Variety is the spice of life-and quality care

As the veterinary profession learns more about the unique needs of cats, more practices are specializing as feline-only clinics. The teams at feline clinics are at the top of their games. They understand how to treat cats and their owners. But this high standard leaves some teams feeling disheartened.

"There's the tendency for veterinarians and team members to feel like if they're not seeing just cats, then they're not able to care for cats in the best manner," says Dr. Roberta Lillich, president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and an owner of Abilene Animal Hospital, a mixed animal practice in Abilene, Kan. "But teams in mixed or mixed companion animal practices can get the tools and build the skills they need to treat feline patients as well as any others."

Dr. Lillich's patients range from cats and dogs to pigs and cows. And the whole staff is prepared to meet every patient's individual needs. How? By selecting a focus. The veterinarians and staff pursue CE in any discipline that excites them. They've honed in on everything from chiropractic medicine to, yes, feline care. And that's just the way Dr. Lillich likes it. "Identifying people's different interests is one of the keys to success," she says. "This allows us to grow professionally as individuals and still keep overall quality at an exceptional level."