Veterinarian Lake Oswego, OR

Dr. Melinda Barkley

Veterinarian
DVM, CVA (certified veterinary acupuncturist)

Dr. Melinda Barkley has been practicing for 24 years and graduated from Oregon State University, earning her DVM in 1999. She also is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA). She has specialties in Feline Medicine and surgery, feline shelter medicine, acupuncture, end-of-life care, and the Natural History of the Feline Species, thus their unique behavior and GI needs.

Dr. Barkley prides herself on teaching cat caregivers to be patient and creative when caring for their pets, whether it involves giving medications, feeding groups of cats, or addressing litter box issues. As a skilled surgeon, she is willing to perform major surgeries and has a strong interest in end-of-life care and euthanasia.

In her free time, Dr. Barkley enjoys working on her small farm, tending to her garden and horses, trail riding with friends, and hiking with her husband. She also has a passion for collecting natural artifacts such as feathers, rocks, and bones, which she shares with local biology classes and summer camps for children.

Dr.Barkley is a proud owner of eight cats, one dog, three horses, and three giant goldfish, and she also has a menagerie of wild animals, including a cougar, that lives in her backyard.

Aejin

Customer Service Representative

I have been a lifelong animal lover. I was born and raised in Southern California and finally made the move to Oregon in 2023 for the rainfall and vibrant greenery. My animal background includes working at San Diego Humane Society, world renowned San Diego Safari Park, plus some dog walking and cat sitting. I have raised various pets – cats, quails, chickens, Muscovy ducks, dogs, and rabbits. I share a home with two blue eyed, long-haired cats and a rough collie. In my free time, I enjoy outdoor pursuits like archery, golfing, and hiking, as well as expanding my culinary skills cooking, baking, trying out new restaurants and activities, and playing video games in my spare time.

Emily

Veterinary Assistant

Emily has fostered a love for animals throughout her entire life and has worked with them in some capacity since the age of 13. Emily received a degree in Environmental Science and Resource Management from the University of Washington in 2017 and worked as an environmental consultant until 2021, when she decided to take the leap at a career change.

Her first foray into this field was at an internal medicine and surgical specialty clinic, where she worked as a CSR and veterinary assistant. While she enjoyed the complexity of the medicine practiced there, Emily felt like the care provided to feline patients left lots of room for improvement. She’d been bringing her own cats to a feline-only clinic and saw the difference that feline-centered care provided. Once she began working as a veterinary assistant there, she realized she’d found her passion.

Emily had to say goodbye to her previous cat clinic when she moved to Oregon from Arizona in 2023. She took a brief break from working to enjoy the birth of her daughter before joining the CCP team in March of 2024. Emily is a certified Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional and is in the process of becoming Fear Free Certified as well. She also plans to go to school to become a Certified Veterinary Technician.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with her two cats, Suki and Midna, and her dog, Lilu. She loves baking cakes, playing video games, and going on adventures with her husband and baby girl.

Nicole

Veterinary Assistant

Nicole, born and raised in Willamette Valley, developed a deep passion for cats early on in her life. Her journey with feline welfare began when she and her mother decided to volunteer at a local animal rescue. Their dedication and love for cats eventually led them to establish their own 501c3 nonprofit cat rescue organization, called “Orphan Kitten Rescue Of Oregon.”

Driven by a desire to expand her knowledge in fear-free cat caregiving, Nicole discovered the world of cat care professionals, which instantly resonated with her goals. Currently residing in Tigard, Oregon, Nicole shares her home with three beloved cats named Feebee, Peppa, and Domino. Additionally, she has two ferrets named Ella and Lily, whom she fondly refers to as her “noodle cats.”

Nicole’s commitment to feline welfare and her genuine love for animals continues to shape her life and work. Her dedication to providing the best care for cats is evident in her involvement with rescue efforts and her aspiration to continuously improve her skills in creating a fear-free environment for her feline companions.

Dr. Natassia Ruse

Medical Director

• Dr. Natassia Ruse earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Oregon State University – Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. She enjoys internal medicine, particularly focusing on diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and geriatric care. Dr. Ruse takes pride in fostering clear communication and connections with pet parents, ensuring they comprehend their pets’ conditions and receive optimal guidance. She enjoys educating pet parents on new skills and techniques.
• Outside of her veterinary work, Dr. Ruse enjoys swimming, horseback riding, dirt biking, savoring delicious cuisine, and gardening. A fun fact about Dr. Ruse: She is a first-generation college student. Her beloved pets include an orange tabby rescue Bubs, 70+ fish, and hundreds of shrimp.

Jade

Customer Service Representative

Jade has been practicing veterinary medicine for four years. She attended Estacada High School and later pursued her education at CCC (Clackamas Community College).

When it comes to veterinary medicine and taking care of her patients, Jade takes great pride in her teaching abilities. She finds joy in sharing her knowledge with clients, empowering them to make informed decisions, and ensuring that their beloved pets lead long, healthy, and happy lives.

During her free time, Jade’s thirst for knowledge remains unquenchable. She enjoys engaging in various learning activities, constantly seeking opportunities to expand her understanding and expertise, both in her professional and personal life. Traveling holds a special place in her heart, especially when it allows her to observe and appreciate wildlife in its natural habitat. Additionally, Jade is passionate about unleashing her creativity. Whether it involves crafting intricate cat castles from boxes, painting beautiful artwork, or choreographing captivating dance routines, she finds immense satisfaction in all forms of creative expression.

Alexa Franklin, CVT

Cat Care Professionals

Alexa attended Portland Community College and completed the Veterinary Technology Program in 2016. She takes great pride in delivering high-quality patient care and building strong client relationships. Alexa is passionate about working closely with clients to address their needs and ensure they understand the rationale behind treatment recommendations. For her, the most important aspect of her work is providing exceptional care to every patient, treating them as if they were her own beloved feline companion.

Outside of work, Alexa’s free time is currently limited due to juggling multiple clinic responsibilities and pursuing online schooling. Nonetheless, she cherishes moments spent watching movies with her personal clowder, which consists of six cats, along with her dog and a bearded dragon. Alexa has a fascination with Greek mythology, and she reflects this interest by giving mythological names to her pets. Her two tortoiseshell kitties are called Akantha and Eris, while her two tuxedo cats go by Zora and Morpheus. She has a special needs kitty named Theia and an adorable orange tabby named Squanchy. Alexa’s dog, Roo, is respectful of her feline companions, and they all share a deep affection for her. Her bearded dragon, Daedalus, fearlessly greets the kitties whenever they approach his tank. In her leisure time, Alexa indulges in reading fantasy and science fiction books, graphic novels, and manga, as well as watching anime and playing video games.

Megan

Veterinary Assistant

Megan was born and raised in Oregon. With her 4 siblings, she was raised with cats, hamsters, mice, and fish. Her love for animals blossomed at age eleven when she began working with horses and dogs. When she was sixteen, Megan convinced her parents to let her rescue a dog, Miss Kanani. She strives to live a life surrounded by animals at every possible moment, from dog obedience training to playing fetch with her cats, Thiessen and Lyra. Before Megan joined the team in 2023, she worked at a doggy daycare and training facility. Megan lives in Oregon City and has many animal companions including a snake named Munch, 2 fish, and over 30 chickens.

Gabrielle

Kennel Assistant

Gabrielle recently moved to Oregon from New Jersey to finish her Master’s in Animal Law at Lewis and Clark Law School. Upon graduating, she hopes to use her passion and experience to help and advocate for wild cats. Prior to starting her master’s, she obtained a B.S. in Environmental Policy from Rutgers University. She currently volunteers at a wild cat sanctuary. She has always had an interest in animals, which has grown into a passion for cats and speaking out for those who cannot. She has two kitties- Kody and Nellie. Kody enjoys going on hikes and exploring, while Nellie enjoys experiencing the world through nature documentaries. Felines of all kinds make up every aspect of her life, and she would not have it any other way.

Monica

Veterinary Assistant

Monica is a native Oregonian and has worked in the veterinary field in some capacity since high school, including most recently at the Oregon Humane Society. She has also enjoyed volunteering through the years, especially with the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon – fostering (neonate and/or feral) kittens still remains one of her fondest pastimes. Monica joined Cat Care Professionals in February 2024, and loves getting to take time getting to know and care for her feline patients – especially the scared ones!

Monica is currently in school to become a certified veterinary technician (CVT), and takes delight in attending continuing education, especially when related to dentistry and preventive care. She is proud to be RECOVER CPR certified, as well as being both a Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional and a Level 2 Fear Free Certified Professional.

When not working, Monica spends her time playing dodgeball in a queer co-ed league, reading, playing video games, and enjoying nature (especially the beach). She lives in Beaverton with her partner (also a CVT!), their blended combination of four teens/pre-teens, and 5 cats – Albert, Cinder, Valkyrie, HanSolo, and Arthur.

Tani

Hospital Manager

Tani has been in the vet industry for 25+ years working as a veterinary assistant, laboratory technician and hospital manager. She has worked with large farm animals, horses, cats, dogs and exotics throughout her career. Some of Tani’s certifications that she is very proud of are Fear Free Elite certified, RECOVR CPR, Cat Friendly as well as working on her Certification as a veterinary technician.

Tani joined CCP in February 2024. In her free time, you will find her on her small farm with her two children, her husband, horses, a pony, her cat, cows and her five dogs. Among some of her animals are her two French bulldogs that she has raised since birth. They were born with cleft palates and needed to be tube fed in order to survive. Not only are they thriving their palates are closed on their own and they are normal little Frenchies.

Kristine

Veterinary Assistant

Kristine has lived in the Pacific Northwest her whole life. Having taken care of retired show horses and working at a rural vet clinic, she finally landed at Cat Care. She has 1 crested gecko named Rojo, 2 guinea pigs, Benedict and Noodle, and, the ruler of the house, her cat named Loly. Her hobbies include: taking care of indoor plants and spending time with her daughter and fur children.

Natalie

Kennel Assistant

Natalie has been working with animals since 2003. Natalie was born and raised in Arizona, Natalie moved to Oregon to escape the heat and be closer to nature. Patience and unconditional have always been my focus when taking care of animals. Natalie absolutely cannot live without cats. Natalie also loves dogs but she relates more to cats. Cat Care Professionals has been one of the best environments she has worked in. She’s grateful for the patient and humane treatment she’s received. When Natalie’s not working or at home avoiding people, Natalie loves going on scenic drives and hikes all around the Pacific Northwest. Natalie enjoys long walks on the beach and exploring old cemeteries. Her interests include antiquing, video games, horror movies, and being a hermit. Natalie lives with her husband and her two cats Thomas and Jimmy.

Dr. Theresa Cornwell

Veterinarian

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1990 and entering the veterinary field, Dr. Cornwell recognized the limitations of practices that offered treatment to many different types of animals. In 1992, she decided to devote her work exclusively to the care of cats. After 3 years of training in a feline-only practice, she launched the Cat Care Professionals veterinary clinic in 1995. With a belief that high-stress situations can trigger or exacerbate illness, Dr. Cornwell strives to provide a calm and relaxed environment for all patients. As the proud “mother” of 6 felines, she understands the joys and challenges that come with having cats as companions.

In her daily practice, Dr. Cornwell provides cat owners with the insights that 30 years of experience have given her. All her patients are shown the same compassion and care she provides to her own pets.

Dr. Kris Ellingsen

Veterinarian

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988, Dr. Ellingsen spent two years as a veterinarian at a small animal practice. Realizing her dream of working exclusively with cats, she spent 9 years at one of the nation’s original feline-exclusive hospitals in Seattle, Washington. In 2002, she brought her skills and experience to Oregon to join Dr. Cornwell at Cat Care Professionals.

Dr. Ellingsen demonstrates her devotion to the health and well-being of all pets through her work as a spay and neuter surgeon in Portland with the Oregon Humane Society and other local pet shelters. She is also on the Board of Directors and is the current President of the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO), volunteering regularly for their spay/neuter clinics. She shares her home with 3 adorable cats; 12-year-old Otis is shared in the photo.

Dr. Marie Maher

Veterinarian

Dr. Marie Maher is from the California Bay Area, where she aspired to become a veterinarian from early childhood. She completed her undergraduate and veterinary studies at the University of California Davis, earning her DVM in 2018, and went on to study traditional Chinese veterinary medicine, including acupuncture and Tui-na, at Chi University in Florida. Following graduation from vet school, she moved across the country to practice feline medicine at the Weymouth Landing Cat Clinic in Massachusetts. In 2020, she moved back to the west coast, to Portland, where she worked in Fear Free small animal practice before returning to feline medicine and joining the team at Cat Care Professionals.

Dr. Maher is level 3 Fear Free certified and is grateful to work with a team that is dedicated to prioritizing the emotional and behavioral well-being of each patient, as well as their physical health while practicing a high standard of care. She is honored to be of service to each patient and their family as we work together as a healthcare team. Within feline medicine, Dr. Maher’s special interests include behavior, integrative medicine, ophthalmology, hospice, neonatal care, and orphaned kittens. Outside of vet med, her interests include traveling, birding, movement and art, music, cooking, knitting, crafting, and spending time with her friends and her favorite pesky people cats – Vito and Vincenzo.

Dr. Melinda Barkley

Veterinarian

Dr. Melinda Barkley has been practicing for 24 years and graduated from Oregon State University, earning her DVM in 1999. She also is a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA). She has specialties in Feline Medicine and surgery, feline shelter medicine, acupuncture, end-of-life care, and the Natural History of the Feline Species, thus their unique behavior and GI needs.

Dr. Barkley prides herself on teaching cat caregivers to be patient and creative when caring for their pets, whether it involves giving medications, feeding groups of cats, or addressing litter box issues. As a skilled surgeon, she is willing to perform major surgeries and has a strong interest in end-of-life care and euthanasia.

In her free time, Dr. Barkley enjoys working on her small farm, tending to her garden and horses, trail riding with friends, and hiking with her husband. She also has a passion for collecting natural artifacts such as feathers, rocks, and bones, which she shares with local biology classes and summer camps for children.

Dr. Barkley is a proud owner of 8 cats, one dog, 3 horses, and 3 giant goldfish, and she also has a menagerie of wild animals, including a cougar, that lives in her backyard. With her vast experience and deep passion for animal care, Dr. Barkley is an invaluable asset to the veterinary profession.

Dr. Kerrie Sanders

Veterinarian

Dr. Kerrie Sanders has been working in the veterinary field since 1998. She recalls always being drawn to animals since her earliest childhood memories, but most especially cats. In veterinary school, she quickly realized that cats were also her passion when it came to medical care. Dr. Sanders believes that feline-focused veterinary medicine is incredibly important – cats need a doctor who speaks their language and understands their needs. They are masters at hiding disease, and she considers it a rewarding challenge to care for them at all life stages. To her, there are few things in this life more genuinely fulfilling than the human-animal bond.

Dr. Sanders received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Oklahoma in 2004 and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oklahoma State University in 2008. She has been a full-time, feline-exclusive practitioner since graduation, working in New York for several years until relocating to the Portland area in the summer of 2020. On her days off she enjoys all that the PNW has to offer, and when in the clinic she feels extremely fortunate to work alongside the dedicated, caring staff members at Cat Care Professionals.

Amanda

Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)

Amanda was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, with dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, turtles, and birds. Despite a love for all animals, she found herself drawn to cats and, throughout her life, volunteered at many feline-only shelters while in her previous career as a book editor and English teacher. During this, she realized she wanted to pursue a career with animals and started exploring the veterinary field, including doing reception work at a feline-only hospital, client care work at a human-animal non-profit organization, and volunteering as a veterinary assistant at various shelters. She eventually went back to school and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Veterinary Technology and is a national and state-licensed CVT.

She feels lucky to be able to spend her days working with cats, and then come home to her husband and their four cats Dolly Biskits, Smokey, Sienna, and Georgie, and also Miss Molly, the house bunny who rules them all.

Alexa

Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT)

Bio Coming Soon 

Madison

Veterinary Assistant

Bio Coming Soon

Mckenzie

Client Service Representative & Veterinary Assistant

McKenzie was born and raised in Southern Oregon. After attending Oregon State University, she worked at a cat and dog clinic in Medford for 3 years. This is where her passion for animal care and client education really started to unfold. Although she likes dogs, she has always had a preference and deep respect for cats. In fact, anytime she is asked about her hobbies or talents, “cat-petting” always makes the list! After relocating to Portland, she joined the Cat Care Professionals team in 2007. In her free time, McKenzie shares her home in Sherwood with her husband, their young daughter, and their cat.

Adrienne

Lead Boarding Care Representative

Adrienne grew up in Utah. She has always had a love for animals, but when she was 9 years old her family moved next to a rescue, and she got an after-school job helping to clean, socialize, and groom the cats there. Ever since that time, cats have been a large part of her life. Over the years, she has been an active volunteer with shelters, sanctuaries, and trap-neuter-return groups. Before joining the team at Cat Care Professionals in 2013, she worked as the cat coordinator for the Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals. Currently, she lives in King City with her husband, 4 cats, and a colony of 4 feral cats.

Alisa

Veterinary Assistant

Alisa moved to Oregon in 2009. Her love of cats began when she found a feral kitten in the bushes on her walk home from elementary school. Unfortunately, due to her mother’s allergies, she had to find a different home for the kitten. Since then, she always wanted to care for a cat so the first thing she did when she moved out was adopt one from the Humane Society. She worked at a dog and cat clinic for 6 years before finding Cat Care Professionals. She currently lives in Tigard with her very spoiled cat, Mila, and her 40+ houseplants.

Katie

Veterinary Assistant

Katie has cared for animals her whole life. She was raised with 4 cats, and she eventually became their primary caretaker. Katie spent her childhood volunteering at animal shelters, walking dogs, and pet sitting. She began working professionally in animal care in 2017 when she learned that she has a flair for working with special needs animals. She is currently an assistant and is interested in pursuing a career in veterinary nutrition. Katie currently lives in Portland with her tegu, her rat, and her childhood cat, Carlita Pepperpaws.