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Imagine having a warm cup of coffee, a tasty snack, and an opportunity to visit with cats all in the same location. It’s the perfect combination.

Across the United States there are an estimated 300 cat cafés, many of which give patrons a chance to enjoy their favorite café amenities while checking out cats from local shelters for adoption.

This episode of The Hissing Feline podcast features and interview with Mary Jankowski, owner of Iowa’s first cat café, known as Coffee Cats. The cafe is located in the Valley Junction community of West Des Moines, IA.

On the show, Mary talks about how Coffee Cats was started and what went into planning for and starting the cafe. She discusses benefits of the cafe to both visitors and the cats, which are available for adoption from the Animal Rescue League. Mary also talks about different types of events the cafe has that connect visitors with the cats.

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Cancer touches just about everyone – family, friends, and us. Different kinds of cancers also can affect our four-footed family members.

My guest on today's podcast is Dr. Karen Oberthaler, veterinarian and board-certified veterinary oncologist. She is co-founder of Treeline Veterinary Cancer Care in both Boulder and Eagle, Colorado.

In this episode, Dr. Oberthaler discusses common types of feline cancers, including where cancers in cats are most likely to appear. She talks about methods of cancer diagnosis and treatments. Also, Dr. Oberthaler visits with me about differences between human cancer treatments and those of cats.

https://www.treelinevet.com

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Just about everywhere we look this time of year there are baby animals. My wife and I have seen baby groundhogs, goslings, calves, and, of course, kittens.

Kitten season lasts from spring to late fall, but now is the peak time of the year for their arrival. It’s also when shelters take in large numbers of the babies, along with mother cats.

With me on the podcast today to visit about kittens, health, and adopting them is Carol Griglione, executive director of the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines, IA.

Carol discusses a number of important aspects of kitten adoption, including the biggest challenges of bringing a little feline into the home. She also talks about whether adopters have specific criteria for what they want in a kitten. In addition, she discusses what to look for regarding the health of a kitten before adopting it and common signs that might indicate there is a health issue with the animal. Carol also talks about how adopters can prepare their home for a kitten.