Meet our team

RILEY

Clinic Cat Extraordinaire

Hi! My name is Riley and I live at The Cat Hospital of Fairfax. You might see me sunbathing by the front door or in my castle. I love to greet all of our guests when they come to visit!

My employees… oops, I mean, friends… take very good care of me. I especially love my morning television shows on the computer. The squirrel and bird shows are nice, but the mice are my favorite. I have a bed or chair in most rooms of the hospital so I can do my rounds supervising the humans.

Since I’m over the age of 9, the docs say I should have an exam and lab work at least every 6 months. Apparently, I aced all my tests and am in good health. Sometimes, my coworkers treat my arthritis with the soothing Laser Therapy machine, but otherwise, I don’t feel like a senior kitty at all. It’s a great life here with so many cat people to give me love!

KELLY

Veterinary Assistant

Kelly has been a part of the veterinary field since 2020, starting as a receptionist for an urgent care clinic, then later moving into the role of Veterinary Assistant for a clinic in D.C. before joining The Cat Hospital of Fairfax Team in 2023.

Prior to her current career, she worked in the front office of several professional minor league baseball teams all over the country before returning to her hometown of Fairfax, VA.

A lifelong lover of animals, she is currently pursuing her veterinary technician license through the Penn Foster online program. Kelly enjoys learning and helping educate clients on any and all questions about their fur babies.

In her spare time, she loves reading, practicing photography, and analyzing TV shows, movies, and music. She has a sweet but spicy Torbie cat named Tammy, pictured here, who runs her household with an iron fist.

EM

Veterinary Assistant

Em grew up traveling overseas. After settling here in 1996, she came to know The Cat Hospital of Fairfax in the 4th grade. She briefly worked at The Cat Hospital of Fairfax before joining the United States Air Force in 2009. After serving for 6 years, she moved to Istanbul, Turkey where she volunteered her spare time to trapping, neutering, and spaying local feral cats.

Since returning to the U.S. in 2021, Em resumed her career in veterinary medicine and is currently studying to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician.
Em and her partner have 3 cats named Cinnamon, Huy Huy, and Pookie. In her spare time, Em enjoys bird watching, hiking, cooking, drawing, painting, and watching movies.

Em prides herself on treating every cat like her own with love and compassion.

Laura

Customer Service Representative

Laura was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. She moved to the DMV area in August 2021. With over 12 years of experience as a nurse at a cat only clinic, Laura was known as “the cat whisperer”. Some her previous occupations included animal control officer, pet groomer, bartender, and zookeeper. She started working at The Cat Hospital of Fairfax in January 2022.

Laura received her Veterinary Receptionist Certificate of Excellence and Fear Free certificate in 2024. Laura has two cats of her own, Caesar and Baby who made the move with her. She is a member of the American Legion Riders and Auxiliary. In her free time, she enjoys karaoke, riding her fiancé’s Harley, road trips, and spending time with family.

JOLENE

Practice Manager

Jolene joined The Cat Hospital of Fairfax team in October 2017. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) and holds a bachelor’s degree in community health science and a master’s degree in health education. Jolene has worked on research, policy, and practice initiatives in many settings and in collaboration with a variety of local, state, and national organizations; professional associations; and federal agencies. She enjoys learning and teaching, being outside, listening to music, and preparing food with family and friends. Jolene has a sweet. handsome black and white cat named Max.

LIZ BOLTON, DVM

Medical Director

Dr. Liz Bolton grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina, and graduated from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. She spent several years practicing small animal emergency and critical care prior to following her true passion to practice feline-only medicine.

Dr. Liz has worked solely as a feline veterinarian since 2013. She has served as both a lead and associate vet at cat hospitals in western Canada and North Carolina. Given Dr. Bolton’s dedication to the provision of top-notch care as a certified Cat-Friendly Veterinarian, she is elated to make the Cat Hospital of Fairfax her professional home as she believes this practice exemplifies these high standards.

Dr. Bolton’s interests in feline medicine include geriatrics, dentistry, pain management, and internal medicine. Along these lines, Dr. Bolton has invested in significant continuing education on all the above topics with a focus on feline dentistry as this procedure is our most common surgery for feline patients. Dr. Bolton is a member of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association (previously AAFP), the American and Virginia Veterinary Medical Associations, the Pride Veterinary Medical Community, and the Veterinary Information Network.

Dr. Liz feels a special affinity for cats with anxiety during veterinary visits and works as their advocate to make the veterinary experience pleasant and feline-friendly. Dr. Bolton’s commitment to the highest quality care applies to her patients and their owners. She is steadfast in her belief that veterinarians and owners must work as a team to provide the happiest and healthiest life possible for the felines entrusted to her care.

When not at work, Dr. Bolton enjoys reading, theater and the arts, board games and puzzles, and volunteering. Dr. Liz currently shares her home with two middle-aged kitties named Lee and Kara. Lee can be seen in Dr. Bolton’s profile picture helping her read the most recent feline medicine journal. Kara is a dilute tortie and prefers to sit upon a comforter throne next to her favorite window.