CatsOnly™ Earns Cat Friendly Practice® Gold Designation, Reinforcing a New Standard for Feline Veterinary Care

Gold-level recognition highlights the species-specific medicine, thoughtful hospital design and feline-focused experience at CatsOnly™ Stanley Marketplace.

AURORA, Colo., Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CatsOnly™, a feline-only veterinary organization, today announced that its flagship hospital at Stanley Marketplace has earned Cat Friendly Practice® Gold designation from the Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA).

Gold is the highest designation within the Cat Friendly Practice® Program, recognizing veterinary practices that meet established criteria designed to improve feline healthcare, handling and the overall veterinary experience for Cats and their Caregivers.

For CatsOnly™, the recognition reflects a philosophy that shaped the hospital long before its doors opened: veterinary healthcare should be designed around the unique biology, behavior, sensory needs and emotional wellbeing of the Cat, while supporting the people who love and care for them.

Designed from the Cat Outward

Rather than adapting a traditional mixed-species veterinary model, CatsOnly™ was designed through the Cat's lens, with every aspect of the healthcare experience shaped by feline biology, behavior and emotional needs.

At CatsOnly™ Stanley Marketplace, that philosophy comes to life through direct-to-exam-room arrivals, thoughtfully designed spaces that support feline comfort and security, species-specific handling practices and a Care Team trained to recognize and respond to feline behavioral and emotional signals.

These considerations extend beyond comfort. A Cat's emotional state can influence physiological responses, clinical observations and their ability to participate in care. Understanding those connections allows veterinary teams to interpret findings in context, individualize care and create more positive healthcare experiences.

"Being Cat Friendly isn't simply about creating a calmer environment. It's about seeing healthcare through the Cat's lens, understanding how their biology, behavior and sensory experiences shape the way they respond to care. At CatsOnly™, we've translated that understanding into every part of the experience, from the physical environment to how our Care Team interacts with each Cat and Cat Parent. This recognition reflects our belief that emotional wellbeing and clinical excellence belong together," said Kristin Wuhrman, Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of CatsOnly™.

"What makes this approach meaningful is seeing it in action every day. Every Cat arrives with their own needs, preferences and comfort level, and our job is to meet them where they are. Whether that means allowing more time, adjusting an examination or working closely with a Cat Parent, those decisions are part of how we practice medicine. Gold designation recognizes the commitment our entire Care Team brings to every visit," said Dr. Alley Flood, Partner Veterinarian at CatsOnly™ Stanley Marketplace.

Where Feline Behavior and Medicine Meet

CatsOnly™ integrates feline behavioral science with advanced veterinary medicine through its proprietary Feline Biobehavioral Care Standards™, which recognize that feline physical health, behavior and emotional wellbeing are interconnected.

The approach emphasizes thoughtful handling, predictability, choice and control wherever clinically appropriate, along with individualized care that respects each Cat's needs.

"The quality of feline medicine depends on more than the diagnostics and treatments we provide. It also depends on how we examine our patients, recognize pain and stress, interpret clinical findings and adapt care to each individual Cat. At CatsOnly™, these principles are integrated into our medical protocols and everyday clinical decisions. Earning Cat Friendly Practice® Gold designation reinforces our commitment to making species-specific care foundational, not optional," said Dr. Jason Epstein, Founder and Chief Veterinary Officer of CatsOnly™.

Recognized for a Commitment to Feline Care

Launched in 2012, the FelineVMA's Cat Friendly Practice® Program was developed to improve the treatment, handling and overall healthcare provided to Cats. The Program establishes physical and educational requirements designed to help veterinary teams better understand feline-specific needs and reduce distress associated with veterinary visits.

Practices may earn Silver or Gold designation, with Gold representing the program's highest level.

"The Cat Friendly Practice® Program recognizes veterinary teams that make feline-specific needs a priority across the care experience," said Heather O'Steen, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association. "Achieving Gold designation reflects a meaningful commitment to the environment, handling practices, team education and clinical care that support feline health and wellbeing. We congratulate CatsOnly™ on earning this recognition and on its commitment to advancing the veterinary experience for Cats and their Caregivers."

The Gold designation adds to CatsOnly™ Stanley Marketplace's foundation of recognized care standards, including its distinction as the first veterinary practice to open with CAETA Practice Certification for peaceful end-of-life care.

Together, these commitments reflect CatsOnly's vision to advance feline healthcare through a model that combines species-specific medicine, emotional safety and a deeply personal care experience.

As CatsOnly™ expands, the organization aims to bring this approach to more communities while preserving the local relationships and individualized care central to its philosophy.

About CatsOnly.vet

CatsOnly.vet is a feline-only veterinary organization building a new model of feline healthcare designed around the unique biology, behavior, and emotional needs of Cats and the people who love them. Built through the Cat's lens, CatsOnly™ has developed proprietary Feline Biobehavioral Care Standards™ that bring together advanced medicine, feline behavioral science, and emotional safety into a thoughtfully designed healthcare experience. By building care from the Cat outward rather than adapting traditional, mixed-species veterinary models, CatsOnly™ is creating a scalable, elevated model of feline healthcare, deeply connected to the communities it serves, with a vision to advance the standard of feline care nationwide.

Learn more at CatsOnly.vet.

About the Feline Veterinary Medical Association

The Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA) is the trusted leader in feline health and welfare, dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of cats and advancing the quality of veterinary care they receive. Through evidence-based guidelines, continuing education, and professional, practice, and caregiver resources, the FelineVMA empowers veterinary teams to design the veterinary visit around each individual cat considering their unique physical, behavioral, and emotional needs. Home to the internationally recognized Cat Friendly Practice® and Cat Friendly Certificate Programs, the Association equips veterinary professionals with the tools and knowledge to reduce distress, improve the veterinary experience, and help more cats receive the care they need.

Learn more at catvets.com and catfriendly.com.

Media Contact:
Kristin Wuhrman, Founder & Chief Marketing Officer
[email protected] | (206) 858-0140

SOURCE CatsOnly(TM)