Carlene

Before joining CatsOnly, Carlene worked in human healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), making CatsOnly her first experience in veterinary medicine.

She says the training at CatsOnly taught her more about Cats in her first few weeks than she had learned in a lifetime of living with them. Carlene has become especially interested in understanding fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in Cats, including how to recognize early signs and help prevent stress from escalating. When meeting a Cat, she takes things slowly, pays close attention to body language, and respects their boundaries.

She brings that same thoughtful approach to Cat Parents, believing that listening carefully matters because no one knows a Cat's everyday behaviors and routines better than the people who live with them. Her connection to the CatsOnly mission is personal. One of her own Cats experiences significant fear, anxiety, and stress during veterinary visits, so discovering a practice dedicated to reducing stress and avoiding unnecessary restraint immediately resonated with her.

Carlene shares her home with Crackers and Simba. Crackers, her 15-pound gray love bug and constant shadow, has been with her for more than 10 years. Simba, a playful nine-pound orange Cat, arrived through the Cat Distribution System when Carlene's brother unexpectedly brought home a kitten from a friend's litter. Outside of CatsOnly, Carlene has played softball for about 15 years and enjoys gaming, crocheting, and sewing.