Claire Zentveld, BSc, BVM&S, GPCertFelP, MANZCVS (Medicine of Cats), MRCVS

Vet and founder

Check Claire's profile

  • The main thing to say about myself is I LOVE CATS! I am a cat ‘owner’ first and a cat vet second (We don’t ‘own’ them really, perhaps I should say ‘cat servant’). I completely understand the emotional upset of seeing your beloved cat when it’s sick or in pain, and the difficulties of giving medication to a cat.

  • I graduated from Edinburgh University in 1999, with all good intentions of eventually working in wildlife conservation. As happens, life had other ideas, and the further education in Wild Animal Health just didn’t happen! All for the best, as working in small animal practice allowed me to be around the species I’ve always loved the most.

  • Over the years I gravitated more towards feline-orientated professional development, as well as forming an interest in ultrasonography. In 2013 I passed the exam for a General Practitioner Certificate in Feline Practice (GPCertFelP), and in 2018 sat my exams for the Membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (MANZCVS) in the Medicine of Cats. This is the equivalent of a Masters degree and a highly regarded qualification in the Feline Medicine world. From 2016 to 2018 I worked as part of the internal medicine team at Optivet Referrals in Havant, gaining experience and insight into more complex medical cases.

  • I founded Vet2Cat in 2019 after having had the idea of a home visiting service for cats in my head for about 5 years, while still working in general practice. Seeing cats in their own environments is so rewarding from the point of view of the veterinary team: they are so much more likely to be more relaxed and behave naturally. Also assessing its environment and social relations with other cats can help with understanding and tackling issues, and this enables us to advise you on how best to help your cat.

 

Our journey 

Vet2Cat started as a home-visiting veterinary service for cats only, and we have grown to expand our range of services, including setting up our own clinic in 2025, giving us more flexibility to perform procedures when required, and offer a more holistic cat healthcare service. 

As an independent practice, we can promise that at Vet2Cat we have no pressure from a corporate structure to sell you products or services. In addition, there is no restriction on clinical autonomy or use of selected products only.

Meet our team

Shannon Davies

Veterinary Care Assistant

I am the first veterinary care assistant to join the Vet2Cat team. I have been doing this role for over 6 years across different veterinary practices. I've always known I wanted to work with animals as a career since I left school.

I attended college to study Animal Management Level 3 extended Diploma, and then graduated from University with a Foundation Degree in Animal management, behaviour and welfare. Since then, I’ve had a lot of experience with all kinds of animals including domesticated, wild and livestock, alongside my own family pets such as cats, dogs, hamsters, fish and horses.

This job is very rewarding; caring for and treating other owners’ pets brings me great joy and knowing we can help others with our skill set and knowledge.

Working with Vet2Cat also brought Nova into my life - my lovely pure white little fur-baby. Nova was rehomed from The Ark, she is deaf and has chronic rhinitis, and loves a snuggle with me in bed!

Estelle Pitt

RVN, Head Nurse

Having grown up with various pets, I had always wanted to work with animals, so I started on my vet nursing path with a 2-week stint at a vet practice doing work experience whilst at senior school. I then joined the same clinic straight after my last GCSE exam in 1990 as a practice nurse.

I later decided to train as a veterinary nurse and I qualified in 1997. I've worked in various small animal practices over the years, always with a very keen interest in cat care and welfare, especially the "golden oldies".

I am the slave to Samual, a Bengal cross, who I brought home as a stray kitten in 2018. He is a terror at times but can also be the most loving of felines (within his own limits). 

My role as a veterinary nurse is to help cats train and teach their ‘slaves/hoomans’ to understand their special feline needs and behaviours, so they can live a healthy life together, both physically and emotionally.  

Amber Chard

Administrative assistant

I have worked for Vet2Cat in an administrative role since 2021, helping the business run smoothly. I keep track of day-to-day operations, practice growth, customer accounts, health records and general administrative duties. This allows the veterinary team to focus on providing top-notch care for our clients and their cats.

 I enjoy working with our team ‘behind the scenes’ so although I don’t assist on visits, I take pride in helping customers with their enquiries.

I have grown up with many animals including cats and know they don’t always appreciate being taken out of their comfort zone, so I love what Vet2Cat stands for and the service it provides.  I am committed to creating a welcoming experience for both cats and their owners.

Our values

We promise to:

  • Look after our patients as we would like our own cats to be looked after

  • Respect natural feline behaviour: use gentle handling, knowing when sedation would be better

  • Be conscious of cats’ senses: no perfumes, no doggy smells, and minimal transfer of smells from other patients

  • Treat clients with respect and without prejudice and always involve clients in informed decision making

  • Understand that pets can be just as important as anyone else who is part of the family

  • Treat team members respectfully and equally and value their ideas and input

  • Provide the highest standard of care and treatment and keep up-to-date with developments in feline medicine

  • Take time to explain the treatment we recommend and how to provide this with as little stress as possible to your cat as possible

Vet2Cat advocates

The Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare

  • Freedom from hunger and thirst
  • Freedom from discomfort
  • Freedom from pain, injury or disease
  • Freedom to express normal behaviour
  • Freedom from fear and distress

These apply to all animals in the care of humans, whether a house pet, a horse, farm or zoo animals.