MELBOURNE CAT VETS TEAM
Our Vets
Dr Carolyn O'Brien
BVSc MVetClinStud PhD FANZCVS
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
BVSc
Feline General Practitioner
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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 Blake Ryan
Feline General Practitioner
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Blake graduated from Murdoch University in 2018, worked in Perth and Adelaide prior to moving to Melbourne in 2021. He has two pets at home, Periwinkle (Peri), a handsome BSH, and his annoying housemate Basil, a Grand Chinchilla X rabbit, who would want nothing more than to be Peri's best friend. Blake’s work related interests include pain management, soft tissue surgery, dentistry, building relationships with clients and their pets. Outside of work he is interested in all sports (particularly basketball and cricket), cooking (particularly BBQ-ing), board games/cards, politics and modern art.
Dr Maddison Leaver
Feline General Practitioner
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Maddison graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2018 and initially worked in a busy small animal emergency/general practice clinic prior to completing an internship in small animal medicine. Following this, Maddison obtained her ANZCVS memberships in small animal medicine in 2022. Maddison’s passion is in feline medicine and since joining the clinic in June 2025 she has enjoyed establishing patient and client relationships whilst fulfilling her dream of being able to cuddle cats all day. Having grown up in Sydney (don’t hold that against her), she now calls Melbourne home with her husband and 2 cats. Maddison loves all things outdoors, especially exploring Melbourne’s best kept bakeries on her bike. When not riding, she is usually found curled up with a coffee, a good book and her cats.
Dr Khaled Ayoubi
BVSc
Feline General Practitioner
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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
DVM
Feline General Practitioner
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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 Katie Carberry
Advanced Feline General Practitioner
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Bio coming soon!
Dr Bec Ryan
Feline General Practitioner
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Bec is a veterinarian with a passion for feline medicine and enjoys helping cats live happy, healthy lives. She loves all aspects of veterinary care and is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality treatment to every patient she sees. Outside of work, Bec enjoys getting away on adventure camping trips and unwinding with a game on the Xbox. Her perfect weekend, however, is much quieter—crocheting by a cosy fire with a cat curled up on her lap. Whether she's exploring the outdoors or relaxing at home, cats are never far from her mind. Bec looks forward to meeting you and your feline companions and helping make every visit to the clinic a positive experience.
Dr Jamelle Buono
BVSc
Feline General Practitioner
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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
BS BVMS MANZCVS
Advanced Feline General Practitioner
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Rachel graduated from Murdoch University in Perth in 2018. She moved to Melbourne shortly after, where she worked at a busy small animal and exotic clinic for three years. Rachel never had cats at home growing up in Hong Kong, but all that changed during vet school when she adopted her first cat, Comet, the sweetest ginger boy who quickly stole her heart. Cheeto, a cheeky ginger girl, soon joined the family after being brought into her first clinic as a tiny stray kitten. This duo have since taken over her life and changed the course of her career entirely, inspiring her to become the best possible advocate for her feline patients. This passion led her to Melbourne Cat Vets in 2022, where she completed a two-year feline medicine internship. In 2024, she successfully completed the Membership examinations of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Feline Medicine. Rachel has a keen interest in diagnostic imaging, and is passionate about senior cat care and palliative care, helping cats and their families navigate every stage of life with comfort and compassion. Outside of work, Rachel can be found baking sweet treats, scaling the walls at climbing gyms, sampling specialty coffee around Melbourne, or exploring Australia on road trips.
Dr Madeleine Petch
Feline General Practitioner
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Maddie graduated as a veterinarian and has a genuine passion for providing compassionate, high-quality care to her patients. She particularly enjoys working with cats and loves building strong relationships with both her feline patients and their owners. When she's not at the clinic, Maddie can often be found on the curling rink, embracing one of her favourite sports. While she doesn't currently share her home with any pets, she has developed quite the collection of Labubus, which have become her quirky companions. She also has a well-known appreciation for a good sausage roll and is always happy to hear recommendations for the best bakery in town. Maddie is dedicated to making every visit as calm and stress-free as possible and looks forward to helping cats and their families receive the best possible care.
Our Support Team
Rayssa Coimbra
Practice Manager
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Rayssa grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and graduated from veterinary school in 2019. Her connection with Australia began when she spent a year here as an exchange student in 2011. After finishing university, Rayssa moved to Melbourne in 2022 to make Australia her permanent home. While working as a vet in Brazil, Rayssa developed a special love for feline medicine. Along the way, she found herself drawn to management, especially after completing a Leadership and Management course in Melbourne. This led her to the role of Business Manager at Melbourne Cat Vets, where she enjoys working with cats and supporting the team. Rayssa enjoys spending time with her partner Adam (who she’s proudly converted into a cat person), their staffy Bronx and two cats, Kiki (a tabby) and Mango (a ginger). She loves caring for her plants, painting, camping and making the most of Melbourne’s (sometimes unpredictable) beach days.
Vanessa Chan
Vet Nurse (Cert IV)
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Vanessa has been passionate about joining the veterinary field since childhood. Growing up surrounded by small animals in Macau, Vanessa’s love for animals has always been strong. After moving to Australia, she pursued studies in veterinary nursing, completing a placement with Melbourne Cat Vets. She officially joined the team in December 2021, and later completed her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2023. Vanessa is now a registered veterinary nurse with the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA). At home, Vanessa’s two beloved pets, Honey and Capper, hold a special place in her heart. However, it seems they are particularly fond of her mother! Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys caring for her tropical plants and continues to expand her knowledge in animal care.
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Tali Cirillo
Vet Nurse (BVN)
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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 (BVN)
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Jess has always had a passion for animals and knew from a young age that she wanted to work with them. She had many pets growing up but quickly found her love for cats when she got her first cat, Kitty. Her family has since grown to include two more cats, Nino and Simba, who love to cause lots of trouble. In 2024, Jess completed her Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing and is eager to continue expanding her knowledge, particularly in emergency and critical care. Outside of work Jess enjoys spending time with friends and family, painting, snowboarding and travelling to new places.
Jessica Kendall
Nurse Team Leader
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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'
Pam Cardenas
Vet Nurse (Cert IV)
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Pam is originally from Ecuador and holds a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. She has been nursing in Australia since 2015, bringing more than 10 years of experience to the profession. Over the years, she has discovered a true passion for feline medicine and is delighted to have found her niche working exclusively with cats. Pam has a special interest in caring for geriatric patients helping them maintain their comfort, health, and quality of life. At home, Pam is kept on her toes by Gary, her chunky ginger cat. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends, picnics, live music, and escaping Melbourne's chilly weather whenever she can.
Iolanthe Mae
Receptionist
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Io has always been an animal person. She became a cat person when she adopted her rescue cat Selkie. Io officially levelled up to crazy cat lady status when she started working at a cat vet in Canberra. She was delighted to find another cat vet when she moved to Melbourne (and we were delighted to have her as part of our team). Io loves reception because she is passionate about giving clients compassionate care and advice. She is excited to start studying vet nursing in 2025. When she's not at work, Io enjoys spending time in nature and reading.
Sophie Stephens
Vet Nurse (BVN)
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Sophie grew up in the UK. Since moving to Australia she has helped animals through fostering and volunteering. After finishing her bachelor in vet nursing she started in the exotics field. She joined Melbourne Cat Vets in 2023 as she has always loved cats, particularly big cuddly ones. She loves practicing low stress handling techniques and spoiling all the cats with treats. At home she lives with her partner and one chunky grey and white domestic called Walter, who is very spoiled and gets many cuddles against his will. Outside of work Sophie loves playing cosy games, yoga, practising handstands and live music.
Samara McLoughlin
Nurse Team Leader
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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.
Maria C
Vet Nurse (Cert IV)
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Bio coming soon!
Ashlee Missale
Vet Nurse
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Ash is the Head Veterinary Nurse at our Richmond clinic and is passionate about providing exceptional care to every cat that comes through the door. She enjoys supporting both her patients and their owners while leading the nursing team to ensure the highest standard of care. Despite being allergic to cats, Ash's love for feline medicine is so strong that she is currently undergoing a desensitisation program so she can continue doing what she loves. Her dedication to her patients is matched only by her commitment to the gym, where she enjoys lifting weights for fun and is always looking to challenge herself. Whether she's caring for cats in the clinic or setting new personal bests outside of work, Ash brings enthusiasm, compassion and determination to everything she does. She looks forward to welcoming you and your feline family to the Richmond clinic.
Carly Calavetta
Receptionist
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Carly is one of the friendly faces you'll meet at Melbourne Cat Vets, working in our Customer Service team. She is passionate about providing exceptional care to both our clients and their cats, and enjoys helping make every visit to the clinic as welcoming and stress-free as possible. Outside of work, Carly is an avid soccer fan and a passionate supporter of the Italian national team. At home, she is kept on her toes by her cheeky cat, Ella, who is always finding new ways to entertain (and occasionally outsmart) her.
Alicia Kew
Vet Nurse Assistant
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Alicia is part of our Customer Service team and is currently training to become a veterinary nurse. She enjoys building relationships with clients while expanding her knowledge and skills in feline nursing, and is always eager to learn more about providing the best possible care for cats. When she's not at the clinic, Alicia occasionally fosters kittens, helping them grow and prepare for their forever homes. Outside of her love for cats, she enjoys karaoke, dancing, and can often be found enjoying trance music.