© 2024 Just Cats Veterinary Clinic Ltd
Just Cats Veterinary Clinic
57-59 Duke Street
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 5BT
Click here for a map of our location.
Veterinary consultation by appointment only. Please contact the clinic if you would like to arrange an appointment.
Additional Hours
Wednesday & Thursday
Evening surgery 17:30 - 20:00 for pre-booked vaccinations and medication reviews only.
Here at Just Cats we have a small, friendly team of staff dedicated to the care of your feline friends.
Simon Backshall BVSc MRCVS
It was the ambition of practice owner Simon Backshall to create a veterinary clinic that would avoid many of the normal stresses experienced by cats when they are taken to a vets and are brought into contact with other types of animals.
Opened in 2007, Just Cats became the first feline-only veterinary practice in the north west of England.
My work with animals began in 1985 when I took a job as a kennel maid with the RSPCA in Birkdale.
In 1998 I moved to a veterinary practice in Southport to train as a veterinary nurse and gained my qualification in 1990. I became Head Nurse at the practice shortly afterwards. After 5 years I left the Southport veterinary practice and joined the PDSA veterinary hospital in Everton as Head Nurse. In 2000 I moved to the new PDSA veterinary hospital in Huyton, continuing in the role of Head Nurse and student assessor. I started working at Just Cats Veterinary Clinic when the clinic opened in May 2007, again in the role of Head Nurse.
I am privileged to have owned 13 cats over the last 25 years, having hand reared 3 of them from 1 week old. I currently have 4 cats.
Carol Cottrell RVN MBVNA ISFM CertFN (Head Nurse)
Louise Cross RVN MBVNA ISFM CertFN
I started my veterinary nursing career, working evenings and Saturday mornings, cleaning kennels, for my local vets in Basingstoke. At the age of 17, I moved to a mixed veterinary hospital, working with farm and equine, as well as small animals. I started my vet nurse training in 1990, after moving to a small animal practice in London, working there for 2 years before deciding to take a job with Barn Lodge Veterinary Hospital in Ormskirk.
I qualified as a vet nurse in 1994 and worked at various small animal practices as Head Nurse before moving into teaching in 2000, gaining my Certificate in Education through Manchester University. In 2001, I moved to a government funded training provider for the Animal Care industry based in St Helens and became a Veterinary Nursing teacher at Lite Ltd, taking on the role of Head of the Veterinary Nurse department in 2005. During this time I continued to locum for Vets Now in Warrington and the PDSA in Huyton.
In 2011 and missing the ‘hands on’ aspect of veterinary nursing, I took a part-time role with Just Cats Veterinary Clinic while continuing with my teaching work.
A stray kitten that moved with me from London, got to the grand old age of 22 years old before making way for several other rescued, elderly felines. Presently, I have 3 cats, 3 guinea pigs and 3 hamsters.
I have worked at the Just Cats Veterinary Clinic since its opening in May 2007.
I work part-time, usually mornings, on reception as well as assisting in other areas of the clinic when possible.
I am currently ‘owned’ by four beautiful young cats, Lily, Yoshi, Cinnamon and Tom Frog.
