When Should My Cat See a Feline Specialist?

A cat specialist in scrubs examines a white cat held by its owner on an examination table.

We all have a go-to person when something needs sorting out. For your cat’s health, that will most often be their regular vet. They’re the first port of call for everything from routine care to illness and injury, but there are times when additional expertise can be helpful. A feline specialist has advanced training and extensive experience managing species-specific disease, particularly more complex cases. Deciding whether it’s time to take that next step can be difficult.

At Cat Specialist Services, we provide advanced veterinary care exclusively for cats in our modern Brisbane hospital. We have multiple feline specialists and have helped train others over the years, too. Some patients come to us with a medical puzzle that still needs solving.

Others are here because they’re seriously unwell and need more specialised care. Here’s what you need to know about when that might be the right option and what to expect as an owner.

When your cat has an ongoing or complex health problem

First, it’s important to understand what makes a health problem complex. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s rare or catastrophic. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes and hyperthyroidism are all well-recognised conditions, but they can become harder to manage when other health problems are involved. This is particularly common in older cats. Hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease, for example, can occur together, which means treatment and monitoring need to take both into account.

Making a diagnosis and starting treatment isn’t the end of managing an ongoing condition. Take chronic kidney disease, which is generally progressive and may require treatment to change over time. Regular monitoring of blood results, blood pressure, weight, appetite, clinical signs and response to medication helps guide those decisions.

Then, there are cats who just don’t respond to treatment for their chronic diagnosis as expected. Their case may not be ‘complex’ on paper, but further input may be needed if clinical signs continue, medication is proving difficult to regulate, new signs appear or one diagnosis doesn’t adequately explain what’s going on.

Cats don’t always follow the textbook when they’re unwell. Spending our careers focused on one species means we see a huge range of feline diseases, including cases where the signs don’t quite fit or more than one problem is involved. That experience is useful when the answer isn’t obvious, and the case needs more careful investigation.

"Cats don’t always follow the textbook when they’re unwell."

When the diagnosis is still unclear

Sometimes, the first round of investigations doesn’t provide the answer. Results may show that something isn’t right without revealing the cause, or different findings may suggest several possibilities. A feline specialist can then use more targeted testing and advanced diagnostics to help narrow down the cause.

And it’s not always about doing more tests. It’s about working out which tests are most likely to be useful. At CSS, we’ll review the existing results and medical history first to see what information is still missing. From there, we might recommend more specific blood or urine testing, diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound, collecting samples for cytology or histopathology, or taking a closer look at a particular organ or body system.

The findings may also lead to another area of veterinary medicine. Our team works with specialists in diagnostic imaging, surgery, cardiology and oncology, whose expertise can be brought into the case when needed.

Two veterinary staff in navy scrubs look at a cat inside a carrier at Cat Specialist Services.

When your cat needs more specialised treatment or care

Some treatments require specialist supervision and expertise. Radioactive iodine for hyperthyroidism is a good example and a service we provide frequently at CSS. The diagnosis will often be made by a cat’s regular vet, but radioactive iodine must be administered in an approved facility under strict protocols.

A referral also isn’t necessarily a case of coming in for an advanced procedure and heading straight home afterwards. Some treatments require a period of hospitalisation, with close monitoring before, during or after they’re given. This allows us to watch how the cat is responding, manage any changes in their condition and provide the nursing and medical support they need while they’re with us.

Not every treatment will be suitable for every cat, even when they have the same diagnosis. We’ve already covered age and coexisting medical conditions, but current medications, previous treatment and how well a patient is coping can also affect what we recommend. A specialist can weigh up these factors before deciding which options are appropriate.

How your regular vet and a feline specialist can work together

A pet’s primary veterinarian will always play the most important role in their medical care. They know the patient better than anyone and may have looked after them for years before a new or complex diagnosis arises. Feline specialists usually become involved for a particular problem or period of treatment, while the regular vet continues looking after their general veterinary needs. A referral to see us isn’t a full transfer of care.

Records from a patient’s regular vet can show how their problem has developed over time, what’s already been investigated, which medications or therapies have been tried and how the cat responded. Previous pathology and imaging can add important context too. Following the consultation or treatment, we’ll report back to the referring vet with our findings, what we’ve done and any recommendations for ongoing management or follow-up.

Does your cat need to see a feline specialist?

Seeing a feline specialist can happen for many reasons, from an unresolved diagnosis to the need for specialised treatment or management. At Cat Specialist Services, feline medicine is what we do every day, and there’s something pretty special about being able to care for cats when they need us most.

If you’re wondering whether your cat could benefit from specialist involvement, a conversation with your regular vet is a good place to start. You can also contact our team.

Vets can refer patients here.

"A referral to see a feline specialist isn’t a full transfer of care."

Are you worried about your cat’s health?

If you are concerned about your cat, please reach out to our friendly team. Call us on 1300 228 377 or fill out the contact form below. In an emergency, please contact your local vet.

For vets – to refer a patient or book a telehealth consultation, please call us on 1300 228 377, book through the portal or fill in the form.

Meet The Author

Dr Rachel Korman

Specialist in Feline Internal Medicine 
BVSc MANZCVS (Internal Medicine) FANZCVS (Feline Medicine)

Dr. Korman’s childhood love for cats led her to veterinary medicine, and early on, it was clear that feline care was her calling. After graduating from the University of Queensland in 2000, she worked in small animal and feline-only practices across Australia and the UK.

She received a Senior Clinical Training Scholarship from the Feline Advisory Bureau (now International Cat Care) at the University of Bristol, where she researched feline infectious and haematological diseases, and in 2018, became a Fellow of the Feline Medicine Chapter of the Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists and a registered Feline Medicine specialist.

Patient Stories

Our commitment to feline health is best seen in the stories of the cats we’ve had the privilege of treating. These journeys highlight the dedication, expertise and compassion that drive us.

Each patient faced unique challenges, and it was our honour to offer high-quality care and help them regain strength and happiness. We value the deep bonds with cats and their owners, knowing the difference we make in their lives.

Contacting Us

Pet Owners
If you would like to talk about treatment for your cat, call us on 1300 228 377 or fill in the form.
In an emergency, please contact your local vet.

Book Online

Vets and Nurses
To refer a patient or book a telehealth consultation please call us on 1300 228 377, book through the portal or fill in the form. For advice calls, please see the guidelines here.

Monday-Friday: 8 am-6 pm
Saturday/Sunday - Closed

Cat Specialist Services Reviews on

Tanya Bell

6 months ago

We transported our cat here from another animal hospital, as his condition was too complex for them. Our pet was given the highest quality of care, multiple investigations/procedures being able to be done at the one place a godsend. We were kept up to date frequently throughout his stay. All questions & options explained thoroughly. Being able to have private visits certainly helped us and our cat too. I would highly recommend Cat Specialist Services at Underwood. Amazing staff from reception, vet nurses, vets & specialists. Oh, and yes he is recovering wonderfully at home.

Melinda Cox

A month ago

So very happy we were asked to come here for advice for our NORBIT. He has had 2 x UTI blockages within weeks of each other since turning 6. Surgery seemed to be his only option and he didn’t feel it was very fair on him if we didn’t at least exhaust all other avenues first.

Dr Allison was very thorough in her tests and has let us know she would like to treat the cause of the problem. Great news.

It may lead to removal of crystals in his bladder if his diet doesn’t let him pass them naturally.

At least this surgery won’t be as severe at taking his penis off him – so as his fur parents – we are very happy with this.

We await further tests to see what’s in store for him.

NORBIT will now be a patient of the clinic as we are so far very happy with his treatment thus far.

Lesley Rosekrans

Hi has only been a week since losing my beautiful Peaches but can’t thank Dr Cindy, Maree and Jackie enough for the tender care they gave her and they after care they gave me. I sincerely thank them and can’t recommend the Clinic highly enough they are such caring people. Peaches I’m happier times.

Madison McEwan

I cannot thank the entire CSS team enough and especially Dr Cindy for the care they provided for our boy with a urinary blockage, and we will be taking both our cats here from now on. The clinic is exceptionally clean and calming compared to all other clinics we’ve been too, and all staff from the reception to the nurses/vets were so supportive during a stressful time. I knew from the first minute that I got to see him after he was transferred that he was in the best place, and that the staff genuinely care about their well-being and positive long term outcomes. We were given regular updates and full transparency, so much information including QR video codes on how to administer medications, along with print outs and emails about how to best help avoid future issues or recurrence. Our boy got to smooch on everyone and was beyond well looked after. Thank you again, you all made an incredibly stressful situation actually manageable and calming.

Astrid El Gamal

Dr Wan-Ju has been treating my baby since her first seizure in November 2025 and she has been fantastic.

Everybody at the clinic is so friendly and caring and I know my baby is in good hands.
Thank you team!

Deeba M

3 months ago

Dr Alison Jukes from CSS Underwood is an AMAZING feline physician. She is kind, professional, thorough and our cat is blessed to have her on his side. She even was able to save us money and invasiveness by being skilled to the level of doing ultrasound on two separate occasions without our cat needing to go under full sedation. Our other cat was recently seen by Dr Jukes as well, and she made sure our cat’s heart was ok. I also want to thank the lovely Jacqueline and Mairead from customer care. They are very kind each time I see them and call up. Sending thanks from our family, including Smokey and Floozy!

Judith Dionysius

My whole experience with CSS was positive – from the first email I received giving lots of information regarding the process of radioactive iodine treatment to the expected costs, to checking my cat in for the treatment, boarding for 2 weeks after the treatment and picking her up to come home. They didn’t push for any tests that were not necessary.

Janelle Wieden

5 months ago

We never knew this service existed but we are very grateful we were referred to them. Our vet Cindy was really great, she made us feel at ease during a very stressful time. We got the sense straight away the Leo was in good hands. This service made us feel better knowing that they specialise is cats only. Would highly recommend their services

Georgia Carter

My Lani finished her I-131 treatment today and I am beyond impressed with the way she was looked after. I am by definition a neurotic pet owner and sending my fur child away for a week was seriously daunting.

I was given daily updates about how kitty was eating, toileting and behaving. This really put my mind at ease. Vets and vet nurses were so accomodating and allowed Lani to have her favourite foods from home prepared her favourite way.

Her vet was so thorough when explaining her treatment and condition to me.
The ladies at reception were so friendly and understanding.

I honestly cannot recommend this clinic enough and I am so thankful for the positive experience Lani and I have had.

Lauren Woodward

A year ago

My sweet ginger boy Louis was hospitalised at CSS for a Urinary Obstruction. Dr Cindy and all the reception staff were amazing and empathetic. I would often ring up with questions post procedure and Dr Cindy would make time to talk and explain things to me