The Ultimate Cat Conference 2026

The Ultimate Cat Conference, is a one-of-a-kind 3-day event for animal rescues, veterinarians, shelter staff, and feline-focused professionals. This unique conference is packed with expert-led talks, meet-and-greets with featured speakers, and hands-on learning designed to elevate your impact in the cat welfare world.

Network with fellow professionals, shop the cat-centric retail market, grab a bite and your favorite drink from one of our featured gourmet food and beverage trucks! All participants will receive a goodie bag with over $150 worth of cat-related merchandise, including an Ultimate Cat Conference T-shirt!

Don’t miss the hosted party on Saturday, October 3rd, with music, dancing, catered food, and cocktails.

All ticket proceeds support the critical mission of True Rescue, whose life-saving work in the Middle TN area and beyond, has been saving the lives of thousands of cats and kittens every year!

Thursday October 1st:

Early check-in*:

3:00pm-7:00pm

True Rescue

12110 Lebanon Rd.

Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

In order to check in early, please indicate that you will be checking in Thursday on the order form so we can have your items available at the rescue! We'd love to show you around the rescue while you are there!

Friday, October 2nd:

Check-in: 8:00am-8:30am

Conference: 8:30am-5:30pm

Saturday, October 3rd:

Conference: 8:30am-4:30pm

UCC Celebration Party at True Rescue: 6:00pm-9:00pm

Sunday, October 4th:

Conference: 8:30am-5.30pm

Hotel Information:

Avid Hotel Mt. Juliet

75 Belinda Pkwy

Mount Juliet, TN 37122

Phone: 615-829-7779

Cost: $119 per night

Cut-off deadline: September 18th

Distance from venue: 14 miles, approximately 21 minutes

Booking Link:

True Rescue Cat Conference | Avid Hotel Mt Juliet TN

Avid Hotel Lebanon

120 Willard Hagan Dr.

Lebanon, TN 37090

Phone: 615-307-6200

Cost: $219 per night

Cut-off deadline: September 18th

Distance from venue: 2.5 miles, approximately 7 minutes

Booking Link:

https://www.ihg.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=VA®ionCode=1&localeCode=en&checkInMonthYear=092026&checkInDate=1&checkOutDate=5&checkOutMonthYear=092026&hotelCode=LBACW&GPC=TRR&numberOfAdults=1&numberOfRooms=1&adjustMonth=false&showApp=true&monthIndex=00

Thank you to our sponsors:

Info: Check-in early to skip the line on Friday morning! Pick up your swag and take a tour of the shelter! We are located at 12110 Lebanon Rd. Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

Info: A Practical Guide from Start to Submission
This workshop takes participants step by step through the grant process, from identifying needs
and finding the right funders to writing stronger proposals and measuring impact. Designed
specifically for animal welfare organizations, this practical workshop covers what funders look
for, how to tell your organization’s story with data and measurable outcomes, common grant
attachments, and how to use AI responsibly in the grant-writing process. Participants leave with
practical strategies and tools they can immediately put to work.

Info: From "What If" to "We Actually Did It": The Trials and Tribulations of Opening a
Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic. Opening a nonprofit spay and neuter clinic sounds simple enough. Find a building, fix animals, save the day. What could possibly go wrong? Chantele will share the lessons,
obstacles, successes, surprises, and unexpected plot twists she encountered while
opening Critter Fixers, along with the hard-earned wisdom that came from it all. This
candid and entertaining session will explore what it really takes to expand access to
veterinary care, with practical takeaways for anyone considering a similar journey, and a
reminder that, yes, pretty much everything can go wrong, but if you squint, cross all your
fingers, knock on wood, and whisper a small prayer to the veterinary gods….it just might
go right.

Info: Animal welfare professionals care deeply, but the emotional demands of the work can take a
toll. This interactive workshop helps participants recognize compassion fatigue, burnout and
moral distress; identify the personal and workplace stressors that affect them most; and learn
practical strategies for protecting their well-being. Through reflection and simple exercises,
participants explore boundaries, emotional regulation, support systems and resilience, and
leave with a personal action plan they can begin using immediately.

Info: When a cat goes missing, knowing what to do, and doing it quickly, can make all the difference. This session will explore practical strategies for helping lost cats get home, with guidance for pet owners, shelters, and fosters. Learn what steps to take, what common mistakes to avoid, and how working together can improve the chances of a successful reunion.

Info: Had enough of dealing with diarrhea in kittens and cats? This session presents the need-to-know information to help you not just deal with diarrhea, but to be DONE with diarrhea.

We’ll break down the wide range of causes behind diarrhea and highlight practical, proactive steps you can take to reduce and prevent its occurrence in your shelter and foster homes. For the animals who arrive already having diarrhea, you’ll gain clear guidance on treatment approaches—both prescription and non‑prescription—that can ease symptoms, shorten duration, and support overall recovery. We’ll also cover the diagnostic tools available to help you identify the underlying cause and, therefore, be able to respond with an appropriate treatment.

With this session’s information in your toolkit, you’ll soon be reducing – and maybe even eliminating - cases of diarrhea so you can be DONE with diarrhea.

Info: Board governance isn’t just policy—it’s the foundation of your shelter’s future. This workshop,
inspired by Tim Crum’s essential guide, equips board members and executive directors with the
tools to build a high-functioning board that leads with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Expect
real talk, real tools, and real transformation.

Info: Let’s face it—most shelters don’t need another pep talk. They need a reality check. This
workshop pulls back the curtain on the most misunderstood tool in animal welfare: the
comprehensive shelter evaluation. Drawing from Tim Crum’s firsthand experience conducting
dozens upon dozens of evaluations across the country, attendees will gain rare insight into the
patterns, pitfalls, and best practices that separate struggling shelters from thriving ones.
From facility flaws to governance gaps, Tim shares what he’s seen, what works, and what
absolutely doesn’t—so you can skip the guesswork and start operating smarter. Expect candid
lessons, practical takeaways, and a few uncomfortable truths—because growth starts with
getting honest.

Info: When a cat stops using the litter box, it becomes stressful for everyone in the family, most
especially the cat. It’s also one of the most common reasons cats get relinquished to shelters,
sent outdoors, abandoned, or euthanized. In this lecture, cat behavior expert and best-selling
author, Pam Johnson-Bennett, CCBC-Ret., covers how cats look at the litter box set-up versus
how we look at it, and why that difference is often the cause of litter box problems.
If you’re new to life with cats, you’ll learn how to create the ideal litter box set-up, and how to
choose the right box to fit your cat’s needs. If you’re in the middle of a litter box battle with your
cat, you’ll discover techniques to resolve the issue in an effective and positive way so you don’t
damage the bond you share. Based on Pam’s 42+ years of doing behavior consultations, she’ll
provide tips and tricks on creating a litter box set-up that your cat will want to use.

Event venue & nearby stays

Cumberland University Alumni Hall, 408 South Maple Street, Lebanon, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

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