Our Speakers

Dr. Sarah Caney
BVSc PhD DSAM(Feline) MRCVS, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine, CEO of Vet Professionals

Sarah Caney is an internationally recognised specialist in feline medicine who has worked as a feline-only vet for more than thirty years. She trained as a specialist at the University of Bristol and is one of fifteen recognised specialists in feline medicine working within the UK. Sarah has written or co-written four books published by her business Vet Professionals including ‘Caring for cat with chronic kidney disease’. Sarah conducts online owner surveys and has published much of her research results in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. As a clinician, Sarah sees first opinion and referral feline cases in a large hospital in Cheshire

Natasha Mitchell
MVB CertVOphthal MRCVS Author of "Caring for a blind cat"

Natasha grew up in Co. Tipperary, Ireland and graduated from University College Dublin in 1998 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. Upon graduating she spent one year working in a mixed practice in the UK, followed by three years working and travelling in Australia. It was during this time that she developed an interest in ophthalmology and returned to the UK to study for a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology which she obtained in 2004. Having completed her certificate, Natasha worked in referral ophthalmology in Hampshire UK for 18 months followed by the Eye Veterinary Clinic in Herefordshire UK. More recently she has returned to her homeland and is working as an ophthalmologist in Limerick, Ireland (http://www.eyevet.ie/). Natasha has lectured to veterinarians and veterinary students in the UK and Ireland and published widely in both UK and Irish veterinary journals and in cat charity bulletins.

Professor Danièlle Gunn-Moore
BSc BVM&S PhD FHEA MACVSc MRCVS RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine

Danièlle is currently one of only three professors of feline internal medicine globally and she graduated from the Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh with Distinction in 1991. The following year she joined The Feline Centre at the University of Bristol where she trained as a specialist in feline medicine and completed her PhD on feline infectious peritonitis. Since 2000 she has been based back at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies where she founded the Feline Clinic and is Professor of Feline Medicine and Head of Companion Animal Sciences. As an internationally recognised expert in her area Danielle lectures extensively and her work has been published widely. She is on the Executive Committee of the European Society of Feline Medicine and is Associate Editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.

Dr Andy Sparkes
BVetMed PhD DipECVIM-CA MRCVS

Andy has worked as a feline-only vet since 1987 and trained as a specialist at the University of Bristol. He is a popular speaker and internationally recognised as one of only fourteen specialists in feline medicine working in the UK.

Dr Sparkes is a popular speaker both in the UK and internationally. He has published widely in international journals and in 2004 co-authored ‘Self-Assessment Colour Review of Feline Medicine’ with Dr Sarah Caney. Dr Sparkes is the co-editor-in-chief and founding editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. In 2012 Dr Sparkes joined the charity International Cat Care (ICC) as their Veterinary Director. 

Andrea Harvey
BVSc DSAM (Feline) DipECVIM-CA MANZCVS (Assoc) MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Feline Medicine 

Andrea graduated from University of Bristol in 2000. After a period of time in first opinion small animal practice, she returned to University of Bristol Veterinary School to undertake a 3 year residency in feline medicine, funded by the International Cat Care (ICC). She gained her RCVS Diploma and  European Diploma in 2005, and was awarded RCVS Specialist status in 2006. Andrea remained at Bristol Vet School as ICC Clinical Fellow in feline medicine 2005-2010, before moving to Australia to take up a position heading up a feline department at Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Sydney and tutoring on the International Society of Feline Medicine/Centre for Veterinary Education distance education course in feline medicine.  Andrea has lectured widely internationally and is co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Feline Practice and Feline Medicine: Review & Test, and is secretary for the Feline Chapter of the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.  In 2013 Andrea was awarded the BSAVA Woodrow Award for outstanding contributions in small animal medicine, largely as a result of her work with the ISFM Cat Friendly Clinic scheme.   Andrea is passionate about providing the best care for her patients, and more widely improving feline welfare, and supporting other veterinarians to do the same.  

Samantha Taylor
BVetMed(Hons) CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MANZCVS PgCert FHEA FRCVS, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine, EBVS Specialist in Internal Medicine

Sam completed a Feline Advisory Bureau Residency at Bristol University and was awarded the European Diploma in Veterinary Internal Medicine in 2009.  In 2011 she became an RCVS Recognised Specialist in Feline Medicine and in 2019 was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for outstanding contributions to the profession. She is also a Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Medicine of Cats).  Sam is a consultant for the International Cat Care Veterinary Society and works as an Internal Medicine Specialist at Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists in Hampshire. Sam is an Honorary Lecturer in Internal Medicine at Surrey University Veterinary School, a tutor on the Sydney CVE feline medicine course and coordinates the iCatCare International Guidelines. Sam is also a consultant for the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), Associate Editor at JSAP and on the RCVS Fellowship Credentials Panel. Sam co-authored guidelines on hypertension, diabetes mellitus, NSAIDs, acute pain, inappetence, blood transfusion, urinary tract disease and others. She has written books, book chapters and papers on internal medicine topics and enjoys a mix of clinical work, writing and lecturing and is currently completing a PhD in feline health and welfare. She has a particular interest in clinical research to answer those important questions to practically improve feline health and wellbeing and has been closely involved in the worldwide launch of legal drugs to treat FIP.

Kasia Purzycka

DVM MVetMed DipACVIM (Oncology) MRCVS, American, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Oncology
Kasia obtained her veterinary degree in 2014 in Warsaw, Poland after spending four years at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, one year at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a final year at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria. Following a rotating internship in small animals at the University hospital in Munich, Germany, Kasia moved to the United Kingdom where she completed a specialised oncology internship at the Animal Health Trust referral hospital in Newmarket. Kasia completed her residency in medical oncology at the Royal Veterinary College in October 2019, and successfully passed the certifying examination of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Oncology in the same year, becoming an American Veterinary Specialist in Oncology. She also completed a master’s degree with the final research project on canine T cell lymphoma. In addition to her busy clinical activities and providing care to cancer patients in a busy referral hospital, Kasia enjoys teaching interns, residents, general practitioners and veterinary nurses on all aspects of veterinary oncology. Kasia has presented her research work at multiple conferences in Europe and US. She has lectured for veterinarians across the world, including Poland, US, UK, Austria and Hong Kong.

Vicky Halls
RVN Dip Couns, Full Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC), Animal Behaviour & Training Council (ABTC) Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist, Registered Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP)

Vicky Halls is an acclaimed Pet Behaviour Counsellor with many years experience of treating behavioural problems in cats both in the UK and abroad. She is also an international bestselling author of cat behaviour books. In 2008 Vicky was voted as the 'Nation's Favourite Cat Author' by the readers of  'Your Cat' Magazine. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the charity International Cat Care, working on various behaviour and welfare projects. She is a regular contributor to television, radio and specialist publications.

For more information on her work visit www.vickyhalls.net.

Professor Peter Holt
BVMS(Glas), PhD(Bristol), DipECVS, CBiol, FIBiol, FRCVS

Professor Peter Holt graduated from Glasgow University in 1970.  After a year as House Surgeon there, he spent two years lecturing in small animal clinical studies in Nairobi, Kenya. A further seven years was spent in general practice before his appointment as lecturer at the University of Bristol where he was Professor of Veterinary Surgery until his retirement in 2009 when he was given the distinction of Emeritus Professor.

He is author of, or contributor to, over 140 refereed papers and book chapters and has received six awards for his clinical and research activities.  He has published two books on veterinary urology.  He is a Past-President of the European Society of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology and in 1991 was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contributions to learning in the field of Veterinary Urology.  In 2010, he was given Honorary Life Membership of the Association of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgeons which has instituted an annual award in his name.  The last 29 years of his career, he concentrated on the causes, investigation and treatment of urinary incontinence in small animals.