Staff at the Cat Hospital of Kamloops take great care with their feline patients.

(STACY PAVLOV / iNFOnews.ca)

Not everyone can say they are doing exactly what they want to be doing in retirement.

For Dr. Sandy Jamieson, he is spending retirement in the place he feels best; back at work as the owner and head veterinarian of The Cat Hospital of Kamloops. Why, you might wonder, would Dr. Sandy, as he affectionately likes to be called, want to keep working when he could be enjoying a slower pace of life after a full career spanning 48 years?

“Well, in 2008, I sold my cat hospital in the Lower Mainland, retired and moved to Green Lake where I had a house. They needed a locum veterinarian back there for a bit, so I did that and realized that this is what I needed to keep doing,” says Dr. Sandy.

After only four months of retirement and a few more locums, he decided that wasn’t enough, so he moved to Kamloops and opened The Cat Hospital.

“My level of feline practice is at the top and we’re always advancing,” he says. 

The Cat Hospital is a full-service care facility offering wellness and illness exams, orthopedic and soft tissue surgery including spay/neuter, dental care and complete diagnostic services. Dr. Sandy has worked extensively to create a cat-friendly and owner-friendly environment.

“I designed this hospital for client comfort as well as feline comfort because when you’re (the owner) relaxed, their cat picks up on it. Our staff are real cat lovers and have knowledge that is top drawer, but we also have fun,” says Dr. Sandy.

The level of care from the six staff and two veterinarians is evident while having a tour of the hospital as the veterinarian assistant gently calms a patient while inserting a drip line, afterward giving the furry kitty plenty of encouragement and kisses.

Dr. Sandy Jamieson from the Cat Hospital of Kamloops with one of his tiny patients.

(STACY PAVLOV / iNFOnews.ca)

The hospital boasts an in-house lab for complete blood and urine testing, radiology, cardiology, ultrasound, laser therapy, behavioral counselling, pharmacy, boarding, pet identification, nutritional counselling, emergency care and so much more.

Since Dr. Sandy was 12 years old, he knew his heart and mind were set on becoming a veterinarian, with an interest around surgery. When he went into practice for himself, people said that their cats wouldn’t let anyone else but him do any procedures on them, so he knew he had the cat knack.

“Cats respond best to as little handling as possible.”

It was about the mid-'80s, after running his dog and cat hospital for several years, that he decided to sell that facility and opened his cat-only place of care.

“I have to be a super detective at times to figure out what’s wrong. Cats are very good at hiding any sign of pain or illness,” says Dr. Sandy, who has also kept busy competing in triathlons, swimming, skating and sailing.

Paying close attention to your cat may assist Dr. Sandy and his team in determining what is going on, if it’s not an obvious injury requiring immediate surgery.

“If your cat has not eaten in 24 hours, has a decrease in appetite, or has lost weight, your cat should have an illness exam as soon as possible. The same goes if you are noticing any behavior changes,” says Dr. Sandy.

Whether you are sure your cat is unwell, or you simply want to get a wellness exam, the team can provide all such services including electrocardiography, digital thermal imaging, emergency care, surgery, medicine or intensive care hospitalization.

As much as he loves coming to work every day and being on call for emergencies, even in his retirement years, Dr. Sandy says, “It’s the cats that make us look good.”

For more information or to book an appointment for any service, visit The Cat Hospital web site here, or call 236-425-1111.

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