Philip J. Shanker, D.V.M.
Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
Feline Specialty

    Dr. Shanker has been owner and director of The Cat Hospital for over 26 years.  He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and is a 1977 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine.  After completing a 14-month internship in Boston he joined a general/specialty practice in New York, then moved to California for The Cat Hospital in 1982.
    Dr. Shanker is a founding fellow of the Feline Academy of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and was instrumental in establishing a feline specialty certification. He is board certified in feline medicine and surgery and recently passed his recertification requirements.  He is a past president of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and has served on many AAFP committees, most recently on the research and leadership development committees.
    Dr. Shanker has performed tens of thousands of surgical procedures from routine to highly complicated cases. He has been a guest host on several radio and television programs to discuss feline health issues. He also served on a City of San Jose committee establishing a voucher system to provide feline sterilization procedures for people with financial need.  He is a past president of the Santa Clara County Veterinary Medical Association.
     Dr. Shanker  maintains a full-time schedule at The Cat Hospital, where he sees a full range of cases from routine physical exams to specialty referrals.  Dr. Shanker and his wife, Cindy, live in Los Gatos and have two children.  They also have three cats and one dog who manage to live in harmony.  Their cat "Cupcake" in the above photo is 20 years old.

Christine M. Hanney, D.V.M.

    Dr. Christine Hanney has cared exclusively for cats since joining the staff of The Cat Hospital in 2002.  After graduation from Half Moon Bay High School, Dr. Hanney joined the U.S. Army, where she spent 5 years as a helicopter mechanic, including several years stationed in Germany. After being honorably discharged from the military she obtained her undergraduate degree at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.  Dr. Hanney received her DVM degree from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, at Virginia Tech in 2002.  Dr. Hanney enhances her skills in feline medicine and surgery by attending the most important feline continuing education meetings.  She lives in Campbell with her husband and four cats:  Travis from Germany, Skipper from Virginia, and Olivia and Penny Pea Pod from California.   Her hobbies include reading, scuba diving, traveling and sewing (your cat will love her catnip mats and mice!).

Kirsten K. Mattern, D.V.M.

Dr. Mattern is a native of the south bay who graduated from Stanford University and the U.C. Davis College of Veterinary Medicine (1999).  She spent several years working in a general veterinary practice in southern California before returning to the bay area in 2007.  In addition to being the mother of two children, Dr. Mattern cares for a personal menagerie of 5 cats, a dog, a guinea pig and fish.