Episodes

  • Bugs, Beasties, and Beloved Cats: Infectious Disease with Dr. Jane Sykes

    Bugs, Beasties, and Beloved Cats: Infectious Disease with Dr. Jane Sykes
    Apr 28 2026
    If you've been listening to the Purr Podcast for a while, you already know that Dr. Susan has a special place in her heart for anything that crawls, multiplies, and causes trouble at the cellular level. So when the opportunity came to welcome back the one and only Dr. Jane Sykes for a second conversation, it's safe to say the excitement level in the room was measurable. Dr. Sykes is a Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and one of the most respected voices in veterinary infectious disease anywhere in the world. She has spent her career untangling the complex, the sneaky, and the sometimes downright dramatic world of infections in our companion animals, and lucky for us, she's as generous with her knowledge as she is sharp with her insights. Your hosts, Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn, are back together to guide the conversation, Dr. Susan barely containing her enthusiasm, and Dr. Jolle making sure the rest of us keep up. Whether you're a cat owner wondering what's lurking in your backyard or a veterinary professional looking to sharpen your clinical thinking, this episode has something for you. This is the second time Dr. Sykes has graced the Purr Podcast, and honestly? It still doesn't feel like enough.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle!
    If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review—it really helps other cat lovers and vet nerds find the show. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes stories, cat trivia, and the occasional bad pun. And remember: every day is better with cats, curiosity, and maybe just a little purring in the background. Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and give your cats an extra chin scratch from us. The Purr Podcast – where feline medicine meets feline fun. 🐾🎙️
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    34 mins
  • Dr. Jane Sykes on Vaccines, Viruses, and Your Cat's Invisible Risks

    Dr. Jane Sykes on Vaccines, Viruses, and Your Cat's Invisible Risks
    Apr 14 2026
    Are indoor cats really safe? Rabies and disease risks are revealed in this episode of the Purr Podcast! We sit down with Dr. Jane Sykes, a global leader in veterinary infectious diseases. We talk about why vaccine hesitancy is rising and what it means for cats, the latest research on declawing and its long-term effects, and how infectious diseases are changing due to environmental factors.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle!
    If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review—it really helps other cat lovers and vet nerds find the show. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes stories, cat trivia, and the occasional bad pun. And remember: every day is better with cats, curiosity, and maybe just a little purring in the background. Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and give your cats an extra chin scratch from us. The Purr Podcast – where feline medicine meets feline fun. 🐾🎙️
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    31 mins
  • The Science Behind SGLT2 Inhibitors — And When to Use Them with Dr. Renee Rucinsky

    The Science Behind SGLT2 Inhibitors — And When to Use Them with Dr. Renee Rucinsky
    Mar 31 2026
    Feline diabetes management is evolving fast, and SGLT2 inhibitors are at the center of that conversation. In this deep-dive episode, Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle are joined by Dr. Renee Rucinsky — board-certified feline specialist, owner of Mid Atlantic Cat Hospital and Mid Atlantic Feline Thyroid Center, and a key contributor to the AAHA diabetes management guidelines, including the upcoming updated edition. Dr. Rucinsky walks through the mechanism of action of oral SGLT2 inhibitors, their emerging role in feline diabetes management, patient selection criteria, and what the latest evidence is telling us about when and how to use them in practice. If you've been fielding questions from clients about these drugs — or wondering where they fit in your own protocols — this episode gives you the clinical clarity to move forward with confidence.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle!
    If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review—it really helps other cat lovers and vet nerds find the show. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes stories, cat trivia, and the occasional bad pun. And remember: every day is better with cats, curiosity, and maybe just a little purring in the background. Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and give your cats an extra chin scratch from us. The Purr Podcast – where feline medicine meets feline fun. 🐾🎙️
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    39 mins
  • The Aggressive Cat Myth: What We're Getting Wrong wit Dr. Renee Rucinsky

    The Aggressive Cat Myth: What We're Getting Wrong wit Dr. Renee Rucinsky
    Mar 17 2026
    Cats are the most commonly owned pet in the United States — and yet they're dramatically underrepresented in veterinary visits compared to dogs. One big reason? The vet experience is often so stressful for cats, and so difficult for the people trying to handle them, that owners simply stop bringing them in.
    Today we're exploring the science and the solutions behind feline stress in clinical settings — why cats react the way they do, what that behavior is actually communicating, and how veterinary teams can create environments where cats feel safer.
    Joining us is Dr. Renee Rucinsky, a board-certified feline specialist, owner of Mid Atlantic Cat Hospital and Mid Atlantic Feline Thyroid Center in Maryland, and a respected voice in feline medicine through her lecturing and writing.


    Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle!
    If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review—it really helps other cat lovers and vet nerds find the show. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes stories, cat trivia, and the occasional bad pun. And remember: every day is better with cats, curiosity, and maybe just a little purring in the background. Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and give your cats an extra chin scratch from us. The Purr Podcast – where feline medicine meets feline fun. 🐾🎙️
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    28 mins
  • The Tube That Saves Nine Lives With Dr. Katie Tolbert

    The Tube That Saves Nine Lives With Dr. Katie Tolbert
    Mar 3 2026
    Why aren’t we using feeding tubes sooner in cats? In this episode of the Purr Podcast, we have an essential clinical conversation with Dr. Katie Tolbert that challenges everything you think you know about feeding tubes in feline medicine. Dr. Tolbert is an associate professor in the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University and is the Royal Canin Chair of Small Animal Nutrition. Stop waiting. Place the tube!

    Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle!
    If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review—it really helps other cat lovers and vet nerds find the show. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes stories, cat trivia, and the occasional bad pun. And remember: every day is better with cats, curiosity, and maybe just a little purring in the background. Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and give your cats an extra chin scratch from us. The Purr Podcast – where feline medicine meets feline fun. 🐾🎙️
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    29 mins
  • Beyond the Bowl: Nutritional Management of Feline Chronic Pancreatitis With Dr. Katie Tolbert

    Beyond the Bowl: Nutritional Management of Feline Chronic Pancreatitis With Dr. Katie Tolbert
    Feb 17 2026
    In this episode of the PurrPodcast, Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn welcome Dr. Katie Tolbert from Texas A&M University for a practical and science-driven discussion on chronic pancreatitis in cats, with a strong focus on the critical role nutrition plays in long-term management. Together, they explore why chronic pancreatitis is often subtle and multifactorial, how dietary composition influences inflammation and gastrointestinal stability, and—perhaps most importantly—how treats, supplements, and small “extras” can quietly unbalance a carefully formulated therapeutic diet. Even a few treats can dilute nutrient density, disrupt macronutrient balance, and compromise clinical progress, making owner education and dietary consistency essential parts of successful case management. This episode is packed with clinical pearls for veterinarians who want to optimize nutritional strategies, improve compliance, and better understand how precision feeding can significantly impact outcomes in feline chronic pancreatitis.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle!
    If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review—it really helps other cat lovers and vet nerds find the show. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes stories, cat trivia, and the occasional bad pun. And remember: every day is better with cats, curiosity, and maybe just a little purring in the background. Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and give your cats an extra chin scratch from us. The Purr Podcast – where feline medicine meets feline fun. 🐾🎙️
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    31 mins
  • 2025 Cat News in Review with Stacey Gonzalez part 2

    2025 Cat News in Review with Stacey Gonzalez part 2
    Feb 3 2026
    2025 was a year of expansion and intellectual curiosity for the Purr Podcast. What began as a feline-focused platform continued to evolve into a broader scientific conversation space, without ever losing its clinical feline backbone. From deep dives into pancreatitis and complex GI disease to thought-provoking discussions about artificial intelligence in veterinary medicine, the show balanced rigor with relevance. The standout AI episode with Eric Garcia — where technology met everything from daily practice tools to the surprising world of bees — captured the spirit of the year: curious, future-focused, and just a little bit unexpected. The chemistry between hosts, the willingness to tackle complex themes, and the practical take-home insights kept engagement strong and conversations spilling into clinics and conferences alike. In short, 2025 wasn’t just another podcast year — it was a year of growth, sharper focus, and quietly positioning the Purr Podcast as a space where veterinary medicine meets bigger ideas.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle!
    If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review—it really helps other cat lovers and vet nerds find the show. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes stories, cat trivia, and the occasional bad pun. And remember: every day is better with cats, curiosity, and maybe just a little purring in the background. Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and give your cats an extra chin scratch from us. The Purr Podcast – where feline medicine meets feline fun. 🐾🎙️
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    36 mins
  • 2025 In Review with your hosts and Stacey Gonzalez

    2025 In Review with your hosts and Stacey Gonzalez
    Jan 20 2026
    Dr. Susan Little and Dr. Jolle Kirpensteijn kick off the new year with a mix of unforgettable true cat stories, behind-the-scenes podcast moments, and an exclusive first look at our 2025 podcast statistics. Joined by our Communications Manager, Stacey Gonzalez, we reflect on the most-listened-to episodes of the year, uncover surprising listener trends, and share a few insights that even we didn’t see coming. It’s part storytelling, part data dive—and all cats.

    Thanks for tuning in to the Purr Podcast with Dr. Susan and Dr. Jolle!
    If you enjoyed today’s episode, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review—it really helps other cat lovers and vet nerds find the show. Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes stories, cat trivia, and the occasional bad pun. And remember: every day is better with cats, curiosity, and maybe just a little purring in the background. Until next time—stay curious, stay kind, and give your cats an extra chin scratch from us. The Purr Podcast – where feline medicine meets feline fun. 🐾🎙️
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    28 mins