Veterinairans: Dr Richard Gowan,   Dr Amy Lingard,  Dr Sally Coggins,  Dr Carolyn O'Brien  
Nurses: Faye Mitchell, Lara Eckfeld,Georgia Puttock,  Jessie Scholes, Louise Petterson,  Gosia Anderst                           
Support Staff: Melissa Mathieson, Jackie Tyquin

Veterinarians

Dr Richard Gowan
BVSc (Hons) MACVSc (Feline Medicine) CMAVA - Feline Veterinarian/Owner

Richard graduated from the University of Queensland Veterinary School in 1998. He worked for one year in a large companion animal hospital in Canberra. Following this he moved back to Brisbane to pursue his ideal of working in a cat-only hospital at the Creek Road Cat Clinic. This is Australia’s largest and most respected cat-only hospital and home of Australia’s only Kidney transplant unit for cats. Over 5 years, he has had a fantastic opportunity to work in a team of cat-loving Vets and nurses under the tutelage of Dr. Vic Menrath, a specialist in Feline Medicine.

He regularly presents lectures on feline medicine at Veterinary conferences and is actively involved in continuing eduction in all areas of feline health and medicine. He is a member of the American Board of Feline Practitioners and the Cornell Feline Health Centre. Richard has served as the President of the Melbourne Metropolitan Practitioners board and the Victorian branch of the AVA for the past 3 years.

His aim at The Cat Clinic is to provide high quality compassionate care exclusively for cats, as well as providing the most up to date and optimal choices for your cat’s health. Richard consults closely with Specialists in all aspects of Veterinary Medicine and surgery. Richard has a particular interest in renal medicine, ultrasonography and geriatric feline medicine.

Richard & Amy have four cats: a big goofy street moggy called Gordon, Harper a talkative fat Tonkinese, Soy a mischievous sock eating Tonkinese and Sabi, a lithe little oriental girl. In his spare time, you might find him kayaking on the Yarra, chasing a small white ball around a golf course or in any café that serves great coffee.

His professional qualifications and post-graduate training include:

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) UQ 1998
• Post graduate Distance Education course (Feline Medicine) 2000
• Membership of the Australian College of Vet Scientists in Feline Medicine in 2003
• President of the Melbourne Branch of the Australian Veterinary Association 2007-2010
• Regular lecturer for the Centre for Veterinary Education
  

Gordon

Soy

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Dr Amy Lingard
BVSc (Hons) MACVSc (Feline Medicine)
Feline Veterinarian/Owner

Amy graduated from the University of Queensland Veterinary School in 2001. After spending a year at a busy small animal hospital and emergency centre in Melbourne, she decided to pursue her passion for feline medicine and returned to Brisbane to work at the Creek Road Cat Clinic (where she first met Richard). Here she had the pleasure of working alongside Dr Vic Menrath (the first Feline Specialist in Australia) & Dr Marcus Gunew, 2 of Australia’s foremost feline veterinarians.

Amy commenced a Feline Medicine Residency at the University of Sydney Valentine Charlton Cat Centre in 2005 under the guidance of Dr Vanessa Barrs and Dr Julia Beatty, both renowned Feline Medicine Specialists. During her time at the University of Sydney Veterinary Centre, Amy completed a two-year Fellowship training program and accepted the position of Feline Medicine Registrar. Having completed her training, Amy moved to Melbourne to work with her partner Richard Gowan at The Cat Clinic Prahran.

Amy attained Membership of the Feline Chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in 2006 and intends to attain Fellowship in 2010 and become a registered Feline Medicine Specialist. She has presented at many veterinary scientific conferences and published several articles in peer-reviewed feline medicine journals.

Amy is lucky enough to share her life with an eccentric oriental cat named “Sabi”, a wool-eating Tonkinese named “Soy” and Richard’s two cats, a bid goofy street moggy named “Gordon” and a spunky little Tonkinese named “Harper” and Richard of course.

Amy’s professional qualifications and post-graduate training include:

• Bachelor of Veterinary Science (First degree honours) at University of Queensland – 2001
• Membership of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in Feline Medicine - 2006
• Feline Medicine Residency at University of Sydney Valentine Charlton Cat Centre- 2006
• Feline Medicine Registrar at University of Sydney Valentine Charlton Cat Centre – 2007

                     Amy

Soy

Sabi

i

Gordon

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Dr. Sally Coggins

BVSC (Hons)

Sally graduated from Sydney University in 2007 and spent her first two years in practice working at busy small animal practice in Canberra.  Having always adored cats, Sally began to focus on this passion in 2009, completing a distance education course in Feline Medicine.

Sally


Fox (in the sink)

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Dr. Carolyn O’Brien
BVSc (Hons) MVetClinStud, FACVS (Feline Medicine) Registered Feline Specialist

Carolyn O’Brien is a registered specialist in Feline Medicine. She graduated from the University of Melbourne 1994 and worked in private practice both in Melbourne and the UK for the first five years of her veterinary career. Carolyn then commenced a residency in small animal medicine at the University of Sydney in 2000. She concurrently completed a Masters in veterinary clinical studies in the epidemiology and treatment of cryptococcosis in cats and dogs. After her residency she stayed on at the University of Sydney as a Senior Registrar for a year then moved to the Veterinary Specialist Centre in North Ryde.

Carolyn gained her fellowship qualifications in 2004 and worked as a Senior Registrar in Small Animal Medicine at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital for 3 years. She loves all areas of feline medicine, but is particularly interested in critical care of feline patients, infectious diseases and cardiology where she has published many papers and regularly presents at seminars and conferences in Australia and overseas.

Carolyn is a co-founder and part owner of The Cat Clinic. She has taken timeout from clinical work to start a family and is currently undertaking a research PhD in mycobacteria infectious disease in human medicine. She acts as a mentor and consultant at the Cat Clinic. She has 2 troublesome Burmese, Kits and Murphy & now 2 little babies to keep her even busier.

Carolyn is currently on an extended maternity leave but has an active role in mentorship within the clinic.

She continues to publish articles and contributes actively to many texts and publications.

She is also a leading role in running the International Feline Medicine Distance eduction course.

Nursing Team

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Faye Mitchell - Head Nurse

Faye has been working as a Veterinary Nurse for 11 years, having joined the cat clinic in 2005. Her previous experience includes working at a small animal practice where she developed a love for cats and their unique nature. She has a Diploma in Applied Science – Natural Resource Management and is involved in environmental education. She runs environmental eduction tours through the beautiful Toolangi State forest through summer months.

Faye has two cats, Gucci a Birman and Mac a domestic cat. Her first cat Gucci has taught her a lot about cats and their behaviour. He is a loving cat and likes to sleep on her pillow or under the covers late into the morning. He has a calming influence. Mac however is the opposite. He spends most of his time in the cat run keeping an eye on his property. He is always in the mood to play and is high energy. A great balance of cat personalities.

In her spare time Faye enjoys, kung fu, yoga, reading, camping and hiking. She loves cats, and the Cat Clinic has provided her with a great opportunity to harness her interest and fondness for cats.

Faye


Gucci


Mac

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Lara has returned to The Cat Clinic, after a brief stint in the corporate world and has decided she much prefers working in with cats and the fantastic team at The Cat Clinic. She was our first nurse and helped build the practice.

Lara shares the head nurse position with Faye. Lara has been a veterinary nurse for over 6 years and helped start The Cat Clinic with Richard. She has a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma in Animal Technology and has completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary nursing and would one day like to do an Advanced Diploma in Practice Management.

Lara has had cats all her life. She has a very affection Tabby called Vincent, aka “Vincenzo”. Her husband Greg is smitten by the kitten and Lara is now trying to convince him into also adopting a Devon Rex.

In her spare time Lara likes to practice yoga, cook goodies for family and friends, attend to her garden, hang out with friends and she also volunteers weekly for a homework group, for underprivileged kids.

Lara

Vincent

Lara is on extended maternity leave - we look forward to her return in the future.

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Georgia Puttock – Vet Nurse

Georgia’s love of cats began in the crib, which she happily shared with a cranky adopted black & white domestic named Meowchic. Growing up with the surname “Katz”, cemented what became an obsession of sorts.

Georgia began volunteering with the cats at the ‘Save a dog scheme’ and realized that working with animals (specifically cats) was what she was meant to do with her life. After bringing her cats to the Cat Clinic for 3 years, her persistence paid off with a job as a vet nurse. She has completed certificate 2 and is currently studying certificate 4 in veterinary nursing.

Georgia now has 4 ‘children’ with her husband Tobie: Rupert and Bellatrix the beautiful ragdolls, and Ari a precocious lilac Burmese and the most recent naughty addition is Bertie a stubborn little Singapura.

In her spare time Georgia loves to read, spend time with her friends and devise new ways of convincing Tobie to let her add to their family. (4 is enough now Georgia).

Georgia

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Jessie Scholes– Vet Nurse

Jess’s love of animals has always been apparent to anyone who knows her, she is always on the lookout for new animals to befriend while on her many walks.

Jess has in the past shared her home with 9 kittens and their mother, having found homes for all but one of them she continued living with “Louie” the beautiful tabby boy, Sadly Louie left home at age 4 and was not to be seen again.

Jess first brought her family cat Hati to the clinic in 2005. In 2007 she started as a cattery attendant and soon became an invaluable member of the nursing team. She adopted a beautiful little Burmese girl called Eva and then decided one burmese was not enough and adopted Ruby a lovely special little girl.

In her spare time Jess loves to Dance, read many books, go to the movies and take walks in beautiful gardens and say hello to any curious kitties.

Jessie


Eva

Gosia Anderst – Vet Nurse

Gosia is our newest veterinary nurse, having joined the practice this month. Gosia has moved to Melbourne from Perth to fulfil her dream of working in a cat-only practice. She has been working as a veterinary nurse for four years in small animal practice. Gosia has completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, and is planning to start studying for a Veterinary Nursing Diploma in Surgery or Emergency Nursing next year.

Gosia has one much loved cat called Jezabel, 21 month old calico and white domestic shorthair girl. Jezabel handled the journey from Perth very well and is looking forward to settling in to her new home in Melbourne.

In her spare time Gosia enjoys reading, watching movies, going out with friends and playing computer games

Gosia

Louise Petterson – Trainee Vet Nurse

Louise started working in her dream job at the Cat Clinic in April 2008. She has always had a love and compassion for the welfare of animals especially cats finding their curiosity and cautiousness amusing. Louise initially started caring for the boarding cats in the Cattery whilst starting her Veterinary Nurse training and is currently completing her certificate II. Her enthusiasm and dedication for patient care has ensured she quickly became part of our lovely nursing team.

Having never enough pets the list is sure to continue with 4 cats, Lucy a 16 year old domestic Calico, Chesty a 3 year old giant who has a unique deformed sternum which you'll never notice under his sophisticated black and white tuxedo, Teddy a 1 year old Persian and his girlfriend Lilac a 14 week old Exotic shorthair. And there's more 2 Pugs (Silly looking dogs) Sam and Poppy who get laughed at through the window by all the cats.

In her spare time Louise loves to wine and dine, watch too much TV with her friends, laugh until her tummy hurts and try to avoid adopting more cats.

Louise

Support Staff

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Melissa Mathieson - Cattery Attendant

Melissa started at the Cat clinic just after it opened in 2005. She absolutely loves cats and has 5 cats – but they live with her parents. So, at this point she shares her life with a cute little black & white girl called Isobelle and her partner Damien.

Melissa has a very keen interest in feline behaviour. Melissa recently finished her honours thesis with first class honours in studying Lyre bird behaviour in the Kinglake area. If your cat comes home from the cattery looking content & even more beautiful, it is due to Melissa’s dedication to ensuring the cats don’t miss out on their regular cuddles and grooming whilst on holidays.

Isobelle

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Jackie Tyquin - Cattery Attendant

Jackie is our most recent staff member having joined us in December 2008. Jackie is studying Animal tech at University and hopes to pursue a career involving animal health. Jackie has worked in boarding catteries for 2 years whilst undertaking her studies.

Jackie has 2 cats, Wilfred and Magic to share her spare time with when not working at one of 2 catteries or studying at University.

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