Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Are you looking to join a supportive, friendly team where everyone is valued? Would you like a part-time role in a cat-only clinic with no weekends, bank holidays, or out-of-hours hours? Then Just Cats is the practice for you!

Established in 2007 by vet Simon, who had a vision of a different approach to veterinary care driven by a desire to minimise feline stress in practice. We are a proudly independent and family-run practice with Gold ISFM status. This new additional part-time role is part of our plan to maintain our independence and further develop our team's care for our patients.

Just Cats became the first feline-only clinic in the northwest of England. Since opening our doors, we have grown into a thriving first-opinion practice with an extremely experienced, supportive and long-standing team. We also have a lovely, loyal client base who appreciate that we want to provide the very best care for their feline family members.

Simon particularly enjoys dentistry and accepts first-opinion referrals from other local practices and sometimes further afield. Aga, our other full-time Vet, joined us in 2020. She quickly settled into the team and has even bought a house locally. Aga has a particular interest in ultrasonography.

“I have been with Just Cats for over 3 years. I have enough time to work up my cases, I go home on time and I see the same people every day as there is no staff turnover! We have all become close friends and hang out after work, too. Same with clients – all really nice and loyal, so I can establish long-lasting relationships – both with owners and my patients. I would probably have left the profession some time ago if not for this place!” Aga MRCVS

We also benefit from the services of RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology, Hannah Stephenson of HS Cardiology, whose team visits the clinic for more complex cardiac scans.

We have a very experienced and supportive nursing team. Our Head Nurse, Carol, qualified in 1990 and worked as a HN and clinical assessor in various hospitals before joining us as we started the Just Cats journey. Louise has been a qualified nurse for 30 years. She has experience in both nursing practice and teaching, and she obtained her Certificate in Education from Manchester University before joining us in 2011. Both Carol and Louise have completed their ISFM Feline Nursing certificates. Jude worked as a locum RVN with us and loved the team so much that she joined us permanently in July, and we couldn’t be happier to have her.

“It rarely gets better than working with cats all day, though we do have the added bonus of such a caring, hardworking and dedicated crew. I love that we have so many fabulous and loyal clients, some who have been with us since we opened” Carol RVN

“Having locumed regularly at Just Cats over the past year, I’m delighted to have been offered a permanent position. The team are welcoming, dedicated and outstanding in their care of exclusively feline patients. Personable clients and a delightful seaside town make this an exceptionally fulfilling place to work” Jude RVN

Helen, Becky, Adele and Amy make up our fantastic reception team. Helen, who has also been with us since the start, splits her time between reception and ACA duties. Our practice ‘Mum’ and co-owner, Tracey, looks after the whole team.

We have Idexx bloods/Sedivue, DR dental (Nomad) X-rays that are quick and easy to take, large plate DR X-rays, Ultrasound, VetHDO/Doppler BP, TonoVet, etc. The team has a strong voice in buying decisions for new equipment, and we aim to continually improve what we do. .

We can offer you the clinical freedom to deliver the highest standards of care for your patients with no targets beyond ensuring that every patient receives the care it needs while working within the client’s wishes and budget.

Our routine appointments (boosters, etc.) are 15 minutes, and we have 30-minute appointments as standard for medication reviews and non-routine/ on-the-day bookings. We aim for the team to be out of the clinic by 6.30 pm. We run an average of four pre-booked evening surgeries (5.30 – 8 pm) each month, which are for pre-booked vaccinations and medication reviews only. This has allowed us to keep our weekends and bank holidays totally free for family life, downtime, and exploring the lovely area.

Our out-of-hours work is outsourced to Ribble Vets, an independent RCVS-accredited Hospital near Preston (25-30 minutes away). They take the phones from 5.30 pm each day and cover weekends and bank holidays. They also look after our inpatients, who will remain with them until discharge rather than being transferred back and forth.  

We are looking for an additional part-time vet who is passionate about feline medicine and comfortable with routine first-opinion surgery (no orthopaedics). The role is approximately 25 hours a week, and we have some flexibility with the rota, so if you have other commitments to work around, please do get in touch to chat about the options available.

• A salary of £40,000 - £52,000 pro-rata (based on a 39-hour week), with salary review after 6 months
• 33 days holiday, including bank holidays (pro-rata)
• CPD encouraged and funded
• Benenden Healthcare includes a 24/7 GP Helpline, Consultant appointments/diagnostic costs up to £2,500, private surgical treatment, and physiotherapy
• Sickness insurance

Beyond work, the team loves to socialise together, whether it's having pizza, going on a dog walk or to the cinema, or celebrating special occasions. In addition to regular team meals out, we had a fun trip to Liverpool to watch Eurovision when it was staged there.

Southport & Formby, located on the North West coast, boast beautiful sandy beaches, and the clinic is just a few minutes away from the sea. There are many outdoor activities to enjoy, such as kite surfing on the beach, paddle boarding at Marine Lake, or exploring the coastal path from Southport to Crosby, which is ideal for walking or cycling. We are also just 45 minutes from Liverpool, which has great nightlife, theatres, and the M&S Arena, and an hour from Manchester. Both Liverpool and Manchester Airports are within easy reach, and you can travel to London in just over 2 hours by direct train from Liverpool or Preston. The popular Lake District and North Wales coast and mountains are within easy travelling distance for a day out.

If you want to know more about this amazing part-time role working with our supportive, friendly team, please call for an informal chat in confidence or apply now.