Michael Edwards B.Vet. Med. M.R.C.V.S., qualified from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1976. For the past 30 years he has treated only domestic pets. The Cardiff Cat Clinic is the third practice to be established by him.

Throughout his career, Michael has had a special interest in feline medicine and with the increasing number of cats kept as pets, came the opportunity to open a practice devoted to cats alone.

Although cats are now the world's most popular pet, there are only a handful of feline-only veterinary practices in the UK, compared to about 400 in the USA. It was from the USA that the inspiration of creating a cat clinic originated.

Michael says, "I've visited the USA to see some cat clinics and I liked what I saw. Also, they practice veterinary medicine to a very high standard, so I bought a few ideas home with me to Cardiff.

The Clinic is housed in Bridge House, where the interior layout was designed by Michael Edwards. The Clinic is the first cat clinic in Wales and at 2500sq ft., the largest in the United Kingdom.

Tucked away in a peaceful environment, Michael Edwards immediately saw the potential of the site. "I gladly traded visibility for a large on-site car park. Any client will tell you how vital ample parking is."

The concept of cat-only practices has been unfamiliar to some pet owners, but there are convincing reasons for their increasing popularity.

• Cats are not small dogs - they have their own unique treatment needs.
• Cats are stressed when forced to share an environment with dogs.
• Concentrating expertise and resources on one species enhances treatment.

After listing all the reasons for opening the clinic, Michael had to admit the main reason, "I think cats make great pets, ideal for modern lifestyles and I suppose I just like working with them. I've never met a cat I didn't like!"