The Kingstowne Cat Clinic: First-Class Care for Our Feline Friends

The atmosphere almost seems too quiet and relaxed for a medical facility of any type. The only sign of distress came from a patient who did not appreciate strangers peering into his carrier, and even then his hiss-like warning was barely audible.

The quiet is one of many reasons why cat owners have supported The Kingstowne Cat Clinic since it moved in almost 11 years ago. They were bursting at the seams after ten years in a smaller space in a nearby shopping center.

“Mixed practices are very loud places because the dogs bark constantly,” said the clinic’s office manager and spokesperson Randi Kruger. “It’s very hard. It’s a very high stress environment for a cat…. You only have to look at your cat terrified in the carrier with the big dog panting away next to it for you to realize, oh, this is probably not the best day of his life.”

Kruger said she’s actually more of a dog person. She’d worked in veterinary medicine or kennels and grooming before she moved to the area 15 years ago. She wanted work in a mixed practice, but wound up taking the evening receptionist job with the cat people. Now she cares deeply about animals she said get short shrift in the veterinary world.

“They’re truly 2^nd class citizens,” Kruger said. “By coming to a cat hospital your cat’s gonna be treated like a first-class citizen.”

That’s the way founding veterinarians Lynn Gulledge and Deborah Boos felt. Kruger said, “From a business perspective they saw a potential business opportunity, but they also saw a need.” The way Gulledge and Boos addressed that need impressed Kruger.

“Because we focus just on cats we were able to have a more deep focus on medicine,” Kruger said. “I really felt like we provided a higher level of medicine than any other veterinary place I’d ever been to, and so that’s why I’ve stayed.”

The level of medicine is underscored by Dr. Gulledge’s Diplomate status with the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners. That makes her a rare, certified cat specialist. In addition to Gulledge and Boos, the clinic has Dr. Laura Mosoriak and Dr. Janice Chang.

Medical care isn’t the only thing offered at The Kingstowne Cat Clinic. Cat lovers can find things like prescription food, information and cat toys. Boarding is available for cats with medical issues, but the staff recommends pet sitters for healthy cats whose owners must leave town. And yes, they can provide a list of sitters.

The hissing patient was Buster, whose main problem was he hated carrier rides. Once inside the treatment area he was gently stroked, then sedated to make it easier for him to get through the check-up. If there are problems later, his owner can call at any time.

“I’ve heard over and over again from clients that they wish that their human doctors treated them as well as we treat our patients,” said Kruger.

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Kingstowne Cat Clinic

5830 Kingstowne Center Dr., Alexandria, VA 22315, 703-922-8228 http://www.kingstownecatclinic.com/

Monday & Thursday: 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday: 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday call for availability. Sunday Closed.