When we moved to South Carolina, one of my biggest concerns was finding a veterinarian. One cat has kidney failure and one has inflammatory bowel disease and they both had just traveled halfway across the country in a u-haul. Happy cats, they were not.
Even without going cross country, none of the cats enjoy automobile travel and one of them actually hyperventilates for the entire ride. My biggest veterinary criteria is location. An office close to my home means less stress; for the cats and for me.
Apollo was the first one to visit the new vet. The veterinarian was gentle and understanding and Apollo was about as comfortable as he can be considering he was sitting on a metal table waiting for a shot.
Emma was next. She was seen by another of the veterinarians working in the office. Another successful visit.
And then it was Molly's turn. She saw a third vet and all hell broke loose. She was not a fan and, quite honestly, neither was my husband. The veterinarian was aggressive and heavy-handed. Molly hates to be touched and doesn't like strangers. She needs to be handled with kid gloves, not boxing gloves.
The next time one of the cats needed to go to the vet, we expressed our concerns to the receptionist. She noted in our file that we preferred not to work with vet #3 and assured us we could always request a specific veterinarian. Don't be afraid to ask for the care your cat needs. If there's a personality conflict, mention it to the office staff or ask to see a particular doctor when you make appointments.
If you're looking for the perfect veterinarian for your cat, the American Association of Feline Practitioners can help. Click cat friendly practice and enter your search criteria.
Visit the Catalyst Council and learn the questions you should ask the veterinary office before your cat becomes a patient.
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