SAMARA MCLOUGHLIN
Practice Manager/Head Veterinary Nurse (Cert IV)
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.
ANNABELLE (ANNIE) HUGHES
Veterinary Nurse
Annie's love for animals began early. She grew up in Richmond and spent her days caring for all types of animals big and small, while riding horses on the weekend. Following high school she began a diploma of visual arts but quickly realised her passion lay with animals. She went on to complete a Cert III in Animal Studies, and worked in a number of veterinary clinics before joining the Melbourne Cat Vets team in 2017. She leads a busy life with two cats, two guinea pigs and her son has just stared primary school. She loves nothing more then greeting you and your feline family members at reception, and looks forward to many more years providing you with an exceptional experience while visiting us at Melbourne Cat Vets.
JAIME PEARSON
Veterinary 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 ‘the fab five’ she acquired within the first 12 months of her nursing course.
She is clearly not a good candidate for fostering cats as they never go back! They are all still happy, senior kitties, and Jaime can’t wait to get back into the clinic after maternity leave.
When not at work Jaime enjoys musics festivals, seeing bands and building cactus gardens.
HAILLEY SMITH
Veterinary 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 she was younger. In 2019 she completed her Cert IV, moved to Melbourne to pursue her career as a vet nurse. In 2020 she joined the Melbourne Cat Vet team, where she doesn’t have to tamper down her love of cats- Hailley is not lying when she tells each and every cat she meets “I love you.”
She has two very spoiled cats; Yuki and Sheska, who keep her disciplined with 5am wakeup calls every day.
When not working she enjoys bushwalking, reading and pancakes.
JESSIE SCHOLES
Veterinary Nurse
Jessie grew up in Melbourne and always had family cats and dogs. Jessie has always greatly enjoyed the company of animals.
She started her veterinary career as a cattery hand in a feline only clinic, and worked her way up to the position of veterinary nurse. She says working as a vet nurse is the only job she has truely enjoyed - it’s definitely her dream job!
Jessie and her daughter share their lives and home with two beautiful Burmese ladies, Evie and Roo, as well as a handsome whippet named Iggy.
JESSICA KENDALL
Veterinary Nurse (Cert IV)
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'
LUCY VARGA
Veterinary Nurse (Cert IV)
Lucy grew up in France & England and has worked as a veterinary nurse in London, Sydney, Byron Bay. She has also done volunteer nursing work in Thailand & India.
Lucy has two smoochy feline boys: Pepito, a black & white, and Taco, a squishy ginger (he was a foster fail).
Lucy loves camping, hiking, rock climbing, spending time in the ocean and painting when I find the time.
Currently completing my Diploma in remedial massage.
HANNAH SAVAGE
Veterinary Student + Nurse Assist
After graduating with a commerce degree in 2011, Hannah worked in marketing for 5 years before realising that her passion was working with animals. In 2016 she packed up her life in Sydney and moved to Melbourne to complete her animal and veterinary bioscience degree at La Trobe University, before being accepted into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Melbourne in 2019.
In 2020, Hannah started working at Melbourne Cat Vets and absolutely loves spending time with our feline friends and getting to know our clients. On track to graduate in 2022, Hannah hopes to continue working with cats as a veterinarian.
When not studying or working, Hannah can be found spending time with her cats Barney and Ruby, enjoying yoga and brunch on a Sunday, losing at trivia and netball, or going to the beach.
IRENE KIM
Veterinary Student + Nurse Assistant
Irene is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student at the University of Melbourne.
She made the move to Melbourne from Vancouver, Canada in 2020 to begin her DVM journey after completing her Bachelor of Biological Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Irene previously worked as a veterinary assistant in Vancouver, which solidified her passion for veterinary medicine. A fan of all animals - large, small, fuzzy, scaled, and feathered, Irene has admittedly developed a feline soft spot after joining the Melbourne Cat Vets team and spending time with her foster kittens.
Away from school and work, Irene is always down for rock climbing, yoga, brunch, hiking, and sunny days at the beach.