Newcastle, WA
Meet the Galaxy Cats Team
Meet the Veterinarians & Team of Galaxy Cats Vet Center! We’re pleased to provide exceptional vet care for your cats!
Meet the Team
We look forward to getting to know you, and we hope you’ll take the time to scroll down and get to know us. We’re completely dedicated to you and your cat, and that shines through every time you come to see us.
Dr. Kristen Kjellberg
Owner and DVM
Dr. Kristen Kjellberg grew up in Houston, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergraduate school. She received her DVM from Texas A&M University in 2013. She worked in emergency, shelter medicine, and general practice in Austin, Texas. In 2017, she moved to the Seattle area and found her calling as a feline-only veterinarian here in the PNW. She is passionate about the level of care she can give cats and their owners by working in a feline exclusive hospital.
Dr. Christine Wilford
DVM
Dr. Wilford graduated from Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987 and has been pursuing complicated cases, including hyperthyroid and geriatric feline patients, ever since! Dr. Wilford understands the importance of personalized care for each client and patient and works hard to ensure that your kitty receives the highest quality care available. She currently works part-time at the Feline Hyperthyroid Center as well to keep her skills in tip-top shape.
Dr. Zygar
DVM
Dr. Zygar grew up in the Seattle area and attended the University of Washington for her Bachelor’s. She graduated in 2020 from Washington State University with her DVM.
Her professional interests include feline medicine, fear-free, geriatric care, and hospice. She is passionate about supporting and honoring the human-animal bond with all her clients and patients. She has worked in small animal general practice and is making the move to Lap of Love in August to help pets and their families with geriatric and end of life care, along with joining Galaxy Cats to focus on feline medicine!
Kathy
Chief Catnip Officer Emeritus
Lysha
A-meow-zing Office Admin
Lysha is new to the veterinary field, but has a background working with animals at The Woodland Park Zoo and on farm-based preschools as a teacher. Lysha received a BA in Sociology from Western Washington University and is a licensed ESL teacher. She believes cats, like preschoolers, are funny little guys that need patience and love to thrive. She has two excitable kittens named Nuka and Navi.
Kari
Vet Assistant
Kari is so excited to join the team at Galaxy Cats! She stumbled into the veterinary field through the care of her elderly cat. She has been adopted by cats for most of her life and has a major soft spot for older kitties. When not helping cats and their people, she can be found digging in the dirt, playing in the mountains, and making messes in the kitchen.
Ashley
Vet Receptionist
Ashley recently jumped ship from pet retail, where she was certified in dog and cat nutrition, and is beyond excited to be part of our cat only clinic. Growing up surrounded by dogs and partaking in horsemanship, Ashley’s love for cats started to grow when she first stepped in to the pet industry, gaining traction the more she learned about quirky cat biology and behavior.
Julia
Veterinary Assistant
Bio coming soon!
Kathy
Chief Catnip Officer Emeritus
Kathy is so excited to join the team at Galaxy Cats! With a deep love for animals, she proudly identifies herself as zoophilist, and it’s no surprise that her home often resembles a lively zoo. Recently, Kathy has dedicated herself to the noble cause of dog and cat rescue, developing a remarkable expertise in handling dogs after heartworm treatment.
If you were one of our first clients when we opened, you may remember Kathy, as she helped Dr. K open the clinic at the end of 2021. If you joined us recently, she may look vaguely familiar because.. well… she is Dr. K’s mom! Dr. K’s first job was working for mom in a physician’s office, and it was there that Dr. K found her love for all things medical.
Drawing from her extensive 35 years of experience in the medical field, where she held a management position, Kathy brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to her new role. She is eager to channel her expertise into a field she is truly passionate about, and Galaxy Cats provides the perfect opportunity for her to do so.
For Kathy, embarking on this new adventure is both exhilarating and gratifying. She eagerly looks forward to the journey ahead, excited to contribute her talents and make a positive impact in the lives of cats and their human companions.
Dr. Christine Wilford
DVM
Dr. Wilford graduated from Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987 and has been pursing complicated cases, including hyperthyroid and geriatric feline patients, ever since! Dr. Wilford understands the importance of personalized care for each client and patient and works hard to ensure that your kitty receives the highest quality care available. She currently works part-time at the Feline Hyperthyroid Center as well to keep her skills in tip-top shape.
Not only is her resume impressive but so is her non-profit and volunteer work! She founded the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project, a non-profit dedicated to providing spay/neuter access for all cats, and she runs the Puget Sound Veterinary Medical Association’s continuing education program (and has been for over 24 years), held a three-year term on the Seattle Animal Control Commission, and served as President on the PSVMA Board of Directors. To add to those accolades, in 2004, she received the Washington State VMA Distinguished Achievement Award and in 2018, she was chosen as the Washington State VMA Veterinarian of the Year!
Dr. Zygar
DVM
Dr. Zygar grew up in the Seattle area and attended the University of Washington for her Bachelor’s. She graduated in 2020 from Washington State University with her DVM.
Her professional interests include feline medicine, fear-free, geriatric care, and hospice. She is passionate about supporting and honoring the human-animal bond with all her clients and patients. She has worked in small animal general practice and is making the move to Lap of Love in August to help pets and their families with geriatric and end of life care, along with joining Galaxy Cats to focus on feline medicine!
Dr. Zygar has two cats, two dogs and two rats. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading and catching up on her favorite podcasts.
Dr. Kristen Kjellberg
Owner and DVM
Dr. Kristen Kjellberg grew up in Houston, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergraduate school. She received her DVM from Texas A&M University in 2013. She worked in emergency, shelter medicine, and general practice in Austin, Texas. In 2017, she moved to the Seattle area and found her calling as a feline-only veterinarian here in the PNW. She is passionate about the level of care she can give cats and their owners by working in a feline exclusive hospital.
Dr. K’s professional interests include client education and communication, new graduate mentoring, preventive care, dermatology, and abdominal surgery. She is passionate about promoting self-care amongst staff and veterinarians in this challenging but rewarding field. She also has strong interests in animal behavior and feline-friendly handling. Dr. K cherishes the human-animal bond, as well as getting to know her patients and clients on an individual basis. She strives to promote the best wellness for each pet while recognizing that there is no “one size fits all” approach. Illness and wellness medicine must be customized to fit the pet and their family.
When not working, Dr. Kjellberg enjoys live music, listening to NPR, home improvement, gardening, and exploring Seattle with her husband and furkids.
Dr. K and her husband live in south Seattle with 5 rescues—2 mixed breed dogs: Ender and ASCII, and 3 cats: Parka, Kraken, and Captain Cuddles. Kraken was an orphaned kitten found under a trailer, and Parka was a stray kitten in an office parking garage. Captain Cuddles was rescued from near death on the streets of LA, and while his main hobby is food, he also enjoys playing with Ender’s tail and chasing the other two cats.
Ashley
Vet Receptionist
Ashley recently jumped ship from pet retail, where she was certified in dog and cat nutrition, and is beyond excited to be part of our cat only clinic. Growing up surrounded by dogs and partaking in horsemanship, Ashley’s love for cats started to grow when she first stepped in to the pet industry, gaining traction the more she learned about quirky cat biology and behavior. On rainy days Ashley enjoys bundling up and gaming, but just about any other day you can find her running around exploring with Dixie, her old lady golden mix.
Amber
Receptionist
Amber has lived with cats ever since she can remember and has always been a passionate animal lover. She studied Film in California for her college career, where she had the opportunity to visit the amazing Galápagos Islands, igniting her passion for zoology and all the amazing animals that live upon it. As a cat guardian, Amber brings compassion and love to everyday care by knowing that each kitty and their needs vary wildly. She is happy to meet and learn about the uniqueness of the little one in your life and give them the attention they deserve.
Lysha
Receptionist
Lysha is new to the veterinary field, but has a background working with animals at The Woodland Park Zoo and on farm-based preschools as a teacher. Lysha received a BA in Sociology from Western Washington University and is a licensed ESL teacher. She believes cats, like preschoolers, are funny little guys that need patience and love to thrive. She has two excitable kittens named Nuka and Navi.
Sabrina
Professional Cat-Wrangler
Sabrina is a certified Cat Lady™ having practically been raised by cats as a feral child. Pretty much everything she owns has a cat on it, and she is graciously allowed to live under the same roof as her own two kitty masters- likely because she has opposable thumbs and can operate the can opener. She also has practical experience, which is probably more of what you’re hoping to see here. She has been a veterinary assistant in the PNW since 2019 and is working on a degree in Veterinary Technology, so don’t worry- your precious kitty overlord is in good, cat-obsessed hands!
Brittany
Veterinary Assistant
Brittany grew up in Spokane ,Washington and recently moved to the west to pursue further Veterinary opportunities. Since starting their veterinary journey in 2019 after graduation from Carrington College, Brittany has been loving working and furthering their education of animals and veterinary sciences! Having owned cats and small critters for most their life, Brittany currently enjoys the company of their feline gremlin Vincent.
In their off-time, Brittany enjoys spending time outside in nature with their boyfriend and long lazy days at home researching, journaling and, serenading Vincent on the piano. Having dreamed of working in an all-feline clinic since starting their veterinary journey, Brittany is ecstatic to begin working at Galaxy Cat vet clinic and serve clients as their loyal vet assistant!