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.

  • I am one of the two Cat Advocates in the practice, for the Cat Friendly Clinic status.

 

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

Estelle Pitt, RVN

Head Nurse & Practice Manager

Cat Advocate for Cat Friendly Clinic

My love for animals began early, and it was no surprise that I chose a career caring for them. My veterinary journey started with a two-week work experience placement at a local clinic while still at school, and soon after completing my GCSEs in 1990, I joined the same practice as a nurse.

I went on to qualify as a veterinary nurse in 1997 and since then have worked in a variety of small animal practices. Over the years, I’ve developed a particular passion for feline care and welfare, with a special soft spot for the “golden oldies.” Helping older cats stay comfortable and happy for as long as possible is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.

At home, I share my life with two very special rescue cats: Samuel, a mischievous Bengal cross I adopted as a stray kitten in 2018, and Rosie, a sweet-natured Maine Coon cross who completely melts hearts. They keep me grounded in the daily joys and quirks of feline companionship.

As a veterinary nurse, my role is not only to care for cats but also to support their humans—helping them better understand their feline friends’ unique needs and behaviours so they can thrive together, physically and emotionally.

Tivoli Thompson

Veterinary Care Assistant

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.