Pawareness Podcast # 43 | Saving Cats Through Health and Wellness Activities | Yoga4Cats

In this episode of the Pawareness Podcast, we welcome Erin Rockafellow and Jeanette Skaluba, two of the founders of Yoga4Cats. Specializing in health and fitness, Yoga4Cats combines wellness programs with animal welfare initiatives. Based in Decatur, Illinois, Jeanette shares how Yoga4Cats began in 2015 as the first organization to shelter cats for fundraising and adoption. She explains how their community needs cat-focused rescue organizations. As a 501(c)(3) organization, Yoga4Cats provides these needs for the community.
This foster-based rescue carries out essential programs for wellness enthusiasts and cats in their community. They provide TNR’s, foster care, and fundraising events to support rescues, shelters, and animal organizations. They partner with local yoga studios where they conduct their events, and collaborate with yoga instructors. They use the funds they obtain from their events and merchandize for the veterinary services that the community cats need so they can live healthy lives.
“I think there are progressive things happening, and a lot of them include getting the engagement from the community, from your local vets, from your volunteers and getting the right people involved for sharing that passion which results in a greater impact.”  -  Jeanette Skaluba
“Community education is a huge factor in what we do. Thinking ways for people to know that the community exists and making the information more accessible will go a long way.” - Erin Rockafellow.
Tune in to find out how fitness programs and wellness activities can support animals in need!
Visit Yoga4Cats’ official website: https://www.yoga4cats.com/
Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoga4cats/
Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yoga4cats
Subscribe to their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw2gemAANuhoSSv5AMMnKrA
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yoga4Cats/
Resources Mentioned:
University of Illinois Shelter Medicine Program: https://vetmed.illinois.edu/animal-care/shelter-medicine-program-illinois/
Illinois Animal Welfare Act: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1375&ChapterID=24
Visit our website: www.pawareness.org
Where to find the Pawareness Podcast: www.linktr.ee/pawareness
Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/pawareness_official
Submit for Pet of the Week: www.pawareness.org/pet-of-the-week
Episode Timeline
[00:58] Introducing Yoga4Cats
[03:26] What does Yoga4Cats provide?
[04:40] How many cats can they accommodate at one time?
[05:30] What are their fundraising events?
[06:34] Which organizations are they partnering with?
[09:58] The WeTNR program
[12:13] Addressing the issues with community cats
[15:10] What Yoga4Cats doesn’t do
[16:39] The programs that last
[19:00] The contribution of volunteers in their fund-raising activities
[21:52] The future plans of Yoga4Cats
[25:20] Where can people reach out to Yoga4Cats?