Featured in Cats Magazine: Why Your Cat Might Need a Veterinary Specialist – And How to Find One

A recent article in Cats Magazine highlights the important role veterinary specialists play in caring for cats with complex or chronic health conditions. From kidney disease to asthma, feline patients sometimes require advanced diagnostics, treatments, or intensive care that goes beyond routine veterinary services.

Dr. Marie Holowaychuk—board-certified veterinary specialist and author of A Compassionate Calling: What It Really Means to Be a Veterinarian—was featured to discuss when cat owners should consider consulting a specialist and how to navigate the referral process. She explained that specialists undergo extensive post-graduate training to provide advanced care, which can significantly impact a cat’s recovery and quality of life.

“Not all veterinarians are trained to handle complex feline cases. Knowing when and how to access specialty care can make a real difference for your cat’s health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Holowaychuk. She highlighted the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners’ Feline Practice certification as one way to identify veterinarians with demonstrated expertise in feline medicine.

The article also dives into the day-to-day realities of a veterinary ICU, showing how specialized interventions—from oxygen therapy to dialysis—can save lives when cats face critical illness. Dr. Holowaychuk emphasizes the value of collaboration between family veterinarians and specialists to ensure cats receive the best care possible.

For Dr. Holowaychuk, understanding specialty care forms part of the larger conversation about supporting veterinary teams, advancing animal health, and providing pet owners with realistic expectations about the resources available for their cats. These insights also connect to the themes of her book, where she explores the emotional and ethical dimensions of veterinary medicine and the resilience required to navigate its challenges.

📖 Read the full article here: Why Your Cat Might Need a Veterinary Specialist – And How to Find One