Team
Our Cat Care Experts
Our Vets
Dr Carolyn O'Brien
Feline Medicine Specialist
Carolyn is the director of Melbourne Cat Vets. She graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1994. She completed a residency program in Small Animal Medicine at the University of Sydney in 2003, and concurrently completed a master’s degree in veterinary clinical studies in the epidemiology and treatment of Cryptococcosis in cats and dogs. She successfully completed the Fellowship examinations of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Feline Medicine in 2004 and has worked in both university and private referral practice. Carolyn has just completed a PhD project investigating the ecology and epidemiology of environmental mycobacteria, specifically looking at Mycobacterium ulcerans infection in animal species, and the causative agents of feline leprosy.
Dr Alice Hardy
Feline General Practitioner
Alice graduated from the University of Bristol in 2016 and worked in a large hospital in the UK for two years. She also spent time volunteering at clinics in India and Grenada before moving to Melbourne in 2018. During the past three years she has worked at various clinics in Melbourne while taking plenty of time to explore Australia. Alice joined the MCV team in 2021 and has since enjoyed the peaceful environment of a dedicated cat clinic. She loves all aspects of feline medicine but her passion lies in dentistry and caring for cats in their senior years. Outside of work Alice is a foster carer for a cat rescue charity, so her house is always filled with orphaned kittens. Alice is also horse mad and spends as much time as possible in the saddle on her days off. Her other hobbies include running, pilates and gardening.
Dr Khaled Ayobi
Feline General Practitioner
Khaled has always wanted to be a veterinarian and realised his dream when he graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2007. Since then, he has worked in several clinics across Melbourne including working at an emergency and specialist surgery centre. His last job was in South Gippsland before moving back to Melbourne in 2019 to work at the Melbourne Cat Vets. He has a raw and unfiltered bias towards cats and enjoys all aspects of feline medicine but has a particular interest in surgery. Outside of work he enjoys photography, exploring green spaces and is on a constant search for Melbourne’s best burger.
Dr Hannah Savage
Feline General Practitioner
Hannah completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2022 at Melbourne University. In her past life, she initially completed a commerce degree and worked in Marketing, but soon realised that her passion was helping animals and their families and decided to make the switch to veterinary medicine. Hannah is passionate about all things cats! She is owned by two beautiful kitties - Barney a cheeky British Shorthair, and Ruby a cuddly calico. She is interested in feline medicine, strengthening the human-animal bond between people and their cats, and helping our senior kitties live their twilight years in comfort. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys reading, going to the beach, pilates, cross-stitching, and sampling all the best brunch spots of Melbourne. Originally from Sydney, Hannah now calls Melbourne home, and is excited to get to know all the wonderful cats and catparents of Fitzroy and its surrounds.
Dr Jamelle Buono
Feline General Practitioner
Jamelle graduated from James Cook University in 2019 and spent her graduate year in a rotating internship at an emergency and referral hospital on the Mornington Peninsula. Jamelle continued on as an emergency intern before starting at Melbourne Cat Vets in 2021. Jamelle has always dreamt of working with the amazing team at Melbourne Cat Vets and even completed placement at the clinic as a student. Jamelle is passionate about all aspects of feline medicine and has a keen interest in feline emergency and critical care. Outside of work you will find Jamelle mostly with her two cheeky and playful Bengal boys, Prince and Phoenix
Dr Rachel Yuen
Advanced Feline General Practitioner
Bio coming soon!
Dr Jeny Heislers
Feline General Practitioner
Bio coming soon!
Our Nurses
Samara McLoughlin
Practice Manager
Samara has always been a cat person. Her favourite toy was a grey and white cat that she now still uses for cat handling training. She always had cats growing up and after deciding that human biology wasn't quite the right fit, she completed her Cert IV of veterinary nursing in her home town Christchurch, NZ. She moved to Melbourne in 2015, which allowed her the opportunity to gain further training in behaviour, nutrition, anaesthesia and dentistry. While Melbourne Cat Vets was still being constructed she was quick to apply for her dream job, and has enjoyed becoming a better cat nurse ever since. She has soft spot for Burmese cats but has a big love for ginger cats too. She currently has Daphne and Maeve, two ginger sisters from a foster fail....She also likes Karaoke and a good wig.
Vanessa Chan
Vet Nurse (Cert IV)
Bio coming soon!
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Tali Cirillo
Vet Nurse (BVN)
Tali grew up in Melbourne and has been nursing since 2019 after completing the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing. She joined Melbourne Cat Vets as she has always had a love for all things feline. At home she has two cat children: Beverly and Meep. Outside of work, Tali enjoys video games, board games, and collecting records and pop culture figurines.
Jess Campbell
Vet Nurse (Cert IV)
Bio coming soon!
Jessica Kendall
Head Vet Nurse
Jess grew up on 3 acres on the Mornington Peninsula surrounded by many cats, dogs, horses, birds, turtles and pocket pets. Since completing her certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2012, Jess spent many of her early years in a large general practice hospital, and the last four years in several emergency and referral centres around Melbourne as an emergency and critical care veterinary nurse. Jess joined us in December 2020 and is very much enjoying the calm cat clinic life. She has an interest in patient-focused care and feline behaviour. Outside of work Jess enjoys too many hobbies for one person to manage, including but not limited to yoga, bouldering, snowboarding, sewing, reading, camping and hiking. Jess is also an escape room extraordinaire. Personal motto: There is no such thing as 'too many house plants'
Lorna Seaton
Vet Nurse
Bio coming soon!
Jaime Pearson
Vet Nurse (Cert IV)
Jaime has been working with animals since 2012 beginning her veterinary nursing career in a shelter environment. Once she realised that feline only medicine existed there was no looking back. Jaime lives on Mornington Peninsula with her husband, children and her three feline foster fails. When not at work Jaime enjoys musics festivals, seeing bands and building cactus gardens.
Sophie Stephens
Vet Nurse (BVN)
Bio coming soon!
Hailley Smith
Vet Nurse (Cert IV)
Hailley always wanted to work with animals, growing up on a hobby farm in country QLD and having many different pets when they were younger. In 2019 they completed their Cert IV, moved to Melbourne to pursue a career as a vet nurse. In 2020 Hailley joined the Melbourne Cat Vet team, where they don't have to tamper down their love of cats. Hailley is not lying when they tell each and every cat they meet “I love you.” Hailley has two very spoiled cats; Yuki and Sheska, who keep them disciplined with 5am wakeup calls every day. When not working they enjoy bushwalking, reading and pancakes.
Maria C
Vet Nurse (Cert IV)
Bio coming soon!
Alicia Kew
Vet Nurse
Bio coming soon!