Choosing the Right Vet for your Cat
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Choose a vet who you are comfortable with and who will answer your questions. Check out the office: do animals seem just frightened or are they also out of control? Is it bedlam, or reasonable for the number of different animals there? Do you have local recommendations from friends? Does the vet specialize in small animals as opposed to, say, livestock?
The best way to find a vet is word of mouth (from someone who takes good care of their pets, of course). Here is a quick and easy guide on some ways to find a vet if you’ve just moved to a new town or gotten your first pet:
- Ask your trusted former vet if she or he knows someone good in the new town. Often you’ll get an excellent referral that way.
- If there’s a local humane society or shelter, see if there are vets who volunteer their time there. Many vets who care about animals are often trustees and/or volunteer their services.
- Check with any local breed associations: see who their members go to.
- Look for memberships in associations like the American Animal Hospital Association (which has a fairly stiff inspection), Feline Practitioners Association, American Assoc. of Vet Cardiology, Animal Behavior Association, or others. These are usually people who have kept up with new developments.
24-Hour Emergency Care
A good vet will either be associated with a 24-hour emergency care plan or be able to give you the number of a good place in your area. Keep this number on your refrigerator and check with your vet when you visit that it’s still up-to-date.