Dr Hofve was raised in Oakland, California. She worked a number of jobs before veterinary school, including working as a sheriff's deputy while taking prerequisite courses. She gained her DVM from Colorado State University in 1994. She was introduced to holistic medicine by visiting speakers while in veterinary school, and even took a short course in homeopathy while still a student. After graduation, she started practicing in a feline only integrative medicine practice. After working in a number of practices, she started the Little Big Cat website with Jackson Galaxy. She has continued to teach, write, and consult since that time.