To commemorate 20 years of caring for cats and their people, one of Mercer Island’s veterinary clinics has scheduled a celebration and open house from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22.

Dr. Gary Marshall, a longtime Eastside resident, started Island Cats in 1996 as a full-service veterinary hospital, exclusively for feline patients.

“I can be a better vet concentrating on just one species,” Marshall said, noting that he and his technicians can “get a lot more done” with less stress for the animals by being “feline friendly and fear free.”

“We understand the unique psychological and physical characteristics of cats and we strive to maintain an environment focused on minimizing stress and illness in our feline patients,” according to the Island Cats’ website.

Marshall, a 1989 graduate of the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, said he enjoyed bringing the first cat-exclusive practice to Mercer Island. His special area of interest is feline geriatrics, prolonging and enhancing the senior years of his feline patients.

As much as he cares for older cats, Marshall has also established a reputation for helping young veterinarians. Many of his employees have gone on to vet school in the past 10 years, a tradition he hopes to continue.

In fact, a former seasonal employee is now an associate at Island Cats. Dr. Kirsten Ronngren started working full-time at the clinic in May 2015, after earning her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, also from Washington State.

Now, patients at Island Cats get the benefit of 20 years of experience, and knowledge of the latest tools and technology.

“You get two doctor brains for the price of one,” Ronngren said.

Ronngren’s mother is also a small animal veterinarian, and graduated in the same class as Marshall.

Island Cats is “small-ish but busy,” with four full-time employees and patients from all over the Seattle area. One of the technicians, Hayla, has worked with Marshall for 23 years. Being on the Island helps the doctors form tight relationships with their patients, and they also work closely with other clinics in the community. But clients appreciate what they get out of the environment and experience at an all-cat clinic, Ronngren said.

Island Cats offers many services to treat a range of symptoms, from kidney disease to behavior issues, which sometimes do have an underlying medical cause.

Cats are “super good at hiding pain,” Marshall said, which is why he recommends annual wellness exams. Island Cats also offers preventative dentistry services and complex surgeries, as well as a quiet, feline-only boarding facility and a nutrition center.

“A national concern is that people don’t take their cats to the vet enough,” Ronngren said. “We can pick up on a lot of stuff that owners don’t notice.”

Even if there seems to be nothing wrong, it’s a good opportunity to educate people about potential issues.

A lot has changed in the 20 years since Marshall started Island Cats, he said. There are new medications, less invasive procedures and more opportunities for continuing education.

“People appreciate that we take the time to sit down and explain things,” Ronngren said. “Obviously we love animals or we wouldn’t be vets, but we also like taking care of people.”

For more, see www.islandcats.com.