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October 3rd - 5th, 2025 - Cumberland University Alumni Center, Lebanon TN

October 3rd - 5th, 2025

    The Ultimate Cat Conference 2025

    Exclusive Education by Industry Leaders

     

    This amazing 3-day conference, just for cat rescuers, cat shelters/rescues or cat enthusiasts, is jam-packed with speakers covering all of the latest in the cat world. Our speaker line-up includes Jackson Galaxy, Kitten Lady -Hannah Shaw, Dr. Matt McGlasson, Stephen Quandt, Nathan The CatLady, Sterling "TrapKing" Davis, Eric Phelps with Sister Kitten, Cat Behaviorist Ingrid Johnson, Rosemarie Crawford from the National Kitten Coalition, Sharon Labron and Kristen Petrie from The Community Cats Podcast, Joy Smith from Feline Haven Feline Center, Dr. Gables with VetMed Animal Health, and Amy Simcik with True Rescue. There will be a broad range of all cat-related topics including TNR, cat medicine/CPR, communal cat sheltering, the latest and greatest cat behavior techniques, increasing cat adoptions, volunteer engagement, making a better social media presence, neonatal care and so much more! There will be a HUGE party Saturday Evening for all speakers and attendees!

    Tickets

    Please click the link provided to purchase tickets for the conference as well as add on Meet and Greet passes!


    The event will be held at: Cumberland University Alumni Center, 408 S Maple St, Lebanon, TN 37087


    See the schedule details below! Early registration Thursday October 2nd at True Rescue Cat Shelter, 12110 Lebanon Rd, Mount Juliet, TN

    Purchase Tickets

    The Mission

    The Ultimate Cat Conference is focused on innovative education and practices that support anyone who works or volunteers in animal welfare with felines. The goal is to network amongst peers and learn from the best in the industry. Vendors will be on site to support the work you're currently doing, and show you ways to help more animals! Our mission is to build a community of cat lovers and cat rescues/shelters, striving to provide a unified standard of care that will continue to serve and educate others nationwide. 

    Event Highlights

    Ticket holders will have exclusive access to Meet and Greets with several of our most acclaimed speakers. Stay tuned! 


    There will be weekly email updates to ticket holders regarding vendors, shopping, accommodations, local tourist spots, dining options, etc. 

    ucc 2025 cLass schedule - friday

    Registration 8:00 am - 8:30 am

    If you haven't registered at the shelter on Thursday, please arrive by 8 am to register and check in!

    Amy Simcik - Welcome 8:30 am - 9:30 am

    Welcome attendees! Don't miss opening remarks and daily Q&A with Amy!

    Kitten Lady - 9:30 am - 11:30 am

     Best practices for kitten-focused programs including kitten diversion, foster programs, on-site care of kittens, and more 

    Dr. Scott Gables - 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

    Ask the Vet!

    Lunch Break & Shopping - 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm

    Food trucks and vendors available all around the Alumni Center!  

    GDubs Brew Co Truck (All day)

    Sambwich Co Food Truck (Lunch only)

    Kitten Lady Meet and Greet - 1:00 pm

    This event is for Meet and Greet ticket holders only!

    Kitten Lady - 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

     Saving Kittens Workshop 

    This class includes information on kitten development, assessing health, monitoring stool and urine, bottle feeding, kitten-led weaning, behavior and socialization, and more. Attendees gain an understanding of the issues impacting kittens, learn the fundamentals of caring for kittens 0-8 weeks of age, and become empowered to play a role in saving their lives.

    Community Cats Podcast - 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

     Cat Math Part 1: Determine Your Key Cat Numbers to Reduce Overpopulation in Your Community 

    Join Stacy LeBaron and Kristen Petrie for a 50-minute workshop where you’ll actively participate in identifying the strategic number of owned cats that need to be spayed/neutered annually, as well as the number of cats for TNR. Each participant will determine their target population and use the Community Cat Calculator to better understand what needs to be done to create a more humane community for cats. This is organizational strategic planning-accomplished in less than an hour.

    Amy Simcik - Wrap-up 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm

     Closing remarks and reminders for Day Two

    ucc 2025 cLass schedule - Saturday

    Check In 8:00 am - 8:30 am

    Please check in each day

    Amy Simcik - Welcome 8:30 am - 9:00 am

    Welcome attendees! Don't miss opening remarks and daily Q&A with Amy!

    Nathan The Cat Lady - 9:00 am - 10:00 am

     Growing Your Rescue's Social Media: Tips for Success

    Discover the essential dos and don’ts for building a strong social media presence as an animal rescue. Learn practical strategies to boost engagement, reach more supporters, and share your mission effectively.

    Jackson Galaxy - 10:00 am - 11:30 am

    TBA

    Dr. Matt McGlasson 11:30 am - 12:45 pm

     Against All Odds: My Journey with Special Needs Cats 

    A heartfelt story of rescuing and caring for cats with unique challenges, highlighting the triumphs, setbacks, and life lessons learned along the way.

     

    FIP, CH, FIV & FELV: What Every Rescuer Should Know 

    An informative session unpacking the realities of four common yet often misunderstood feline conditions, exploring symptoms, care strategies, and the latest advances in treatment and management.

    Lunch Break & Shopping - 12:45 pm - 2:45 pm

    Food trucks and vendors available all around the Alumni Center!   

    Bubbles and Brews Coffee Truck

    Pig Pen BBQ Food Truck

    Jackson Galaxy Meet and Greet - 1:00 pm

    This event is for Meet and Greet ticket holders only!

    Dr. Matt McGlasson Meet and Greet - 1:45 pm

    This event is for Meet and Greet ticket holders only!

    Stephen Quandt 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm

     From Wild Instincts to Healing Hands: Decoding the Mysteries of Cats 

    An in-depth exploration of the adaptive and evolutionary forces that shape feline behavior, revealing why cats act the way they do and how those instincts play out in our homes and shelters.


    From Fearful to Friendly 

    A groundbreaking, humane approach to helping extremely frightened cats who don’t respond to traditional positive reinforcement techniques. Includes a practical “bonus” method for testing when a fearful cat can be safely picked up-every time.


    The Human Heart 

    A personal account of overcoming vicarious trauma in the shelter environment and finding resilience in the work of animal welfare.

    Ingrid Johnson 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm

     Medical Issues That Present as "Behavior Problems": Recognition & Management 

    Learn how common medical conditions can appear as behavior problems in cats and gain practical strategies to recognize and manage them effectively.

    Amy Simcik - Wrap-up 5:15 pm - 5:30 pm

     Closing remarks and reminders for Day Three

    UCC Celebration Party - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

     This event is for UCC Attendee's, Speakers and Vendors. Doors open at 6 pm. Food and drinks provided as well as giveaway prizes throughout the night. Come network with like-minded feline focused friends! Live music, Karaoke, awards and lots of fun will be had!

    ucc 2025 cLass schedule - Sunday

    Check In 8:00 am - 8:30 am

    Please check in each day

    Amy Simcik - Welcome 8:30 am - 9:00 am

    Welcome attendees! Don't miss opening remarks and daily Q&A with Amy!

    Ask the Vet - 9:00 am - 10:00 am

    TBA

    Eric Phelps - 10:00 am - 11:00 am

    TNR and Disaster Response. Eric will be sharing his TNR work with Sister Kitten and their experience during Hurricane Helene.  

    Sterling “TrapKing” Davis - 11:00 am - 12:00pm

     Collaboration Over Competition: Building Unity in Animal Rescue 

    This session begins with a brief introduction and an overview of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and how it all began. But the heart of the conversation is about something bigger. It's about how we can come together as a rescue community instead of working against each other. After traveling across the country and even internationally to places like Greece and Spain, one thing has become clear; our biggest challenge isn’t the animals, it’s learning to work as a team.  

    Lunch Break & Shopping - 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

    Food trucks and vendors available all around the Alumni Center!   

     GDubs Brew Co Coffee Truck

    TN French Dip Food Truck

    Kettle Corn Shop 

    Rosemarie Crawford - 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

     Feline Health Challenges: Panleukopenia and Caring for Pregnant or Nursing Queens 

    This two-part session explores two vital topics in feline health. The first half examines panleukopenia in kittens and adult cats, outlining the disease process, treatment protocols, and prevention strategies to protect feline populations in shelters, foster programs, and clinics. The second half focuses on the care of pregnant and nursing queens, covering health management, specialized needs, and guidance for navigating challenging situations. Together, these discussions provide essential information for improving health outcomes and welfare for cats in all care environments.

    Community Cats Podcast - 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

     Cat Math Part 2: How to Get More Cats Fixed in Your Community 

    In this 50-minute session, Stacy LeBaron will share models of spay/neuter initiatives designed for non-veterinarians who want to build capacity in their community. She’ll cover not only the types of models, but also how to launch and implement them. Key issues such as staffing, funding, and planning will be addressed so you can apply your cat math to build a sustainable spay/neuter and community cat program tailored to your community.

    Joy Smith and Bre Rickard - 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

    TBA

    Amy Simcik - Wrap-up 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm

     Closing remarks


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