The Whisker Wing!

A new Feline-Focused Future at
​Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital

www.petsrfamilyvet.com

​Where feline health meets
​heartfelt care!
For too long, the veterinary world has grouped cats and dogs together as if their needs were interchangeable. At Pets R Family Veterinary Hospital, we have always believed something different: cats are not small dogs. They are emotionally sensitive, physiologically unique, and profoundly complex. They deserve care that honors who they are—not who they are compared to.
 
In late Spring 2026, that belief becomes a reality with the opening of the Whisker Wing, our brand-new feline-focused hospital space designed exclusively for cats. This carefully crafted environment will give our feline patients the calm, comfort, and respect they need to receive exceptional medical care.


A Decade of Feline Advocacy
— A Priority From Day One
When Pets R Family opened its doors 10 years ago, Dr. Kathleen Deckard had one non-negotiable priority: the hospital must be recognized as a Gold Standard Cat Friendly Practice. Even before the paint had dried, she was thinking about how to make the veterinary experience less intimidating for cats and how to incorporate feline-specific handling and medical knowledge into every aspect of care, starting with the feline only dedicated exam room.


Achieving Gold Standard Certification through the American Association of Feline Practitioners (now the Feline VMA) required deliberate design choices, team training, and a deep commitment to understanding the feline perspective. Dr. Deckard believed strongly that if cats were going to receive truly compassionate, high-quality veterinary care, the hospital needed to be built on a foundation of feline-centered principles—not retrofit them later.


That early commitment set the tone for everything that followed.
For 10 years, Pets R Family has maintained that Gold Standard designation. And the Whisker Wing represents the fulfillment of a vision Dr. Deckard had from day one: a hospital where cats are understood, respected, and provided with medical care tailored to their species—not adapted from another.
  
Why Cats Need a Hospital
Designed Just for Them 
Cats experience the world differently. Their hearing is sharper, their noses more sensitive, their instincts stronger. Stress can hinder diagnostics, elevate vital signs, and mask illness—something cats are uniquely skilled at hiding. They face medical conditions far more common in their species than in dogs, including:
 
•Chronic kidney disease •Hyperthyroidism •Stress-induced cystitis •Dental Resorption  •GI and pancreatic disorders
•Arthritis disguised behind subtle behavioral changes
•Behavioral and environmental stress concerns


Handling them requires time, patience, and a deep understanding of feline behavior.  The Whisker Wing will be built precisely around these truths. ​

The Cat Advocate Team:
Passionate Voices Shaping Feline Care

To ensure our feline approach stays progressive and compassionate, Pets R Family created a dedicated Cat Advocate Team to shape protocols, review new research, and train the full staff on feline comfort and handling.

Leadership by Suzy Berry
Our practice manager, Suzy Berry, brings years of shelter experience and unmatched insight into feline behavior and low-stress handling. Her natural love of cats—and her own bustling cat family at home—makes her an invaluable leader in shaping the Whisker Wing’s standards of care.
 
A Team With
Experience and Heart
Many PRF staff members have advanced feline backgrounds, some from shelters, some from specialty practices, some from years of personal experience. Their collaborative efforts ensure that feline patients experience thoughtful, individualized care from the moment they arrive.


Barnaby & Charlotte: Our Feline Ambassadors
No story of our feline journey is complete without Barnaby and Charlotte—two cherished house cats adopted by Dr. Deckard when their original owners could no longer care for them. They roam the hospital freely, greeting guests, napping in sunbeams, drinking from their favorite faucets, and hopping from counter to counter with total confidence. Their presence calms nervous feline patients and brings joy to our staff and visitors. In many ways, Barnaby and Charlotte embody the spirit of the Whisker Wing: a place where cats can be themselves.

A Space Designed Around
​the Cat Perspective

Every aspect of the Whisker Wing is being designed with feline comfort and emotional well-being in mind. Together, these features will make the Whisker Wing a true feline sanctuary.


A Cat-Only Entrance and Reception Space
No barking, no bustling, no overwhelming activity. A private entryway leads to a quiet reception area attended by team members trained in feline handling and communication.


Two Feline-Focused
Exam Rooms
Soft light, calming colors, comfortable seating, gentle pheromones, elevated perches, and non-slip surfaces create a space where cats feel secure and supported.


A Dedicated Feline Treatment Area
Cats will receive diagnostics and treatments in a protected area that eliminates visual and auditory stressors common in mixed-species hospitals.


Forest-View
Boarding Suites
Our existing feline boarding rooms—with large windows looking out over the wooded grounds—will remain exclusively part of the Whisker Wing.


Enhanced Soundproofing
Specially insulated walls help filter out noise from the main hospital, creating the quiet predictability cats crave.