Golden Whiskers with Scott Colby

• The $40,000 Nickel: How One Rescue Is Saving Cats and Empowering Adults With Disabilities

  ✨ Episode SnapshotIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Marge Goldin, a clinical social worker, lifelong animal lover, and the powerhouse behind Tender Loving Cats — a foster-based rescue making a huge impact across Long Island.This conversation shines a light on:🐾 How a small rescue is saving lives without a shelter building🐾 A brilliant fundraiser: Recycling for Rescue — a partnership with adults with disabilities that’s raised $40,000… in nickels!🐾 Why TNR matters more than most people realize🐾 The emotional (and often overlooked) realities of outdoor cats🐾 How everyday cat parents can spot when a community cat needs help🐾 Ways YOU can start similar community projects in your area🎙️ In This Episode, You’ll Learn🐱 Marge’s Own Cat Family– Two senior siblings, Leo & Roxy (14.5 years!)– Bootsy, a “single kitten syndrome” foster fail– And the seven former colony cats living safely in the family’s custom-built catio + basement room🏡 What Makes Tender Loving Cats Unique– Fully foster-based — no building– A strong foster/foster-finder model– The Kitten Companion Project (kittens visiting nursing homes, schools, and assisted living facilities)– Community connection at the heart of every program♻️ Recycling for Rescue: The Program Everyone Should Know About– Adults with disabilities volunteer to collect and redeem bottles/cans– A program that gives purpose, community, and joy– Over $40,000 raised to support spay/neuter– Expanded to cover all of Long Island🐈 Why TNR Saves Lives– Outdoor females can have 2–3 litters per season– High kitten mortality outdoors– Males travel far distances and often end up injured, sick, or killed– Ear-tipping = essential identification– Failing to TNR always leads to more suffering down the road📣 The Biggest Gap: TNR Resources– Many towns do not support TNR– Voucher programs run out of money– Rescues try to pick up the slack, but funds disappear fast🙌 One Simple Step Listeners Can Take“If you see something, say something.”A single community member speaking up is often the difference between one stray cat… and three litters the following spring.📘 Marge’s Recommendations for Cat OwnersEven though Marge’s work focuses on community cats, she shared several powerful insights every cat parent should know:1️⃣ Learn to spot an ear-tipA missing left ear tip = the cat is already spayed/neutered.A pointed left ear = they likely need TNR.2️⃣ Don’t ignore the “mystery cat” in your yardIf a new cat appears:→ Take a picture→ Ask local groups→ Reach out for helpSmall actions prevent big problems later.3️⃣ Support your local TNR organizationsThey’re almost always underfunded, overwhelmed, and filling gaps that towns should cover.4️⃣ Donate cans/bottles if you’re on Long IslandRecycling for Rescue is an incredibly easy way to support spay/neuter.5️⃣ Remember: outdoor cats have hard livesHigh kitten mortality, dangerous territory fights, and nonstop reproduction cycles.TNR is kindness.🔗 Where to Learn MoreTender Loving Cats Website:🌐 https://tenderlovingcats.orgKey links on the site:– Recycling for Rescue (Fundraising tab)– Prevent a Litter (Programs tab)– Kitten Companion Project– Events & Fundraisers (including their 2026 calendar + holiday gift baskets)Social Media:📸 Instagram: @tenderlovingcatsny📘 Facebook: Tender Loving Cats🐾 Final ThoughtThis episode reminded me of something I see again and again in the cat world:Cat welfare isn’t just about cats. It’s about people, community, kindness, and creativity.Marge took something as simple as redeeming bottles and turned it into:✨ Purpose for adults with disabilities✨ A community movement✨ Cleaner neighborhoods✨ Tens of thousands of dollars for lifesaving spay/neuterNone of it required celebrity funders, giant facilities, or massive teams.Just heart… consistency… and one person willing to say, “I can do something.”And that’s really the message here:You don’t have to do everything — but you can always do something.And when you do, cats (and communities) thrive. Get full access to Golden Whiskers at www.goldenwhiskerslove.com/subscribe

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• The Wild Path: Ancient Feline Wisdom for the Modern Cat Parent

  What if our cats have been trying to teach us something all along — not just about their health, but ours too?In today’s solo episode, I’m sharing something brand new I’ve been quietly building behind the scenes — a philosophy I call The Wild Path. It’s ancient feline wisdom for the modern cat parent. You don’t need a forest or a mountain trail to start following it. You can begin right at home, by reconnecting to what’s natural and instinctual for both you and your cats.I’ll share three simple Wild Path lessons I’ve been learning through Niko and Milo — around food, behavior, and environment — and how these small shifts have made a big difference in their happiness (and mine too).🎙️ Episode SnapshotIn this short, heartfelt episode, I open up about what inspired The Wild Path and share three lessons that can help your cats live closer to their natural rhythm:🥩 Food — Rewild the BowlOur cats are built for meat, not starch. I’ve started adding small fresh toppers to Niko and Milo’s meals — lightly cooked chicken or salmon or even sardines — and it’s made a real difference. I even tried it with my friend Lori’s 17-year-old cat, Remi, and she started eating again with real enthusiasm. Just one spoonful of real food can help your cat thrive.🧠 Behavior — The Hunt ZonePlay isn’t just play — it’s instinct. I’ve been creating a “hunt zone” in my home by hiding treats at night. Watching Niko and Milo’s focus kick in — their eyes sharpen, tails twitch — it’s like watching them wake up their wild side. It only takes five minutes, and they always calm right down afterward.☀️ Environment — Bringing Nature InsideEven indoor cats crave sunlight, air, and sensory stimulation. Every morning, I open the blinds and crack the windows so Niko and Milo can soak up the sun and listen to the birds. Their window hammock gives them the best view in the house. These small rituals bring nature to them, and they calm me too.💛 Final ThoughtFood, instinct, and environment — these are the heart of The Wild Path. It’s about helping our cats live closer to their natural rhythms while reminding us to do the same.When I see Niko and Milo basking in the sunlight after a good play session and a real meal, I’m reminded that nature isn’t something out there — it’s right here, in how we live, care, and connect every day.📬 Join the CommunityYou can follow along as The Wild Path unfolds and get new podcast episodes and stories straight to your inbox every Friday at goldenwhiskerslove.com Get full access to Golden Whiskers at www.goldenwhiskerslove.com/subscribe

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• The Lesson My Cats Just Taught Me About Slowing Down

  💛 Intro ReflectionHey Golden Whiskers family,It’s been six days since Tails on Trails, and I’m finally catching my breath.Last Saturday was incredible — we had live music, food trucks, a memorial walk, the Golden Paw Awards, and 90 hikers who (along with vendors, sponsors and other donors) helped us raise nearly $7,500 for the Nomar & Mia Compassion Fund. Every dollar will help pet parents who can’t afford their emergency vet bills.I’m so proud of what we created together… but I’ll be honest — I’m tired. The kind of tired that goes deeper than just physical exhaustion.After weeks of living in go-go-go mode, I’ve hit that post-event quiet where the pace slows, the noise fades, and suddenly there’s space to think again. And while my mind’s been trying to plan the next thing, my cats — Niko and Milo — have been quietly reminding me of something I’d forgotten.Rest isn’t lazy. It’s a form of self-care.🎧 Episode SnapshotIn this short solo episode, I talk about the days following Tails on Trails — that strange mix of pride, fatigue, and reflection — and how Niko and Milo have been my greatest teachers this week.You’ll hear:* 🐾 The quiet lessons of feline rest — why cats never “earn” rest, they embody it.* ☕ How I’m slowing down — longer mornings, softer schedules, more time on the couch with the cats.* 💭 Why we rush recovery — and how rest is what lets meaning catch up to motion.* 🧘 How cats honor rhythm — balancing effort with ease, curiosity with calm.If you’ve been pushing hard lately, maybe you’ve been chasing a goal, juggling projects, or coming down from something big, this one’s a gentle reminder to pause.Our cats already know: stillness is part of wellness.🌿 Final ThoughtsThe other night, I was sitting on my sofa with both cats asleep on me under a blanket. The room was quiet, the world felt far away, and I thought, I want more of this in my life.Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is nothing at all. Just breathe, stretch, and let ourselves feel alive in the stillness.🐾 Cattitude PromptWhen was the last time you gave yourself permission to truly rest? Not because you’d earned it — but because you needed it.Hit reply (or comment below) and tell me what your version of feline-style rest looks like.💸 Support the MissionIf Tails on Trails moved you and you’d like to continue helping pets in need, you can still donate to the Nomar & Mia Compassion Fund through the University of Tennessee Vet Department. Every dollar helps a pet parent avoid an impossible decision.👉 Donate here. Get full access to Golden Whiskers at www.goldenwhiskerslove.com/subscribe

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• The Calm Before the Trail: Gratitude, Purpose, and What Really Matters

  💛 Intro ReflectionHey Golden Whiskers family,It’s the morning before Tails on Trails, and for the first time in weeks… I feel calm.I’m sitting here with coffee in hand (finally), thinking about everything that’s led to this moment. The planning, the late nights, the interviews, the doubts, the hopes—and now, the quiet before it all begins.In today’s short solo episode, I talk about how this week has grounded me in gratitude, what the news interview reminded me about purpose, and the thought that stopped me in my tracks:“Two years from now, someone’s pet might live because of what we’re doing today.”That’s why I had to hit record this morning before the big day—to capture what this moment feels like.🎧 Episode SnapshotAs the sun rises on the day before Tails on Trails, I open up about what’s shifted in me this week and how gratitude has replaced stress.You’ll hear:* 🌄 How I finally let go of the numbers and focused on community over turnout.* 🎤 A powerful on-air reminder during my live TV interview that reconnected me to the heart of this event: a hike to save pets.* 🏆 The joy of surprising the Golden Paw Award winners and watching their humble reactions.* 💸 The realization that gave me chills: that one day, a pet’s life will be saved because of the $6,500 we’ve raised so far.This is a short but emotional reflection on purpose, legacy, and the simple truth that sometimes the most meaningful work happens quietly, one act of love at a time.🐾 Cattitude PromptWhen was the last time you paused to notice how far you’ve come instead of how far you have to go?Take a moment today to breathe, reflect, and feel proud of the love behind what you’re creating—whatever that may be.🎟️ Join Us TomorrowIf you’re in East Tennessee, join us for Tails on Trails – A Hike to Save Pets, tomorrow at Baker Creek Preserve in Knoxville.All proceeds go to the Nomar & Mia Compassion Fund at the University of Tennessee to help pet parents in need of emergency vet care.👉 tributehikes.com Get full access to Golden Whiskers at www.goldenwhiskerslove.com/subscribe

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• What a Pet Event Taught Me About Letting Go

  Hey Golden Whiskers family,We’re just over a week away from Tails on Trails, and if I’m honest… I’ve been struggling.Not with logistics or weather forecasts or vendors (although there’s plenty of that). My biggest challenge has been my mindset. I’ve caught myself stressing over every number—how many hikers have signed up, how much money we’ve raised, how many donations have come in.And when I get too focused on the outcome, I stop enjoying the process.So this week, I decided to record a quick solo episode to share what this season is really teaching me: how to detach from the results, stay consistent, and keep showing up even when it feels like the needle isn’t moving.If you’ve ever worked toward something that means the world to you—whether it’s a personal goal, a creative project, or your own event—I think you’ll relate to this one.With gratitude,Scottgoldenwhiskerslove.com | tributehikes.com🎧 Episode SnapshotIn this short solo episode, I take you behind the scenes of the final eight days before Tails on Trails—the hike and festival I created in honor of my cats, Nomar and Mia.This time, I’m not talking about grief or logistics. I’m talking about what’s going on inside my head.You’ll hear:* 🧠 Why detaching from the outcome has been the hardest part of organizing this event* 💛 The reminder that Nomar and Mia wouldn’t want me to stress while creating something beautiful in their name* 🔁 How staying consistent and persistent—even on the days when no one signs up—has kept me grounded* 🌱 The power of trusting that what you do today plants the seeds for tomorrow’s results* 🐾 A simple reminder that showing up daily, even when progress feels invisible, is how real transformation happensIt’s a vulnerable, honest look at what it takes to keep going when your heart is on the line—and how I’m learning to find peace in the process, not just the finish line.📣 How You Can Support🎟️ Join us on October 25th for Tails on Trails:A hike and festival to save pets, honor memories, and build community.👉 tributehikes.com💸 Donate to the Nomar & Mia Compassion Fund:Every dollar helps a pet parent avoid the heartbreak of not being able to afford care.🐾 Cattitude PromptHave you ever tied your happiness to a result—only to realize the joy was supposed to be in the journey?Hit reply and tell me where you’re learning to let go of the outcome. I’d love to hear your story. Get full access to Golden Whiskers at www.goldenwhiskerslove.com/subscribe

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