Craig A. Smith was born in the early 1960’s in the state of Iowa. The Boeing company beckoned, and the entire family of 6 soon settled in the Puget Sound region, where two more children were born. Craig and his siblings all attended various public schools in the Seattle and Shoreline districts over the years, and he graduated from Shorewood High in the late 1970’s.

He majored in Animal Science from Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, Washington, worked in various biotechnology laboratories on campus, and was admitted to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine in the middle of the 1980’s. He graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine exactly ten years after he graduated from High School.

Dr. Smith’s professional career began among the horses, goats, and cattle of southern Pierce County and lasted long enough for his wife and him to establish a home near Spanaway. When the housing developments finally eliminated enough open land, he obtained a position as an associate veterinarian at The Pet Doctor in Lakewood. This became a defining moment for him, as he recognized a compelling interest he had never before experienced in all his associations with various animal species: cats are amazing and exciting patients. Within three years, Dr. Smith was committed to focusing his career on providing veterinary care exclusively for cats, and opened Tacoma Cat Hospital in the fall of 1993.

Craig and his family still reside near Spanaway, and he divides his time between the Cat Hospital, raising his two sons, his church, and The Boy Scouts of America. His fervent desire as a Cat Doctor is to help people enjoy fulfilling relationships with their feline pets and provide a source for honest and compassionate advice on how to best care for them.

photo credit: (Recent Photo of Dr. Smith) Jen, LVT

Jen graduated from the Veterinary Technology program at Pierce College in 1991. After graduation she worked at the Pet Doctor for a 2 1/2 years. Having always been very interested in cats, and working in a cats only hospital, she agreed to come with Dr. Smith when he opened the Tacoma Cat Hospital in 1993. She's been here ever since! Jen loves working in s cats only environment, as she enjoys cats, their unique personalities and helping their owners take care of their cats.

Jen and her family enjoy riding quads on the Oregon coast sand dunes. They go as often as possible. if she's ever not at work, you can bet that's where she is! Jen and her son also raise and show bantam chickens, call ducks and nigerian dwarf goats. They share their yard with a beehive and their home with 3 cats, a fish, a leopard gecko and a rescued pitbull.

Kathy has been the head receptionist for Tacoma Cat Hospital since we opened in 1993. She has an extended history with purebred cats in the Pierce County region, and is currently involved in Paranormal research in the Pacific Northwest. She is an active member of a regional hearse club (she owns 2), and shares her life with several cats.

Elizabeth is a 1985 graduate of the Animal Science department of Washington State University, and earned her veterinary technician license in 1989. She has been employed in the animal care field since her college graduation in a variety of public and private institutions. Her husband and two children care for 3 cats, 1 rat, and a gecko.

Stephenie graduated from the Veterinary Assistant program at Pima Medical Institute in 2011, after completing her externship with us. Stephenie has been a cat person since she was a little girl, bringing home every stray cat she found. It has always been her dream to work with cats everyday, and she also has a dream of rescuing all the kittens in the world! In her spare time, she will always be caught with a book in her hand. Stephenie is the mom to 3 cats that she loves dearly!