A University of Pennsylvania-trained doctor, Dr. Angela Smith has been making her mark on feline medicine since day one, earning the Feline Veterinary Medical Association's Student Award before she even crossed the graduation stage.

After completing her residency in feline practice, she joined The Feline Medical Center in Houston, where she is currently pursuing board certification through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) — one of the most rigorous credentialing processes in veterinary medicine — and serves on the executive board of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association.

What truly sets Dr. Smith apart is her willingness to push the boundaries of feline medicine when her patients need it most. When one of her patients was diagnosed with mammary carcinoma with limited treatment options, Dr. Smith created a custom vaccine using the cat's own tumor tissue to help fight the cancer. She is also involved with the Reverse CKD clinical trial with Trivium vet at The Feline Medical Center to help further improve options for managing feline chronic kidney disease.

We asked Dr. Smith 14 rapid-fire questions about cats, her career, and everything in between.

1. Calming the anxious cat 😰 or winning over the aggressive one 😤?

Calming the anxious kitty through cat friendly handling

2. Surgery 🔪 or internal medicine 🔬?

I love a complex feline internal medicine case. I actually have a cat with a rare condition – congenital hypothyroidism.

3. Senior cats 🐱 or kittens 🐾?

My passion is senior cats and helping to improve their quality of life!

4. Team captain 🏆 or team player 🤝?

Team captain! I was actually the team captain for our equestrian team in undergrad at Clemson University.

5. Mentor 🎓 or mentee 📚?

Both! I absolutely love to learn! Our manager, Stephanie, always jokes that she has never met another doctor who does as much CE as I do. I also really love teaching – I am currently on FelineVMA’s student committee where I get to help mentor veterinary students.

6. Fear Free handling 🤝 or traditional approach 😾?

Fear free handling and cat friendly handling! At The Feline Medical Center, the doctors do not wear their white coats to help reduce fear and anxiety in the clinic.

7. Coffee ☕ or tea 🍵?

COFFEE!!!! Vanilla latte with oat milk. I do also enjoy tea.

8. Dentistry 🦷 or soft tissue surgery 🔬?

Soft tissue surgery – my favorite surgery is a cystotomy.

9. Garden therapy 🌱 or barn therapy 🐴?

Barn therapy – there is nothing like visiting my 28-year-old horse! I’ve had him for over 20 years.

10. One more episode 📺 or one more chapter 📖?

One more chapter – the book is ALWAYS better! I am a huge Harry Potter nerd.

11. Busy weekend warrior 🏃 or slow recharge weekend 🛋️

Slow recharge weekend – I am definitely a homebody.

12. Tex-Mex 🌮 or Texas BBQ 🍖?

Tex-Mex is my absolute favorite food!

13. Space Center Houston 🚀 or the Houston Museum of Natural Science 🦕 or the Houston Zoo 🦁?

Space Center Houston! I live only a few miles from NASA space center. My 10 year old nephew wants to be an aerospace engineer, so we visit it frequently and seeing his passion has made Space Center Houston a favorite of mine! I did grow up going to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and their butterfly exhibit is one of my favorites.

14. Houston Astros ⚾ or Houston Texans 🏈?

Texans! My parents are from St.Louis, so my Dad is a diehard St.Louis Cardinals fan. He would never forgive me if I said the Astros (although I do love them!).

Learn More About Dr. Angela Smith

Dr. Smith earned her bachelor's degree in Animal & Veterinary Science from Clemson University, graduating magna cum laude with departmental honors, where she also served as Hunt Seat Team Captain on the Clemson University Equestrian Team. She received her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 2019, where she was honored with the Feline Veterinary Medical Association's Student Award.

She is currently pursuing board certification through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and serves on the executive board of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, having volunteered on their Student Engagement, Feline Welfare, and Conference Planning Committees. Dr. Smith is Fear Free Certified and holds a Cat Friendly Veterinarian certificate. Her special areas of interest include internal medicine, welfare, dentistry, and soft tissue surgery — with a particular passion for caring for senior cats and improving their quality of life.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Smith shares her home with her four cats — Newt Scamander, Taylor Swift, Teddy, and Princess Kate — and her 28-year-old horse, Money Man, whom she calls the love of her life. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, birding, drinking coffee, and gardening.