I Heart My Veterinarian

As everyone knows, part of responsible pet ownership is making sure that our little charges' medical needs are met.  This means prompt visits to the veterinarian if there is any indication of an illness that won’t self-cure, as well as, one would hope, annual exams and regular dental care.  I have not a shred of loyalty when it comes to vets. 
I have taken my brood and rescue fosters to, by my count, ten different animal hospitals in the New York City area. They range from the Humane Society of New York to the chic feline specialty group; the highest-ranked practice listed in New York magazine's "Best Vets in New York City" to the local doc with the tiny storefront down the street.  Unlike other things, the axiom “you get what you pay for” does NOT apply to veterinarians.  The inflated fees and posh décor are no promise that your animals will receive top quality care.  I have seen small-practice vets with few resources but superb skills and great compassion treat scores of rescue animals despite mountains of unpaid bills.  One such practitioner also managed to find the time to personally call every client who came in that day to follow up on how the patients were doing.  I had the dubious privilege of being permitted to join the clientele of one of the finest vets in the City -- after six months on a waiting list.  I got a pretty good idea of his bedside manner when he examined Sebastian in preparation for a dental procedure.  Poor Spanky Pete was so scared he tried several times to sneak back into his carrier.  This famous man with the great reputation told his tech, “Help me out; this one’s a BOLTER!” The two of them then proceeded to pin my 9 pound cat to the examination table.  I knew Sebastian was really distressed because he started purring.  This was not happy purring.  This was the kind of purring cats do out of desperation to comfort themselves while undergoing a traumatic experience.  I gave that doc his $675 for the dental work and never went back.

So, as I said, I’ve had zero loyalty when it comes to veterinarians.

Until now.

The Cat Doctors are now at Cats & Critters!

Poor little starving, secreting Julia just can't seem to catch a break.  On Sunday, she vomited up the previous morning’s breakfast, and I noticed that her stools had become very soft.  Unfortunately her rough start in life as a feral baby in Brooklyn left her with giardia and Bartonella, among other things.   She also has a bit of a pica problem.  I have seen her try to eat fibers from the sisal scratching post, mylar strips from a cat teaser toy and artificial plants from time to time.  I was concerned that she might have ingested some potentially dangerous material.  Since I had just moved to Rochester and needed a local vet anyhow, I decided to take her in for a consultation..  A web search led me to The Cat Doctors in Penfield, a 13-minute drive from the house (everything in Rochester, by the bye, is a 13-minute drive from the house).  I called them up to make an appointment and spoke with the receptionist, Samantha.  Samantha was a great first customer contact; very polite, concerned and professional.  I was already getting a good vibe from The Cat Doctors just by talking with her.  There was no opening until 8:00 am the following day, so bright and early the next morning, I bundled Jules up in her Sherpa bag and headed on over.

The Cat Doctors’ office is one of those businesses that operate out of a house in a residential neighborhood.  That seems to be a trend here in Rochester.  I see a lot of it, and I like it.  You immediately feel "at home."

Samantha is the same in person as she is on the phone.  I have to admit that I tend to yammer a bit out of nerves when I’m at a vet’s office.  She just smiled, patiently listened to the inane stream of information spewing forth from my cake-hole about Julia’s condition, and offered me a seat.

I had an opportunity to look around the office.  I thought to myself, “Somebody's really into cats around here.”  The place was festooned with cat cartoons, cat paintings, cat sculptures, cat slogans, cat objets d’art.  There were many, many photos of clients’ cats proudly displayed like family pictures.  There were thank you cards and notes.  In the waiting room itself, all was perfectly, serene and still -- maybe because it was so early -- but I suspect the peaceful atmosphere is studiously maintained.  Julia, who had been meowing in the car as if she were locked in a barrel going over Niagara Falls, started to Zen out and I think was even nodding off.

The next person I met was the vet tech, Trish.  She spoke in a soft voice, moved slowly and fluidly and had an air of quiet confidence, gentleness and calm.  Julia was even rubbing her cheek against Trish’s hand. As Trish was taking Julia’s vitals, she provided a towel for Julia to bury her head in while she did her job with the available parts.  After she finished, she put Julia’s carrier on the floor while she recorded the stats in her chart.  Julia was so confident and non-stressed that she wandered out of the carrier.  She sniffed, wandered about a little – and then completely disappeared.  Trish said, “Don’t worry – she’s in the little hiding place we put over there.” It was clear that the most important priority of this practice, besides providing quality care, is doing everything possible to make sure their feline patients feel safe and secure and that their catness is respected and taken into account.  Trish let Julia continue to roam freely around the exam room while she went to get the doctor.  It occurred to me that I would have wanted Trish to babysit my human children had I ever been foolish enough to have any.

Enter stage left the only other veterinarian my cats will ever have in their lives if I have anything to say about it.  Again, Julia was gently and lovingly handled.  The doctor opened the top flap of the Sherpa bag and let Julia remain safely inside while she used her stethoscope on her.  Best of all, for the very first time in my years of clinic-hopping, I finally met a vet with whom I was on the same page regarding all matters cat. For example, this doctor is the first vet I’ve met who had actually heard of the food brands I use; the kind you won’t find in Petco and your local supermarket.

Before I knew it an hour had gone by.  No one had tried to rush me out the door, bully me with their incontrovertible opinion, or make me buy products.

They just wanted Julia to get well, and be the sweet and happy ‘Tain she was born to be.