At Look Ahead Vet in Oroville, California, there’s one staff member who takes bedside manner to a whole new level — and she walks on four paws.
Meet Bea, a sweet, tailless tabby with a gentle touch and a heart of gold. Bea doesn’t just live at the animal hospital — she works there too, making it her mission to comfort every furry patient who walks through the doors.
“She’s always so curious and so gentle,” said Crystal Bessmer, a veterinary technician at the hospital. “She loves to walk up to the animals and slowly reach out her paw to check them out. Sometimes, she even gives them a little pet!”
Bea is one of six rescue cats who call Look Ahead Vet home. All of them arrived as stray kittens over the years, many with serious injuries. Now, they’re a tight-knit team with important roles to play in the daily life of the clinic — both for patients and for their human coworkers.
“We have Elfie, Uno, Bea, Peggy, OJ and Theo,” Bessmer said. “They have free rein of the hospital and are so loved by the staff and our clients. They bring so much joy and calm.”
Each cat has carved out their own “job” at the hospital:
- Bea, of course, is the nurturing nurse — calmly making rounds and offering emotional support with her gentle paws.
- Theo is the comforter. “He has this way of sensing when someone’s really sad and will quietly sit on their lap,” Bessmer said.
- Elfie has earned the title of head of security — always the first to run toward a commotion.
- OJ serves as the welcoming committee at the door, while Uno watches over the puppies and kittens like a protective babysitter.
- The newest addition, Peggy, is still learning the ropes. “We call her the intern,” Bessmer laughed.
Bea has a special bond with Peggy, often doting on her like a big sister. And while Bea is fearless — even around large farm animals — it’s her tenderness that makes her stand out most.
You can watch Bea in action here:
When the days at the clinic get long and emotionally draining, the staff knows they can count on their feline coworkers for comfort.
“We’re here so much that these cats really are like family,” Bessmer said. “They’ve helped so many of our clients heal — and they help us too.”
And if anyone needs a gentle paw of reassurance, Bea’s always on call.
Want more Bea in your life?
Follow her and the rest of the Look Ahead Vet cat crew on TikTok for daily doses of cuddles and cuteness.
