- May 7, 2024
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The Cat Care Clinic is under new management.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
Oct. 29 may be National Cat Day, but Dr. Amber Carter said every day is Cat Day at the Cat Care Clinic, 320 S. Yonge St.
“We don’t just like cats, we love cats,” she said. “Cats are mysterious, awesome, amazing creatures.”
Every person on the staff has a cat of their own.
Carter and her husband, Kenny, bought the business a month ago from John and Dr. Leslie Nixon, who owned the clinic for 15 years. Dr. Nixon, who is board certified, is going to stay and work for the new owners.
The Carters are no strangers to the area. Amber Carter was a veterinarian at the clinic from 2007 until 2010 before they moved to North Carolina, for job opportunities for her husband.
Then, this year, they received an email from the Nixons, saying the business was for sale, and they had to make a big decision.
Kenny had a job at a financial firm and they had a 2-year-old son, Cotton.
“We had a discussion about everything,” Kenny Carter said. They were near his family in North Carolina, but moving back was a chance to run their own business and for Amber Carter to again work in a “cats-only” clinic, which was her goal. She believes car-only clinics are needed, because they are very familiar with the particular needs and problems of cats, and there are no barking dogs.
They are now happy they made the move. They operate the business together, with Kenny Carter using his financial expertise as practice manager.
“It might not work for all couples, but we work well together,” Dr. Carter said.
They have a Skype account for his mother in North Carolina, so she can stay in contact with Cotton.
Dr. Carter said they plan to revamp the website, and remodel the waiting room, but no big changes are planned at the clinic.
“It’s already at a high level,” she said.
They hope to get involved in the community and look forward to living in Ormond Beach, close to the ocean and Speedway. Kenny Carter said he’s impressed with the Sports Complex.
“We want to get involved with the community,” he said.
Cats hide the pain
While more households have dogs, she said, there are more cats kept as pets.
“It’s easy to have three cats,” she said.
People should understand that cats have personalities just like dogs; some are shy and some are “in your face.”
They are fun to work with, she said, you just have to learn how they communicate.
“Cats can be taught tricks,” she said, “They have to have a reason, such as getting a treat, and not just to please the owner.”
Something people should know about cats is that they tend to hide their injuries or pain, because they are less domesticated than dogs. Dr. Carter explained that in the wild, an injured animal is subject to becoming prey. So a cat could be in pain, but the owner would not know it.
She recommends younger than 10 years get a checkup annually and those older than 10 twice a year,
Cat Care Clinic also offer boarding services. They have 11 on staff, including three veterinarians.
Visit ormondcatclinic.com.
