Manchester's first vets exclusively for feline friends
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Ellie, one of the founding Directors of Manchester Cat Clinic to learn more about this exciting new business in Didsbury. This is the very first vets in Manchester that caters solely to cats and is the most beautiful safe haven for them. Read on to hear from Ellie about the inspiration behind this entrepreneurial success story:
What made you want to set up the Manchester Cat Clinic?
I’d been a locum working across lots of different practices for a few years but had been thinking for a while that I wouldn’t ever find a practice I’d want to stay at long term unless someone opened a cat-only vets locally, as my husband and I are proper crazy cat people. It started off as a bit of a joke about us opening “Manchester Cat Clinic” but I ended up having a conversation with some older vets about it in the pub one day and they were so encouraging that it pushed us to book onto a course on how to open your own practice. One thing led to another and here we are!
How long have you been a vet?
I qualified from the University of Bristol in 2017 after five years of studying. My husband Dan was in the year above me at vet school.
Do you have any top tips for cat owners (and lovers!)?
Cats really see their environment in a totally different way to humans and their version of stress can be very different to ours and difficult to get your head around, as we see things from a human perspective. To them, changes in their environment or things like the position and number of their resources (food bowls, high resting places etc) can have very physical effects on them and even trigger medical conditions like cystitis.
Cats are much less domesticated than dogs and we need to live alongside them, understanding that we do have a tiny wild animal in our house who isn’t necessarily adapted to a human way of living! There is a great website called iCatCare which gives really reliable information about looking after your cat, and in particular I really recommend their page on “Making your home cat friendly”, as lots of the tips and tricks they recommend can make a big difference to their health and happiness. https://icatcare.
What would you most like people to know about your business?
Our values… We keep them in a frame by the front door as we want our clients and team to know what’s important to us. I think that, especially in our area, people are really keen to support small independent businesses and we really appreciate that and value our independence and connection to the local community.
- Cats’ quality of life comes first
We create an environment for cat healthcare which minimises stress, is tailored to their specific needs and is based on the latest evidence and expertise.
We take a thoughtful approach to decision making and advice, taking into account the cat and owner’s individual circumstances. What is right for one cat might not be for another. - Outstanding service does good and feels good
Our commitment to outstanding client service helps more cats receive quality healthcare as their owners are happier to bring them to the vet.
We take career satisfaction from working to a high standard and being a valuable part of the local community. - Our team supports each other to lead fulfilled lives
We encourage a culture of kindness, openness and good humour. We value the input and professional development of every member of the team.
We pay at least the Real Living Wage and provide suitable working hours, conditions and renumeration that staff can wind down after work and lead a dignified life.
How can people get booked in with you?
Our website https://www.