What's required to be a Vet?

Hi, I'm new here and I wanted to know what would be required to be a Vet? I did a little research about it, looks like about 8 yrs of schooling required at least. I do know that being a Vet is not for the faint of heart. There will be sad times and I will be bit and scratched. I'm thinking about being a feline specialist? So, what I am asking is, what is required to be a Vet?  

I did forget to add. I have two cats and a dog. 

Many vet schools technically don't require a bachelors for admission, they do have college courses that are required that take at least 2 years to complete.  In practice though a bachelors with a high GPA is required to be admitted because admission is very competitive.  I don't know if it is still  true or not but at one time it was actually harder to get into vet school  than medical  school.   That wasn't because of the requirements that were in writing but because there were far fewer openings to get into vet school than medical school.

The last really good vet that I had actually got a Master's in biology before going to vet school.

The board certification to be a feline specialist requires a minimum amount of verifiable experience and then passing an exam.  I know there is a process for recertification but I  don't know what it is.  We often complain about the cost of vet care but vets actually make less than most other professions with the same educational requirements.

 @Denice  I know my local college has a pre-vet program. Would you recommend majoring in that? My home state does not have any Vet Medical Schools, so I would have to go out of state when the time comes. I am asking for a little direction here because the advisors at my local college don't really recommend Vet as a career anyway. They are pushing nursing for people or doctors for people.     They say with Vets it's too much work for the pay and what it is worth. I believe it is worth it.

Each vet school is different, this is what I found for Ohio State University.  They accept 162 students every year and the last I heard which was many years ago there are only 22 schools in the U.S.

These are the prerequisites  http://vet.osu.edu/education/prerequisites

Their summary of a competitive application    http://vet.osu.edu/education/presenting-competitive-application

The advisors are giving you good info as far as vet pay.  Their pay is not at all competitive with the average pay for other professions requiring as much education.  There are professions that require much less education and have an average pay equal to the average pay for vets.

Thank you for the help.