion animals.  Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles and new associate Peanut   Animal voices include: Binky, Snuggles and Peanut _^..^_ Music: Leathered: "Look Alive" © 2025 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2025 (Instagram: itsmyunzii) Research used: Adolphs, R. (2013, January 21). The Biology of Fear. Current biology : CB. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3595162/ Cantor, C., & Price, J. (2007, May). Traumatic entrapment, appeasement and complex post-traumatic stress disorder: Evolutionary perspectives of hostage reactions, domestic abuse and the Stockholm syndrome. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17464728/ Chetty, R., Hofmeyr, A., Kincaid, H., & Monroe, B. (2021). The Trust Game Does not (only) Measure trust: The risk-trust. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics). https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/soceco/v90y2021ics2214804319302290.html Costandi, M. (2023, February 15). Your brain is wired to detect fear, outside of your conscious awareness. Big Think. https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/brain-fear-unconscious-awareness/ Davis, D., Hogan, A. A., & Hart, D. J. (2025, September 19). Myths of trauma memory: On the oversimplification of effects of attention narrowing under stress. Frontiers. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1294730/full Dawson, L. C., Cheal, J., & Mason, G. (2019, November). Humans can identify cats’ affective states from subtle facial expressions. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/336964729_Humans_can_identify_cats’_affective_states_from_subtle_facial_express

Who loves cats and cinema? On this episode, the crew of your favorite cat-themed culture, history and science podcast make our first foray into feline film studies! Join us for a 40 minute discussion on the roles cats have played onscreen - from overlooked props and stereotypes to scene-stealing stars who shape stories and symbolize mystery, power and resilience. Host Amanda “Captain Kitty” B. is joined by film critic Angelica Jade Bastién, 25 Cats from Qatar and Cat Daddies filmmaker Mye Hoang (with cinematographer Rob Bennett), and Girls and Their Cats video series creator Brianne Wills to unpack how filmmakers use the “five Cs of cinematography” to portray cats, the cultural tropes tying felines to witches and “mad women” and the rise of cat-pawsitive storytelling in both film and digital media. From Hollywood classics to international documentaries and everyday cat videos, we explore how these furry icons are reshaping the zeitgeist - and how we can celebrate and sustain this New Wave. Note: There is a brief mention of gender-based violence. If you or someone you know has experienced domestic or intimate partner violence or assault, please connect with 1-800-656-HOPE (US) or visit domesticshelters.org for international resources. You are not alone, nobody deserves it and you have options. Support the podcast at https://ko-fi.com/6degreesofcats for as little as $1 / month for stickers, early access to new episodes and behind the scenes audio. View the show notes and more on The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. And check out these supplementary episodes: Witches, Whiskers and Whisky: Re-introducing the Original Cat Lady of Halloween! [Season 2 Premiere] Cats vs Cupid: Why Cats are the Better Valentine’s Day Mascot Did You Know the Vikings had Cats? Magic, Freya and Norse Folklore Felines & Fatherhood: Exploring Masculinity, Father’s Day, and the Unique Bond Between Men and Cats   About the experts: Angelica Jade Bastién is a critic and essayist at New York Magazine’s site Vulture. She has been featured on Rotten Tomatoes and her work has been published in many publications including Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, and within Criterion Blu-ray releases. She lives in Chicago with her two cats. You can subscribe to her newsletter, Madwomen & Muses on Substack. BriAnne Wills is a fashion and beauty photographer and the creator of Girls and Their Cats, a photo and YouTube series created by BriAnne as a way to debunk the crazy cat lady stereotype and to showcase cat-owning women in a positive light. Originally from Oregon, she currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two cats, Liza and Tuck. She’s photographed over 400 women around the US, all as unique as their feline friends. Subscribe to the Girls and Their Cats YouTube channel and sign up here to be featured in her next video shoot. Mye Hoang is a Los Angeles–based producer and director of cat-themed documentaries 25 Cats From Qatar (2025) and Cat Daddies (2022). She produced the award-winning noir thriller Man From Reno (LA Film Festival Best Feature, Spirit Award Nominee 2015) and Lynn Chen’s I Will Make You Mine (SXSW 2020), and her first narrative feature, Viette (2012), a Vietnamese American coming-of-age story, screened at dozens of festivals including the Asian American International Film Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Fest. Hoang is the founder and former Executive Director of the Asian Film Festival of Dallas, former Artistic Director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, and holds a BA in Cinema from Southern Methodist University. Visit 25catsfromqatar.com to purchase the film on Blu-ray and visit catdaddiesmovie.com Cat Daddies to watch On Demand or purchase on DVD. Rob E. Bennett is a Los Angeles–based cinematographer whose work spans documentary, narrative, and commercial projects. In collaboration with director Mye Hoang, he shot 25 Cats from Qatar (2025) and Cat Daddies (2022), both

Cats - stealthy, sneaky - and spooky! Hidden in plain sight. All the makings of…the purr-fect spy! Or so we think. Listen in on a fun, feline fact-filled episode about how, if, when and why cats have ever been associated with - or agents of - covert operations, intelligence gathering and all things espionage. Feline anatomy expert Gabriela Canales, D.V.M. will spotlight the special skills and attributes that may or may not have inspired espionage professionals in 14th Century Japan and during the Cold War. Listen in as we run this theory by Japan folklore expert and historian Zack Davisson and espionage historian Andrew Hammond, Ph.D. - and then decide if your cat is in cahoots with your Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices! Support the podcast at https://ko-fi.com/6degreesofcats for as little as $1 / month for stickers, early access to new episodes and behind the scenes audio. View the show notes and more on The Captain’s Log, the companion podcast newsletter here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats. And check out these supplementary episodes: Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat, Part 1: Research and Righting Reflexes Cat Eyes: Make-up, Magic and Myopia with writer Zahra Hankir, Animal Communicator Alicia Halloran and Cat Ophthalmologist Steve Hanes About the experts: Gabriela “Gaby” Canales, D.V.M., is the co-medical director of West Chelsea Veterinary in New York City. Dr. Canales trained at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and completed a one-year internship in Medicine and Surgery at BluePearl Veterinary Partners. When not attending to her patients or her own cats, Priscilla and Bert, Dr. Canales drums in NYC riot grrrl punk band Frida Kill, which can be found on Instagram @fridakillkills. Zack Davisson is an award winning translator, writer, and scholar of Japanese folklore and ghosts. He is the author of “Yurei: The Japanese Ghost”, "The Ghost of Oyuki" and “Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan” from Chin Music Press. Davisson translated Shigeru Mizuki’s Eisner Award winning and Harvey-nominated “Showa 1926-1939: A History of Japan” and several Dark Horse publications by Satoshi Kon including “Opus”, “Seraphim: 266613336 Wings” and “The Art of Satoshi Kon”. He was also a researcher and on-screen talent for National Geographic’s TV special “Japan: Lost Souls of Okinawa” and maintains Japanese folklore website hyakumonogatari.com. You can follow Zack on Bluesky @ zackdavisson.com. Andrew Hammond, Ph.D., is a Scottish historian specializing in European and North American intelligence who received his Ph.D. in Modern History and International Relations from Warwick University. He has provided his expertise for such media outlets as the BBC and the History Channel, as well as the International Spy Museum where he served as historian, curator and host of their podcast from 2020-2025. Dr. Hammond is a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Global and National Security Institute and is currently appointed as Senior Director for Content & Interpretation at the National Liberty Museum. He can be followed on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhammond2000. Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything* Captain Kitty (Amanda B.) * with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles and new associate Peanut Animal voices include: Binky, Snuggles and Peanut _^..^_ Music: Leathered: "Look Alive", “Giver” © 2025 Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com Logo design: Edward Anthony © 2025 (Instagram: itsmyunzii) Research used: Alexy, Alison (host). (2021, June 18).  Season 2, Episode 5 | Vyjayanthi Selinger [Audio podcast interview]. In Michigan Talks Japan Season 2, Episode 5 | Vyjayanthai Selinger. Michigan Talks Japan Podcast. https://ii.umich.edu/cjs/podcast/season-2--episode-5---vyjayanthi-selinger.html “The anatomy of cats: Bones, flexibility, and injury awareness.” British Animal Hospital. (2024, October 3). https://territory-uae.com/uae/the-anatomy-of-cats-bones-flexibil

Can cats see ghosts? In this cat-themed culture, history and science podcast, explore cat eyes from eyeliner, to clairvoyance to ophthalmology with guest experts journalist Zahra Hankir, animal communicator Alicia Halloran and cat ophthalmologist Dr. Steve Hanes.