12:30 - 1:30 PM

Curious about fostering kittens and cats? This session will provide an introduction to what being a foster family entails and other ways you can support animal shelters. 

Presenter Bio

Julia Grosz is the Executive Director of Cat Hustler, a VA-based nonprofit that has been helping cats find homes through creative media since 2016. She is the organizer of The Acatemy, a national cat rescue conference, and other community-building events like symposiums, networking parties, and outings for cat rescuers in the Mid-Atlantic.

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Why are some felines crazy for plastic bags? What are cat zoomies and how can I deal with them? Why does my cat insist on following me into the bathroom? Face the feline facts. Cats can be fussy, fascinating, frustrating, funny and a bit freaky. Join best-selling author and celebrated pet podcast host Arden Moore and Pet Safety Cat Casey in an engaging talk on all things c-a-t. Arden (with the help of Casey, of course), will field your questions and share feline insights from her latest books: “The Cat Behavior Answer Book” and “A Kid’s Guide to Cats.” Both will be available for sale and autographed by Arden and Casey. 

Presenter Bio

Arden Moore is known as America’s Pet Health and Safety Coach. She is a master certified pet first aid/CPR instructor who teaches practical skills to pet professionals, first responders and pet parents in her veterinarian-approved Pet First Aid 4U program. Joining her is the confident, well-traveled Pet Safety Cat Casey. This orange tabby is a proud alum from the San Diego Humane Society and a certified therapy cat.

2:00 - 3:00 PM

Are you ready to be part of your neighborhood's solution for feral and stray cats? Join veteran trapper instructors for a demonstration of best practices for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and colony management. Learn what TNR is and why it works. Topics covered include trapping preparations, the various types of humane traps and how they work, feeding, and providing winter shelter.

Presenter Bio

SOS Cats RVA is an all-volunteer Trap, Neuter, and Return 501(C) 3 non-profit organization that’s been helping community cats in and around Central VA since 2003. Their mission is to protect and advocate for community cats through spay/neuter, rescue, adoption, and educational programs.

2:30 - 3:30 PM

Did you know that neonatal kittens (aged 0-8 weeks old) are the most euthanized animals in shelters across the country?  On the other hand, kittens over 8 weeks of age are the most adoptable animals in shelters. You can help by lending your time and home to community shelters and rescues.  Learn the basics of kitten care and how community organizations can support stray kittens. This session discusses the programmatic development of the Kitten College at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington in Arlington, VA where they went from saving 92 kittens a year to almost 1600 kittens annually.

Presenter Bio

Marnie Russ is the National Kitten College Program Administrator for the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. The first kitten nursery of its kind, she developed the Kitten College at the Animal Welfare League and the organization went from saving 92 kittens a year in 2016 to 1,547 kittens in 2022 all while maintaining a no kill live release rate. 

Marnie has been fostering neonatal kittens for over two decades, specializing in critical-care neonates and high-risk nursing/expectant queens.  Marnie is a recognized expert on caring for at-risk kittens. She is co-founder of the National Kitten Coalition and speaks nationally on the subject of at risk neonatal kittens.

3:30 - 4:30 PM

This session offers practical tips and strategies for turning your home into a peaceful environment where multiple cats can coexist. This presentation covers understanding feline social behavior, managing conflict, and ensuring each cat's emotional and physical needs are met through proper resource distribution and enrichment. Learn how to reduce stress, prevent aggression, and foster a harmonious living space for your cats.

Presenter Bio

Laura Cassiday is a certified cat behavior consultant living in Baltimore, Maryland. She began her career with Maryland SPCA, where she served as the cat behavior coordinator, implementing enrichment programs and initiatives to improve the welfare of shelter cats. In 2021, Laura founded Pawsitive Vibes Cat Behavior and Training, focusing on addressing behavior issues in private homes to prevent cats from entering shelters. Through remote and local sessions, she resolves aggression, destructive behavior, and litter box concerns while empowering caregivers with a deeper understanding of their feline companions. Laura is also actively involved in advocacy efforts, such as supporting the Maryland Anti-Declaw Bill, is a published author of The Complete Guide to Adopting a Cat, and serves as Feline Division Chair of the Pet Professional Guild.

4:00 - 5:00 PM

In a cat emergency, minutes count. Join Pet Safety Cat Casey and Arden Moore, founder of Pet First Aid 4U, in this practical cat first aid class taught in a fun way. Learn what to do if your cat is choking or bleeding. Discover the quickest way to wrangle an injured cat to avoid being scratched. Find out health clues in the litter box and a surprisingly effective way to give pills and liquids – and much more!

Presenter Bio

Arden Moore is known as America’s Pet Health and Safety Coach. She is a master certified pet first aid/CPR instructor who teaches practical skills to pet professionals, first responders and pet parents in her veterinarian-approved Pet First Aid 4U program. Joining her is the confident, well-traveled Pet Safety Cat Casey. This orange tabby is a proud alum from the San Diego Humane Society and a certified therapy cat. Learn more about them at petfirstaid4u.com.

5:00 - 6:00 PM

Chloe will teach how to harness-train your cat and help them adjust to the outdoors—whether it’s new places, people, or encounters with other cats and dogs. She will also share how she’s applied these techniques on a larger scale with the Arlington Cat Meetup Group. Misty, a cat and the group’s mascot, will be there to demonstrate some of the techniques. 

Presenter Bio

In August 2023, Chloe started the Arlington Cat Meetup Group to connect with fellow cat lovers who wanted to explore the outdoors with their cats. Since then, the group has grown to over 400 members. The group hosts events that bring together cats and their owners at parks, beer gardens, and café patios, creating opportunities for socialization and safe stimulation.