Caring for kittens often means navigating health challenges that can feel overwhelming. This session discusses FeLV and FIV and their impact on the feline population. Dr. Emily Coleman, DVM, will guide fosters, caregivers, pet parents, and shelter staff and volunteers through the essentials of understanding these viruses, the nuances of retroviral testing guidelines, and what practical steps caregivers can take to provide safe, supportive care. Whether you’re fostering, volunteering, or simply seeking to better understand kitten health, this webinar will equip you with tools and confidence to make a difference for the kittens in your care.
Register here for this free webinar!
Presenter: Emily A. Coleman, DVM
Dr. Emily A. Coleman grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and acquired a Bachelor of Science at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 2005. She then attended the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, graduating and receiving her DVM in 2009. After over ten years in private practice and shelter medicine, Dr. Coleman decided to think outside of the box and to start her own mobile feline spay/neuter/TNR and preventative care practice dedicated to supporting 501c3 nonprofit rescue organizations in Central Virginia. The Celtic Cat, LLC opened in November 2021 and has since assisted over twenty organizations with their veterinary care of cats and kittens.
Dr. Coleman’s veterinary interests include neonatal kitten care, preventative surgery and medicine, as well as geriatric care. Dr. Coleman serves as the IACUC veterinarian at the University of Mary Washington and has served on the Board of Directors for The National Kitten Coalition (NKC) since 2023. In 2025, she was appointed Executive Director of NKC, where she continues to advance education and advocacy for kittens and their caregivers nationwide. Dr. Coleman has spoken on behalf of the NKC at national veterinary conferences, and she regularly hosts NKC webinars.
She currently lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia with her husband, cats, dogs and chickens and fosters the most vulnerable neonatal kittens from surrounding counties each year, typically receiving them at just a few days old. When not busy with her foster kittens she enjoys attending live music events, reading, gardening and practicing yoga.
