Evelyn the Vet - Veterinary & Pet Sitting Services

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Evelyn the Vet - Veterinary & Pet Sitting Services

Veterinary Surgeon & PhD, MSc, CertAVP, MRCVS. Researching Metabolomics & Feline DJD. Providing gentle, evidence-based care for all life stages.

StreetVet Bournemouth Lead. Custom in-home care & sitting. 👉 Booking & services: www.evelynthevet.com

28/08/2026

The science of the feline "head-butt" (and why it’s the ultimate compliment) 🐈‍⬛✨

When an older cat like sweet Cinder presses their forehead, cheek, or chin firmly into your hand, they are engaging in a fascinating feline communication ritual called bunting.

Far from just an itch, bunting is a profound sign of social trust and security:

🐾 Scent-marking & pheromones: Cats have specialised glands along their forehead, cheeks, temporal areas, and chin. Rubbing these areas against you deposits subtle facial pheromones.

🐾 Creating a "Safe Zone": By transferring their scent onto your hand or environment, they are marking you as part of their familiar, trusted "inner circle."

🐾 Self-soothing & affection: Bunting releases feel-good signals that lower cortisol and reinforce emotional bonding.

Whether I’m cat-sitting at home or examining a patient in a consult, watching a cautious senior cat transition from hiding away to initiating enthusiastic head-bunts is one of the most rewarding parts of working with felines.

When we respect their boundaries and let them set the pace, trust always follows. 🤍

27/08/2026

The art of feline trust: Meeting them on their terms 🐈‍⬛✨

Currently on cat-sitting duties for the lovely Cinder!
Working with senior cats, whether as a veterinary surgeon or a house guest, is a constant lesson in patience and subtle body language.

When visiting a senior feline like Cinder in their own territory, rushing in for immediate affection often achieves the exact opposite. Low-stress care means letting them set the pace:

🐾 Respecting the Micro-Environment: Letting them approach on their own schedule from a safe spot (like under the dining table!).

🐾 Scent Before Touch: Offering a quiet hand first so they can inspect and confirm you're a friend before going in for chin scratches.

🐾 Protecting Routine: Keeping mealtime, quiet zones, and familiar habits completely undisturbed.

When we slow down and listen to what our senior companions are telling us, we build genuine trust, ensuring they feel safe, calm, and respected in their own home. 🤍

26/08/2026

Pressing pause... but big steps ahead! 🌊✨

As I prepare to step away for a short trip and some very special personal milestones, I’ve been reflecting on how far this journey has come.

From completing doctoral research to listening closely to what local pet owners truly need, one message stands out: veterinary care works best when it adapts to real life.

When I'm back in September, a brand-new chapter begins: bringing a fresh, independent, and deeply compassionate approach to local veterinary care.

We are putting the final touches on something very special designed to make routine care completely stress-free for your companions.

Keep an eye on this space over the coming weeks... exciting announcements are just around the corner! 🤍

What is one thing that would make your pet’s routine vet care completely stress-free? Let me know below! 👇

24/08/2026

"They’re just slowing down because of their age..." 👵🐕🐈

It is a phrase every vet hears regularly: and one of the most common traps in senior pet care.

"Age" is a measure of time, not a diagnosis. 🩺

When a golden oldie starts sleeping a little more, moving a bit slower, drinking extra water, or changing their daily routine, it is so easy to write it off as inevitable "getting old." But beneath the surface, subtle changes are often telling us a deeper story.

As pets age, they rarely experience just one condition in isolation. Vague changes in energy or behaviour are frequently caused by an overlapping mix of early joint stiffness, subtle metabolic or kidney shifts, or mild endocrine changes working simultaneously.

Why catching these subtle shifts early matters:

🐾 Tracking micro-trends: A blood check or physical exam sitting in the "normal range" doesn't tell us everything: tracking subtle year-on-year trends shows us where their health is drifting long before they feel unwell.

🐾 Unpicking the puzzle: Lethargy or restlessness can be driven by joint pain, hydration changes, or organ shifts at the same time. We treat the whole pet, not just the loudest symptom!

🐾 Tailored comfort: Balancing treatments so supporting one organ system keeps another completely protected.

Proactive senior care isn't about running tests for the sake of it, it’s about restoring vitality, easing quiet discomfort, and protecting the quality and joy of their golden years. 🤍

Have you noticed any subtle habit changes in your senior pets lately? Drop your questions or experiences below! 👇

20/08/2026

Something special is brewing for Dorset & Hampshire pets... ☕💻

Between clinical days, research write-ups, and late-night planning, my computer screen has seen a lot of action recently!

For years, I've envisioned a model of veterinary care that completely removes the friction, anxiety, and travel stress for our senior, anxious, or delicate companions - meeting them exactly where they feel safest.

We are putting the final touches on a very exciting project launching this autumn right here in Bournemouth. I can't wait to share the full reveal with you soon! 🤍

What is one thing that would make your pet’s routine vet care completely stress-free? Let me know in the comments below! 👇

19/08/2026

Mobility in Golden Oldies: It’s not just about joint supplements 🐈 Arthritis isn't an all-or-nothing diagnosis: it is a spectrum of comfort.

When supporting senior cats with stiff joints or early mobility decline, our minds naturally jump straight to joint supplements or daily pain relief. While medical management is vital, true clinical success comes from looking at the whole picture: starting with their immediate home micro-climate.

Micro-adjustments around the house can drastically reduce daily joint strain and keep cortisol levels low:
🐾 Low-profile litter trays: Climbing over high plastic rims requires painful hip and stifle extension. A tray with a cut-down entry lip keeps box habits stress-free.
🐾 Elevated feeding stations: Raising food and water bowls just a few inches prevents cervical spine strain during meals.
🐾 Step-up furniture assists: Stiff joints hate high-impact landings. Adding non-slip ottomans or pet steps near favourite sofas (or kitchen countertops, like Smudge in this picture!) protects their spine and limbs from shock.

Creating a world that fits our cats (rather than forcing them to adapt to ours!) preserves their dignity and keeps them moving comfortably alongside us. 🤍

What small home tweak has made the biggest difference for your senior pet? Let me know below! 👇

17/08/2026

It’s officially here in the post! 📜✨

Holding the physical PhD certificate in my hands today brings five years of hard work, research, and dedication full circle.

As a vet, I’ve held the title of "Dr" for years, but receiving this physical parchment officially makes it Dr²! 🩺🔬

Behind this piece of paper were five years of balancing active clinical work with complex laboratory research: analysing metabolic health in humans and dogs, performing thousands of sample tests, and recovering from major shoulder surgery mid-way through.

A huge thank you to the for funding this research, my supervisors for their invaluable guidance, and especially my partner Rick Smudge, my family, and everyone who believed in me when the mountain felt steep.

I've always believed that the best clinical care is backed by deep, evidence-based science. Time to find a special spot on the wall for this one! 🤍

15/08/2026

Every animal deserves compassionate care: no matter where they call home. 🐾❤️

Today is International Homeless Animals Day, a moment to reflect on the millions of pets worldwide who don't have a warm bed, a stable routine, or easy access to veterinary medicine.

For people experiencing homelessness, their pet isn't "just a pet." They are a lifeline, a best friend, a constant companion, and often their primary source of unconditional love and emotional safety.

Outreach work with StreetVet is a constant reminder of why we enter veterinary medicine in the first place. Delivering frontline clinical care on the streets requires a truly unhurried, low-stress, and contextualised approach:
🩺 No clinical walls: Meeting patients on their terms, on the pavement, where they feel safe.
🤝 Preserving the bond: Supporting human-animal connections without judgment, barriers, or bias.
💊 Preventative protection: Delivering essential health checks, flea/worm treatments, vaccinations, and pain relief directly to animals who need it most.

True healthcare accessibility means bringing medicine to the patient, protecting the human-animal bond, and treating every owner with dignity.

To every volunteer, rescue worker, and street outreach team fighting for vulnerable animals today: thank you for everything you do. 🧡

How do you support vulnerable pets in your local community? Let’s chat in the comments! 👇

12/08/2026

When the best clinical outcome is peace. 🕊️🩺

A senior cat presented to me recently following a sudden, acute collapse. In moments like this, rapid bedside diagnostics are crucial. A quick point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) scan quickly revealed the underlying cause: advanced renal lymphoma.

While every vet wishes for a curable diagnosis, our highest duty as clinicians isn't always to prolong life at all costs: it is to prevent suffering. After discussing the prognosis, we collectively made the heart-breaking but profoundly kind decision to let him go peacefully.

What made this difficult day remarkable was the love surrounding him. The owner’s close friends arrived at the clinic to surround her with support, creating a calm, safe circle of love in the room. Throughout it all, we kept the little guy purring and distracted with his favourite liquid treats, ensuring his final moments were filled with taste, warmth, and zero fear.

End-of-life care is one of the most solemn, vital parts of veterinary medicine. Having the diagnostic tools to give clear answers quickly, and the time to facilitate a peaceful, love-filled goodbye, is a privilege I never take for granted. ❤️

10/08/2026

If I fit, I sit: Vet Clinic Edition! 🐱💻🚰

Spot the patients! Consult rooms can feel overwhelming for cats, which is why letting them choose their own "safe spots" while we take history is a game-changer for low-stress visits.

Whether it’s wedging behind the computer monitor or curling up in the cool ceramic curve of the clinic sink, cats naturally seek out high perches, enclosed corners, or cool surfaces to process new environments.

How we work with feline behaviour in the consult room:
🐾 No forcing: We don't drag cats out of carriers or force them onto the main exam table if they’ve found a calm spot.
🐾 Examining in place: Hands-on checks, stethoscopes, and gentle palpation can often be done right where the cat feels safest — even if that means examining a cat in a sink!
🐾 Treat rewards: Lickable treats given in these safe spots turn a clinic visit into a positive experience.

Giving cats time, space, and a bit of control over their environment completely transforms their healthcare experience.

Where is the strangest place your cat likes to hide when they’re exploring? Tell me below! 👇

Address

Bournemouth

Website

https://www.evelynthevet.com/

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