Melissa Alexander grew up in Lincoln, Illinois. She received her D.V.M. in 1995 from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a member of AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association), ISVMA (Illinois Veterinary Medical Association), and AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners). She enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, cooking, and reading. She has one cat, Tiger Lily [citation].