I’m Dr. Marieke Knies, Dipl. ECVIM, internal medicine specialist. I absolutely love cats – they fascinate me every day! Their clever ways of communicating, independent personalities, and the challenge of keeping them healthy make my work incredibly rewarding and fun.
My expertise is in senior cats and referral-based feline medicine, for cats sent by their veterinarian for advanced diagnostics or treatment. I take a cat-friendly approach to make visits as stress-free as possible.
At home, I share my life with two cats: Pip, a 12-year-old red European Shorthair named after Pippi Longstocking – feisty, curious, with her trademark white socks, and always trying new things. She even enjoys being pushed around in her little buggy by the staff, bringing joy every day. Then there’s Larkson Lyonesse Limpet, my secondhand Russian Blue, who might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but is incredibly sweet and loving. Luckily, Pip finds most other cats annoying, otherwise I’d probably have ten by now!
Education
- 1998-2005 Degree in Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University
- 2011-2014 Master’s degree Internal Medicine, European School for Advanced Veterinary Sciences (ESAVS)
- 2016 Membership exam of Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Feline Medicine)
- 2021-2024 Residency ECVIM-CA Internal Medicine, Universiteit Utrecht, exams passed March 2025
- Currently: working on my PhD
Courses
ISFM congresses 2014-2024
ECVIM congresses 2020-2024
Platinum Feline Coaching Course 2020
Feline Medicine Distance Education Course – CVE Sydney 2014
Feline Emergencies – CVE Sydney 2017
Internal Medicine I, II and III – ESAVS 2011-2013
Feline Medicine I, II and III – ESAVS 2011-2013
Published articles
- Pijnacker, T., Knies, M., Galac, S. et al. TRH-induced secretion of adrenocorticotropin and cortisol in dogs with pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism. Vet Q 2018, 38:1, 72-78.
- Knies, M., Teske, E., Kooistra, H. Evaluation of the FreeStyle Libre, a flash glucose monitoring system, in client-owned cats with diabetes mellitus. J Fel Med Surg 2022, 24(8) 223-231. (Winner JFMS Resident Best Paper Award)
- Knies, M., Kooistra, H., Teske, E. Prevalence of persistent hypertension and situational hypertension in a population of elderly cats in The Netherlands. J Fel Med Surg 2023, 25(6).
- Knies, M., Teske, E., Kooistra, H. Comparison of Doppler ultrasonic sphygmomanometry, oscillometry and high-definition oscillometry for non-invasive blood pressure measurement in conscious cats. J Fel Med Surg 202426 (3). (awarded Highly Commended for the 2024 JFMS Resident Best Paper Award)
- Written several best practice guidelines (e.g. hypertension, chronic kidney disease) for AniCura Europe
- Writing many overview articles (in English) on different feline medicine subjects for VetVisuals, (https://www.vetvisuals.com/) a large online learning platform for veterinarians. Examples of articles are: Feline acromegaly, feline DKA, feline infectious peritonitis, feline mycobacterial infections, feline diabetes mellitus.
Other activities
- Co-founder and chair of Feline Vet Friends, an organization that organizes small-scale lectures for veterinarians in the field of feline medicine.
More info: felinevetfriends.com - Organizer of the AniCura Feline Medicine Congress, which will be held for the 5th time in 2025.
Lectures (selection)
- 2019 AniCura Medical Interest Group (diabetes mellitus)
- 2020 AniCura Feline Medicine Congress (chronic kidney disease)
- 2020 Pre-ECVIM Day (hypertension)
- 2020 Royal Canin Vet Symposium (cat friendly clinic)
- 2020 Webinar (vomiting)
- 2021 Intervision Group (FIP)
- 2021 Start of Life Webinar (preventive healthcare)
- 2021 Proveto training for vet nurses (nutrition)
- 2021 Feline Focus (chronic kidney disease)
- 2021 Cat’s Class (healthcare, for cat groomers)
- 2022 AniCura Medical Interest Group (urinary tract)
- 2022 Masterclass (cat friendly practice, osteo-arthritis)
- 2022 AniCura webinar (laboratory testing)
- 2023 International Cat Care (home glucose monitoring in cats)
- 2023 Vet Event (chronic diarrhoea)
- 2024 Zoetis webinar (osteo-arthritis)
- 2024 Vet Event (FIP)
- 2024 Royal Canin Event (lower urinary tract disease)
- 2024 Webinar CatVets (FIP)
- 2024 Luxemburg Vet Day (FIP)
- 2025 Wintervet (FIP)
- 2025 Royal Canin Vet Congress (lower urinary tract disease)
- 2025 Vet Event (senior care & chronic kidney disease)
