Local vet fulfills lifelong dream with opening of Grand Cat Central in Downtown Logan

A warm homecoming for Dr. Amanda Whitman-Curry and her husband Gunnar Curry. They recently opened Grand Cat Central in the former Knowles Animal Hospital on Stratton Street in Logan. “We feel very blessed to be back in West Virginia,” said Dr. Whitman during Friday’s What’s Your Opinion. “This is where we were born and raised, and we’re excited to serve the people of Southern West Virginia.”

LOGAN A dream that began in a first-grade classroom at Logan Elementary School has finally come to life on Stratton Street.

Dr. Amanda Whitman has officially opened Grand Cat Central, a feline-only veterinary hospital located at 615 Stratton Street on the east end of downtown Logan. After years of education, rescue work, and veterinary practice, the Logan High School graduate has returned home to care for the animals closest to her heart: cats.

“We feel very blessed to be back in West Virginia,” Dr. Whitman said during What’s Your Opinion on Friday. “This is where we were born and raised, and we’re excited to get to serve the people of Southern West Virginia.”

Grand Cat Central is the second feline-only hospital in the entire state, and is the only one of its kind in Southern West Virginia. Since opening on Aug. 11, they’ve already seen patients from across the region, even as far as Bluefield.

"I'm living my dream right now." - Dr. Amanda Whitman

Dr. Amanda Whitman, a 2013 graduate of Logan High School, knew she wanted to be a veterinarian since she was a child, dressing up as one for career day at Logan Elementary School. By age 19, she began volunteering at shelters and quickly noticed that cats weren’t receiving the same level of resources as dogs.

Determined to change that, she launched a nonprofit rescue in Logan, WV called Grand Cat Central Cat Rescue, which helped over 3,000 cats through medical care, adoption, and relocation to other rescues.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Charleston, she attended the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She then spent two years practicing at Alamo Feline Health Center in San Antonio, Texas, the largest cat-only clinic in the country, where she treated hundreds of cats every week.

Dr. Whitman has earned many other cat-related accolades, such as the 2016 State of West Virginia Governor’s Service Award Winner for cat rescue. She is also the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s class of 2023 Feline Excellence Award winner. In addition, she has been featured in Cat World Magazine and is a published author in Canadian Veterinary Medical Journal & Veterinary Practice News.

“I’m 30 years old now. I started when I was 19,” she said. “I’m living my dream right now.”

Whitman has been practicing since she was a little girl to do what she is doing now. She even dressed as a vet for career day in the first grade.

Dr. Whitman’s deep connection with cats is the driving force behind her practice. From the calming Feliway diffusers that release feline pheromones to state-of-the-art equipment designed just for cats, she wanted to create a facility built for feline comfort and care.

“Cats are our life. They have been for 10 years,” Dr. Whitman said.

Grand Cat Central has top-of-the-line equipment such as a new CO2 surgical laser, a dental machine and radiography unit, blood pressure cuffs for feline tails, and in-house same-day bloodwork.

They also offer diagnostic ultrasounds, spay and neuter services, vaccinations, consultations, and more general wellness services such as boarding and grooming.

They’ve already had some big visitors, including several Maine Coons. “The biggest cat I saw in Texas was 30 pounds,” Dr. Whitman said, laughing. “We’ve already seen three or four since we opened last week.” When asked about even bigger cats, she said, “It’s on the table… I just have to find a tiger.”

Not only is Grand Cat Central locally owned, but it's also family run. Dr. Whitman’s husband, Gunnar Curry, who was active in cat rescue and transporting, is the hospital’s practice manager and lead veterinary technician. Her mother, Amy Whitman, who was the vice president of the only local cat rescue during its time of operation, is the head of reception.

“It’s a family affair,” Curry said. “It’s me, her, and her mother.”

As they build their practice, Grand Cat Central is hoping to secure grant funding by early 2026 to make spay and neuter procedures more affordable for the community. They’ve also met with the Logan County Commission to explore more support.

Before opening its doors, Grand Cat Central was known as Knowles Animal Hospital, which was run and operated by Dr. Charles Knowles. Since his retirement, Dr. Knowles has been supportive of the transition to Grand Cat Central.

“When I told him it was going to be feline-only, he was shocked,” Dr. Whitman said. “But he and his wife have been nothing but supportive. They’re always a phone call away.”

They’ve kept the original Dr. Knowles phone number, 304-752-8387.

Located at 615 Stratton Street on the east end of downtown Logan, Grand Cat Central is open from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Monday- Tuesday and Thursday- Friday, 8 a.m.- noon on Wednesdays, and 9 a.m.- noon every other Saturday starting Aug. 23.

They’re currently working on a website, which they expect to launch by the end of September, but for now, Grand Cat Central can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GrandCatCentral.

PHOTO | WVOW & Submitted