Why Choose Cats Only Veterinary Clinic?
At Cats Only Veterinary Clinic, we don’t just care for cats—we revolutionize their healthcare. We believe many cat owners seek a higher quality of care for their cats, and we meet that demand by continuously improving our skills and knowledge. Our commitment to personalized service ensures we understand the unique needs of each patient and communicate openly with clients. Knowing our patients may feel frightened, we make every effort to put both clients and patients at ease, with no act of kindness ever going unnoticed or unappreciated.
Our team’s enthusiasm and expertise continue to shape a practice where patients and clients receive nothing short of exceptional, compassionate care. As a certified Women-Owned Business in Ohio, we have been recognized on Columbus Business First’s Fast 50 List since 2019, and honored on their Largest Women-Owned Businesses List from 2019-2023. We are also humbled to be named one of Columbus Business Best Places to Work every year from 2019 through 2024.
Our mission statement is proudly displayed throughout our clinic:
We Speak MEOW!
- Meaningful: We care deeply for our patients, clients, and each other. We approach every task with empathy, compassion, and a sense of pride in our work.
- Excellence: We are committed to continual learning, delivering exceptional service, and building trust with our clients. Our dedication to effective communication and teamwork sets us apart.
- Originality: As innovators in feline care, we embrace creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. We are early adopters of advanced care techniques and proud models for the industry.
- Worth It: Our team’s accomplishments and growth are celebrated daily, showing our clients that their cats are worth the extra time, attention, and care they deserve.
Cats Only is proudly certified as a Cat Friendly Practice by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), ensuring a calm and stress-free experience for every feline visitor. This certification highlights their specialized training in feline behavior and gentle handling, minimizing anxiety during vet visits. With features like quiet waiting areas, feline pheromone diffusers, and soft exam room bedding, Cats Only tailors every aspect of their practice to meet the unique needs of cats, providing them with the best possible care.
Our Cat Loving Team
Dr. Symone Niesz-Ent
Veterinarian, Medical Director
Dr. Symone Niesz-Ent graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, and fulfilled her clinical year at The Ohio State University. Outside of Cats Only Veterinary Clinic, she is an active member of Germania in Columbus, a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, and volunteers her time with Save Ohio Pets to provide veterinary care to low-income families. She has special interests in medicine and dentistry. Dr. Niesz-Ent enjoys riding and competing with her horse, reading, and traveling with her husband. In addition to horses, she has three cats: Sofia, Sidnight, and Seuss, and takes care of many feral cats in her neighborhood.
Dr. Pamela Austin
Veterinarian
Dr. Pamela Austin is originally from Wellsville, New York. She completed a Master's degree in Molecular Biology at The University of Rochester where she worked as a laboratory director until relocating to Columbus to attend veterinary school. In 2005 Dr. Austin graduated from The Ohio State University and began her veterinary career locally as an emergency veterinarian. Dr. Austin was excited to join Cats Only Veterinary Clinic in 2009 and pursue her long-standing interest in feline medicine. After several happy years here Dr. Austin moved to South Carolina where she owned and ran a multi-doctor veterinary clinic and several feline and canine daycare and boarding facilities. When her practice was sold Dr. Austin could have gone anywhere in the country. She chose to return to Columbus so that she could once again be a part of her favorite place - Cats Only. Her special feline interests include behavior, pediatrics, dentistry and pain management.
Dr. Justin Kirchhofer
Veterinarian
Dr. Justin Kirchhofer graduated with a BS in Biology from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. From there he went on to receive his Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD) degree in 1999 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. K has a way with, and a special love for, felines. He enjoys progressive medicine, surgery, and minimally invasive procedures such as ultrasound. Dr. K takes great pride and satisfaction in getting to know each client and patient. He resides in Worthington, Ohio with his wife Rebecca, their eight cats and one dog. Dr. K is the proud father of two sons and a daughter. In his spare time he enjoys playing soccer, boating, water skiing, traveling, reading and is a military history buff.
Dr. Ashley Dzubak
Veterinarian
Dr. Dzubak graduated from St. George's University and completed her clinical year at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She became certified in veterinary acupuncture from the Chi Institute in 2023, and enjoys learning new ways to help her patients. Dr. Dzubak has a very large feline family, and spends much of her time taking part in CFA cat shows with her Selkirk Rex and other breeds. She loves educating others about different cat breeds and their unique traits and health conditions. In her free time, you will most likely find her curled up under a blanket with a pile of cats, either reading a good book or playing video games.
Dr. Kelsey Bick
Veterinarian
Dr. Kelsey Bick is originally from Southern Ohio and first moved to Columbus to pursue her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in design. She worked as an editor in educational publishing for several years before deciding to heed the siren song of veterinary medicine. Dr. Bick attended The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and is proud to be a double Buckeye. Feline medicine has always been a dream of hers, and she takes a strong interest in feline behavior, nutrition, and internal medicine. Outside of the clinic, you can find Dr. Bick working in her garden, reading sci-fi novels, and cuddling with her cat Francine Greenbean. She and her husband David love to travel and go to concerts together, but they're more likely to be found at home in the garden, attending to Francine's every whim!
Dr. Nichole Sparks
Veterinarian
Dr. Nicole Sparks grew up in Dublin, Ohio and completed her undergraduate degree in Microbiology at The Ohio State University. She earned her DVM and a master’s degree in public health at the University of Missouri. Dr. Sparks has always had a passion for feline medicine and was elated to join the Cats Only team right after finishing veterinary school. Dr. Sparks currently has two kitties named Pepper and Lakota. In addition to being a cat mom, Dr. Sparks enjoys reading fantasy novels, painting, and hiking.
Dr. Shaw Perrin
Veterinarian
A native of the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Dr. Perrin is a graduate of Bishop Watterson High School, The University of Chicago, and received his doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University. Dr. Perrin has worked with a number of species, including, for many years, large animals. He has lectured on animal quality-of-life, animal welfare and veterinary ethics. Within feline practice he particularly enjoys pediatrics, internal medicine, and behavior. In his time away from veterinary medicine, enjoys spending time with his son and daughter, and their cat Ginger.
Andrea Lukuch
Owner & Hospital Administrator | Chief Kitty Petter
Andrea hails from the Cleveland area, and came to Columbus in 1992 to attend The Ohio State University, majoring in Agricultural Economics. Since the age of 12, she worked alongside her father and mother, veterinary professionals themselves. Andrea joined the Cats Only Veterinary Clinic team in 1996 and advanced to the position of Office Manager in 1999. In 2016 Andrea became the owner of Cats Only, and is so excited to continue the tradition of helping to provide the finest in feline healthcare. She has a passion for cultivating Cats Only's unique culture - celebrating the team of people who dedicate their careers to cats as well as our cat owners who desire the best care for their feline friends. If not at Cats Only Veterinary Clinic she can be found at brunch with her family, enjoying live music, or planning her next adventure.
Kris James
Practice Manager
Kris James was born in Seoul, South Korea and moved around as a child before her family settled in the Columbus area. Kris earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Otterbein University. She currently resides in Columbus with her husband.
In her spare time, Kris enjoys sewing, crocheting, and crafting. She loves Star Trek, Broadway musicals, and iced coffee. You can often find her quoting movies & T.V. shows and she loves meeting kitties with fun pop culture names
Eryn Temby
Lead Veterinary Assistant
Eryn was born in Austell, Georgia but moved to Powell, Ohio when she was four. Eryn is currently studying science and biology at Columbus state community college but is soon transferring to the Columbus state veterinary technician program. Eryn has worked at a cat only shelter for 7 years and decided to join the Cats Only Veterinary team to further her knowledge and take care of her favorite animals, cats!
In her free time she loves hanging out with her kitties, Lilly and Olivia, and playing Xbox with her boyfriend and friends.
Jourdin Steele
Lead Veterinary Nurse
Jourdin was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and is a graduate from Columbus State Community College, with a AAS degree in Veterinary Technology. Jourdin’s love for felines was inherited early on from her mother when gifted a sweet baby kitten at the age of 2. She is now currently owned by her two feline babies, Booty and Monte. Jourdin was first introduced to the Cats Only Veterinary Clinic family during an eight-week internship, which is where she confirmed cats were the only way to go and that this is where she needed to be. Getting the chance to snuggle kitties everyday is the best part of the job, especially our clinic cat Dr. Bob. She really enjoys spending time with family, going on vacation getaways with her mom, and being bossed around by her sassy babies. Jourdin believes Cats Only is the best job she’s ever had, and so grateful for the chance to learn and grow with the amazing staff here!
Carolyn Ellis
Veterinary Nurse
Carolyn was born and raised in West Virginia. There, she attended Mountwest Community and Technical College where she received her associate’s degree in veterinary technology in 2019. Later that year, she passed her national boards and became a registered veterinary technician. Carolyn moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2021, which had been a long time dream for her and her husband, Kyle.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two cats, and dog. You can usually catch her with a book or her Kindle in hand.
Pamela Dreiss
Veterinary Nurse
Pamela is a registered Veterinary Technician who joined the Cats Only team in April of 2022. She is a graduate from Columbus State with an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology. She has had a deep love for cats ever since she checked out her very first library book, ``All About Cats.`` As a child she insisted she was a cat expert and often told family members random facts about felines any chance she could get. With her life-long love of cats, she considers working at Cats Only to be a dream job!
Amelia Jordan
MSc, CVT
Amelia is originally from Minneapolis, MN. She completed a B.A. in psychology from Bryn Mawr College, then decided to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Amelia graduated from vet tech school and earned her CVT license in 2013. She has since worked in critical care, shelter and general practice settings. Amelia has always been passionate about prioritizing animals’ emotional wellbeing. While working as a CVT, Amelia became increasingly aware of the importance of caring for each pet’s physical and behavioral health. In 2019, Amelia took a sabbatical to pursue a MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare from The University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Amelia moved to Columbus in 2021 and is enjoying exploring the city! In her spare time, she volunteers with a local rescue, goes for jogs along the city’s trails (weather permitting!) and loves to travel.
Tia Robinson
Lead Client Service Representative
Tia was born in Columbus and raised in Plain City, Ohio. She got her love for animals from her parents, specifically her mother, Allison. Tia grew up surrounded by cats her entire life, having an average of 8 at any given time. Tia now lives in Columbus, Ohio with her boyfriend and 4 cats; Sky, Astrid, Max and Star. Tia started at Cats Only in 2022, and has been excited to share her passion with the world. In her spare time, you can find her snuggled up with her cats or making friendship bracelets.
Kaitlyn Rainey
Lead Client Service Representative
Kaitlyn grew up in the small town of Blanchester, OH. Later she went on to graduate from Shawnee State University with a Bachelors Degree focusing on Sociology and Social Work. She settled down in Columbus after moving here with her now, Husband, Ryan. Kaitlyn grew up having “Cats Only” and also a few ferrets and now she is a fur mama to two dogs, Dallas & Beau, and three cats, Charlie, Dove, & Moseby. If you see Kaitlyn in the clinic ask her what her pets full “government” names are! Kaitlyn has always had a passion for helping others and animals, which is why Cats Only has become the perfect home for her! She enjoys pop culture, true crime, puzzling, and reality tv shows. Big brother and The Bachelorette are her favorite!
Colleen McCaughan
Client Service Representative
As a Customer Service Representative at Cats Only Veterinary Clinic, Colleen takes pride in supporting pet owners and their furry friends with warmth and dedication. Originally from Florida, she and her partner made Columbus their new home in 2023, seeking a fresh start and a community that nurtures creativity (and also has fantastic breweries).
Colleen's heart also lies in the world of art, where she expresses her passion as a pet portrait artist, lovingly capturing the unique charm of every pet she paints. You'll also find Colleen indulging in other various creative pursuits, whether it's rug tufting, drawing, sewing, or capturing her life through her point-and-shoot film camera. Colleen's beloved cats— Thelma, Smudges, Dill, and the late Boo, are always her biggest muses, and inspire her every day to celebrate the special bond between people and their pets.
Kesha Trout
Client Service Representative
Kesha has resided in Columbus her whole life. She will take any moment to reference a movie, comic book or TV show (especially The Office) and lives to annoy her fur babies (3 cats 1 dog) even though they run the house. Kesha's motto: NERDY & PROUD!
Mckena Sanchez
Client Service Representative
McKena Sanchez, born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, graduated from culinary school and spent several years working as a chef, where she met her husband, Alberto, who is still a chef.
Although she loved the culinary world, McKena wanted a career that put good into the world. That passion led her to Cats Only Veterinary Clinic, where she combines her customer service skills with her love for animals. At home, she has five beloved cats: Tupac Shapurr, Alice, Nugget, Binx, and Billie. When she's not at work, she enjoys playing video games with her husband, watching horror movies, trying out different makeup looks, and turning strangers into friends.
Erin Berry
Veterinary Assistant
Erin is currently studying zoology at Kent State University. After joining us in 2022, Erin decided to pursue veterinary school. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and learning the guitar.
Julie Lewis
Veterinary Assistant
Julie was born and raised in Northwest Ohio and pursued a degree in marine biology at Bowling Green State University before heading west to call Portland Oregon home for 20 years. Returning to Ohio and settling in Columbus in 2018, Julie began working with the incredibly intelligent and compassionate team at Cats Only Veterinary Clinic. In her free time, Julie enjoys spending time exploring the Columbus area, being caregiver to her cat Khaleesi, and expressing her creative side in various artistic mediums.
Alyssa O'Sullivan
Veterinary Assistant
Alyssa was born in Columbus OH, and attended Ohio Wesleyan University graduating with a degree in Zoology. She began working at Cats Only in 2023 and is currently pursuing a license in Veterinary Technology.
In her free time, she enjoys reading and hanging out with friends and family. When not in school, she can be found watching movies and attending Broadway shows.
Eva Knox
Veterinary Assistant
Eva was mostly raised in Columbus Ohio. She graduated from Columbus State in 2022 after many years of trying different careers. Eva is now working her way up to becoming a Wildlife Veterinarian. Eva began working with cats about 15 years ago with a feral rescue program and several more programs through the Columbus Humane Society and some private rescue programs. Eva has been in animal medicine for over 5 years and she is very passionate about animal education and animal behavior. She is a Mom, wife and hobby enthusiast in addition to devoting time to her education.
Janelle Belcher
Veterinary Assistant
Janelle is a veterinary assistant originally from a small town in northwest Ohio. After graduating from Kent State University with a bachelor of science in Zoology and a pre-veterinary concentration, she moved to Columbus for further opportunities and garnering experience to apply to veterinary school. She has previous experience in veterinary low-cost general practice, oncology, and surgery specialties. In her spare time, Janelle enjoys playing video games with friends, reading her favorite books, learning about history, snuggling with her cats, and traveling around the world.
Nora Nolte
Veterinary Assistant
A veterinary assistant with 5+ years of experience under my belt, Nora has a deep love of cats with 2 boys of her own, Skip and Lucky.
Meg Secard
Veterinary Assistant
Meg was born in Cleveland, OH, and moved down to Columbus at the age of 18 to attend Ohio State University. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology, then began working at Cats Only in 2020 while pursuing a license in veterinary technology. In her free time, Meg enjoys playing video games and practicing martial arts. She currently lives with four cats, and has plans to adopt several more.
Hayley Browning
Veterinary Assistant
Hayley was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and is currently attending school at Columbus State. She loves all animals and grew up around cats, dogs, birds and rats, but her true passion has always been for felines, leading her to join the Cats Only team in 2017.
During her free time, Hayley enjoys reading fantasy and sci-fi books, going hiking, and playing video games. She resides in central Ohio with her partner and their four cats and German Shepherd, and they care for many feral neighborhood kitties as well.
Talishiona Jasper
Veterinary Nurse
Talishiona was born and raised in Columbus Ohio- a true buckeye at heart. She has always been around animals, she grew up with cats and dogs consistently which gave her the passion for Veterinary Medicine. Talishiona graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelors in Animal Science and with an AAS degree in Veterinary Technology from Columbus State Community College. She started her career off in canine/feline mixed practices but then started working for Cats Only Veterinary Clinic in March of 2023, where her love for cats continues to grow! In her free time Talishiona loves playing the sims and spending time with her son, Kenzo.
Olivia Renna
Veterinary Assistant
Olivia is a transplant from North Carolina that moved to Ohio in the fall of 2017. Having grown up in a house where not having a cat was never an option, Olivia focused her love for cats and everything to do with them into a career with Cats Only starting in 2021. In addition to her days at the clinic, she also works part-time time handling the care of adoptable cats at a local cat cafe. In her free time Olivia enjoys photographing nature and making the occasional trip back to her home state for a quick recharge in the mountains. She is the proud owner of two spoiled cats, Chili Pepper and Nox.
Purrogi
Hall Monitor
Purrogi joined the Cats Only Veterinary Clinic team in 2023 after answering an ``Urgently Hiring`` ad for a Hall Monitor. Though a sweet, gentle cat, he means business while staking out the hallways, vigilantly watching for any sort of food-stocking mishap. Purrogi's core values include: lounging, feather toy, and staring lovingly at anyone who might feed him. While he has been known to steal away from time to time with a zip tie in his mouth (what an odd fixation, Purrogi), he is still mostly a good boy and a highly decorated employee.
Dr. Cynthia L. Bowlin, ABVP (Feline)
Veterinarian
Now retired from practice, Dr Bowlin is the founder of Cats Only Veterinary Clinic, the first feline practice in the central Ohio area. Long recognized as an innovative force in feline practice, Dr. Bowlin has lectured and authored articles on feline vaccination, nutrition, medicine, surgery, patient care, lifestyle, behavior, as well as practice management, development, and customer service. As a staunch advocate for quality feline care Dr. Bowlin has proudly encouraged and supported four other veterinarians in acquisition of Board specialty certification in feline practice during their employment at Cats Only Veterinary Clinic. Having now passed the baton for exceptional feline care to an extraordinarily gifted and capable staff, Dr. Bowlin feels humbled and blessed to have had the privilege to care for animals for over 40 years, thirty of which were devoted to our beloved and unique cats.
Dr. Bob (In Memorium)
Pawscription Expert
Dr. Bob was born in downtown Columbus, Ohio in 2014. He enjoys consulting with the patients, clients and staff of Cats Only Veterinary Clinic on all behavior cases. Dr. Bob considers himself a 'foodie' and is especially fond of eclectic shrimp dishes with sides of Temptations. He looks forward to chats about cats and seafood when you stop in.