Augusts Support Future Of Feline Medicine At Clark Hospital

Story by Megan Bennett, VMBS Marketing & Communications

July 25, 2025

Dr. John R. August, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University, and wife Janet are leading by example and supporting the future of feline medicine through a donation to the Linda & Dennis Clark ’68 Small Animal Teaching Hospital.

A cat lover through-and-through, Dr. John R. August dedicated his career as a veterinarian to feline internal medicine. Now, he and his wife, Janet, will continue to support cats for years to come through a gift to Texas A&M University’s Linda & Dennis Clark ’68 Small Animal Teaching Hospital.

The John and Janet August Feline Intensive Care Unit will serve as a state-of-the-art space for treating cats with the most critical and serious conditions. It will also be a training ground for the next generation of veterinarians and feline specialists.

As the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), August is in a unique position to support the hospital as both an administrator and donor, showing how strongly he and Janet feel about the important role the new facility will play in the future of veterinary medicine, education, and innovation at Texas A&M.

A Friend Of Felines

August grew up in the United Kingdom during a time when cats were more common indoor pets than they were in the United States. After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College and moving to the U.S., he began developing a reputation for his expertise in feline medicine.

“When I first came over as an intern, I was the only person who would handle the feline patients because I had the most experience with them,” he said. “Soon, my name became affiliated with cats and a series of opportunities followed to share my expertise.”

From 1986-1997, August was Professor and Head of the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at Texas A&M University and served as Deputy Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. August began giving lectures on feline medicine across the U.S. and around the world, including recurring visits to several countries in South America.

“The first time I went to Chile to give presentations, they told me not to focus on older cats because their cats stay outside and don’t live very long,” he recalled. “The last time I went down there, a number of years later, it was to give lectures on senior cats. Things had changed down there in that time, and it was nice to know that I might’ve had a little part to play in it.”

August published a six-part series of books on feline internal medicine over the years, and when he returned to the Texas A&M clinical faculty in 1999, he helped lead the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s feline internal medicine service for more than a decade.

As time went on, August grew even more passionate about caring for cats and celebrating their differences from dogs.

“You have to be a good detective to be a good cat doctor,” August said. “You’re looking for little clues because they don’t give away their symptoms like dogs. They’re more like small exotic animals. To me, that was always very intriguing and a fun challenge.”

Providing A Safe Space For Cats

When the Augusts first learned about the opportunity to name the feline intensive care unit (ICU) in the Linda & Dennis Clark ’68 Small Animal Teaching Hospital, they knew it was the perfect way to support the project.

“I have spent a lot of time working in feline ICUs, and they are usually not equipped to the caliber we need,” August said. “This is an opportunity to make sure Texas A&M’s feline ICU will be first-class. That’s why we want to invest in the hospital and make sure it’s a great place for cats to be treated.

“My hope is that this space will also encourage students and trainees to become more interested in feline internal medicine and that we will be known as a place where cats with more complicated diseases can receive exceptional treatment in outstanding facilities,” he said.

Like the current Small Animal Teaching Hospital, which is certified as a Gold Standard Cat Friendly Practice by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, the new Clark Hospital will be designed with cats in mind, further ensuring that feline patients receive the best possible care.

“Sick cats need a very special, stress-free environment for treatment and recovery,” August said. “They need rest from seeing, hearing, and smelling other animals. All of those are important reasons we separate cats from dogs, especially in an ICU.”

Supporting Aggie Excellence

Beyond expressing their love for cats, the Augusts’ gift allowed them to give back to the university that employed August for much of his career and educated several members of his family, including his daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

He’s also grateful for the support Texas A&M has shown for the Clark Hospital — one of his biggest priorities as dean — since its fundraising campaign officially launched in 2023.

“Texas A&M is both a place of tradition and open-mindedness, where, if you’ve got a really good idea that aligns with the university’s priorities, you are more likely to get it done than elsewhere,” August said. “The new hospital is a great example of that.

“We’re both very proud of the project,” he said. “It won’t just be a place for sick dogs and cats; it will be a place of compassion where people come together to work on clinical trials, move clinical research forward, and receive advanced training. I believe it will truly be the best in the world when it opens in two years.”

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Note: This story originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of VMBS Today.

For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of VMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu, 979-862-4216

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