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Vet Successful with Feline-Only Practice |
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By Brad Carlson |
| Many people thought the Cat Doctor Hospital & Hotel would have used up all nine lives by now. |
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Veterinarian Alexis Higdon and administrator Kath'ren
"Kat" Bay went to nine loan officers before receiving financing approval and launching the feline-only clinic and boarding house in May 1997. |
| It's a veterinary specialty found mainly in larger cities, and many banks didn't think Cat Doctor would survive in Boise. Its market appeared too narrow for the southwest Idaho population base. And a veterinarian gets paid an average of one-third less to treat a cat than a dog. |
| Higdon and Bay finally met a banker who believed in their vision. Shere' Scott, of U.S. Bank predecessor West-One, lobbied for and secured a U.S. Small Business Administration loan. |
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With nearly $150,000 in equipment leases and startup
loans, they opened in a farmhouse they remodeled on Ustick Road between
Maple Grove and Five Mile roads. "We didn't even have paper clips. We started with nothing," Bay said. |
| "The trend was set on Day One," Higdon said. "After the first day we were in the black on day-to-day cash flow." |
| Many cat lovers were attracted to the practice and its posh, multi-level boarding units. Each has an upper ledge for "perching," a window with a view outdoors, a secluded area for the litter box, and other features. |
| The "hotel" accounts for just 10 to 12 percent of Cat Doctor's revenue, but remains a major draw for the business, Bay said. They added 20 units early last year, roughly tripling capacity; Vacancy remains very low." People who are 'cat people' see the stress their cats go through...." Higdon said. Many "favor an environment that is quieter, homier, etc." |
| Some clients come to Cat Doctor for the hotel, then decide to bring their cats to the hospital side of the business for treatment, Bay said. Some come in seeking feline treatment, and like the hotel. |
| "Treatment-wise, many people took to the cats-only approach. The people we've been fortunate enough to attract here want to do the diagnostics, understand, and do the follow-up care," Higdon said. |
| One advantage of the cats-only practice is that Bay, Higdon and the rest of the staff stay abreast of the latest trends and techniques in feline medicine. |
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"Our staff are devoted to cats, and understand the subtle
nuances of cats," Bay said- Cat Doctor employs 3.5 full-time-equivalent
vets, and 14 support personnel. Higdon's contribution to a study was
documented in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery in December 2000. |
| While many dogs wear their feelings on their sleeves, cats tend to keep their feelings close to the vest. "They internalize their stress very well," Higdon said, adding that handling, diagnosing and treating cats can be very challenging and subtle." The depth of medicine is definitely increasing" in the feline specialty; she said. New equipment, techniques and medications have helped to make treatment more precise and less stressful for cats, she added. |
| Recently; the practice lease-purchased a surgical laser. "The advantage is far less pain, swelling and bleeding," Higdon said, "because the characteristics of the laser diminish those properties in the tissue." And the cats can experience greater comfort and a faster recovery; she added. |
| Higdon, a graduate of the vet school at Washington State University; and Bay met while working at a feline hospital in Seattle. Neither had experience in owning and operating a business when they picked Boise for their new venture. About 60 percent of vet-school graduates are women, Higdon said. But being women entrepreneurs "has been a learning experience. To kind of hold our own and learn as we have gone along has been a challenge. |
| Kath'ren is a brilliant marketer, and has developed some outstanding creative ways to promote us. "Bay; who said she is "a product of the '50s and '60s," said women now know they can "think out of the box. They have opportunities now; People are beginning to recognize the financial power women have. "Surrounding themselves with good business and professional people has helped, she said. |
| Age was an advantage, Bay recalled. Higdon was 49 at the time, Bay 50. Without children at home, they each could devote full attention to Cat Doctor: They even lived in part of the building on Ustick during the first couple of years. Eventually they paid off all leases and start-up loans on equipment, and a loan from a family member. |
| Cat Doctor is on track to gross $1 million in revenue by year's end, after enjoying annual average revenue growth of more than 25 percent since it opened. It has treated more than 8,000 cats. |
| The practice donates spay and neuter procedures for cat-advocacy groups such as Paws for Life and Just Strays. The staff regularly volunteer their time to these services and organizations. |
| To provide critical-care funds for cats in need, Higdon and Bay established the Chris Ramsey Memorial Pet Fund in honor of a deceased employee. They administer the similar Rider's Big Heart Fund. They also provide free pet memorial services. |
| They were among 43 nominees for "Women Making HERstory" honors as part of Boise State University's Women's History Month in March. |
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9151 Ustick Rd., Boise, ID 83704 (208) 327-7706 FAX (208) 327-0676 |
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HOURS: Mon/Wed/Fri 8-6 | Tues/Thurs 8-7 | Sat 8-1 |
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