A Cat Practice

Never too thrilled with Dr. Rogers - but Drs. Salazar and Warford are terrific! Easy to talk with, never rush, very caring with the cats. I trust both of them as primary care for my furry kids. I do, however, recommend VCA Gaithersburg for specialty and emergency care. As with your own medical care, you have to be your cat's advocate and both give plenty of information and ask a lot of questions whoever the vet is.

Posted 10/16/09 | Report Abuse

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Over the last nineteen years, I have taken all five of my cats to A Cat Practice in Silver Spring, and have nothing but the best to say the staff and the vets there. The first cat I took was after a "dog vet" had told me that there was nothing more that he could do (was he wrong!). Some of the reasons I like the place are that they treat your cat like a cat and not a small dog, they have a wide variety of prescription foods and medications made just for cats, and the place is small enough to give your cat first rate and compassionate attention. The prices are good, too. This is the only vet in this area that I would recommend to a friend.

Posted 06/08/09 | Report Abuse

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I felt compelled to give some kudos to the team at A Cat Practice, Dr. Salazar and Dr. Warford have done a great job helping me with the care giving of my aging cat who hates vet visits. The staff is friendly and helpful, they took the time to explain things and answer my questions in great detail. The appointments have been quick but not rushed. Pricing for procedures is very reasonable. Most importantly, they really helped me feel informed about my cat's health. I highly recommend them.

Posted 06/04/09 | Report Abuse

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I took my cat here twice. The first time, I was unsure about their treatment of her, but she was very ill. They diagnosed her with ear mites and renal insufficiency. Blood work came back -- they confirmed diagnosis over the phone. Six months later, she was still clawing her ear, although I faithfully used the medicine prescribed.

She then had another serious event -- when I took her back in, they said she was "fractious" (although she was too weak to stand up) and did not want to treat her unless they put her totally under anesthesia. She was so weak I thought that might kill her. I offered to hold her. The vet told me that NO vets allowed owners to hold their animals, since the owner could turn around and sue. I offered to sign a release -- they refused, and told me that if I was so sure another vet would let me hold her, I should "take her on down the road to the XXX Animal Hospital"...

BTW, I did take her to another vet, who was kind and compassionate, let me hold her, and worked with me to get her eating, her potassium regulated (she had low potassium from the first visit, but I received no information from A Cat Practice on how to deal with it). The new vet also fixed her ear (she had been clawing it bloody for 5 months). She did not have ear mites (she is an indoor cat) -- she had a growth. A cortisone injection and clipping her nails short completely took care of the problem within 3 days

The new vet also repeated all the blood work, just to be sure we were on the right track. The result: the ability to hold and comfort my companion during a time of stress, getting her health conditions under control, at 50% less on the bill than A Cat Practice, where all of these things were unsatisfactory.

I recommend that you do yourself, your kitty companion, and your pocketbook a good turn and "take it on down the road" BEFORE you stop at A Cat Practice.

Posted 12/30/08 | Report Abuse

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Like another poster, we took a kitten to A Cat Practice, and at the office visit they insisted knowing if the cat had been spayed. I said I thought so since I adopted HIM from the humane society, but they shaved his belly to check for a spay scar. Then the convinced me to schedule a spay appointment, which I did. Then after checking with the Human Society, they confirmed the cat was MALE and had already been neutered.

I told this story to a friend who told me her story of A Cat Practice, where she took in two kittens from a litter and was told they needed all their teeth pulled. She got a second opinion that told her the kittens were fine, and to this day, they have good healthy teeth.

Posted 10/01/08 | Report Abuse

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Grate service!!! I came for first time to the clinic and everyone from the staff was very friendly and willing to help. The Dr. spend all the time needed to answer all my questions and gave me different information of the care of my new pet!!! I will strongly recommend this Clinic!!!!

Posted 05/07/08 | Report Abuse

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found a stray cat and took it to a cat practice to see if it needed to be fixed. dr. rogers said it was a female, and even shaved its belly to see if it had been spade. it had not. well it had not been SPADE because (as we found out later from another vet) it was a male and had been neutered already. seems a very basic question a vet should be able to answer - isn't that something you learn in veterinary school? we will not be going back.

Posted 04/07/08 | Report Abuse

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I went to the Cat Practice after my cat had gone missing. I called and found them to be very helpful. Not only did they give great suggestions on how to find him, but also had an appointment for him when I did. I got him in the same day and I got him microchip. Now my cat has never been very good with other people. They were very patience and very kind. I had them run test and glad I did. It turned out that my cat on his outing got ringworm. Fun!!! They help me through a very tough time. All I can say is THANKS A CAT PRACTICE>

Posted 12/18/07 | Report Abuse

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I didn't trust taking my cat to the vet we had been using while she was healthy (Langley Animal Hospital - they don't have it together there), so I took a chance on this place when she got sick. The first thing I noticed was that it didn't smell like a vet's office at all - it's impeccably clean. Next, the techincian showed she had a very gentle hand when coaxing my cat out of her cage (every other vet/tech I'd been to just dumps the cat on the table). It turned out that my cat had been eating everything (bits of rugs, bits of brooms, string, feathers, even plastic) and her large intestine was full and completely backed up. They ended up removing it all non-surgically (poor cat - of course there was anesthesia). I think that the entire staff showed a lot of concern for my cat and she fully recovered in less than a week. I don't know how to compare the cost of this since I have not had to deal with this situation before. My parents did not treat their terminally ill cats, but had them put to sleep. Since this was not a terminal case, I wanted to cure the cat. This could have been a really close one if not for A Cat Practice. I think they provide very comprehensive care.

Posted 11/13/07 | Report Abuse

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I have had pets for over 40 years and have worked with many vets, but I have never met such a cold, uncaring vet as at this place. Nor I have I ever seen my cat react so negatively to a caregiver before. This is a place that specializes in cats, yet the doctor was completely unfamiliar with the general personality traits of Abyssinians complaining that my cat was "too active." She ignored everything that I said and when she could find nothing outwardly wrong with with my cat, actually magnified her symptoms to try to justify expensive lab work and x-rays. When I corrected her on the extent of my cat's symptoms, she became defensive and began attacking me personally. These people do not care about you or your pet; they are just looking for ways to pay the bills for a practice that shows all the signs of failing - from an empty appointment book to a filthy exam room.

Posted 11/05/07 | Report Abuse

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I took my cat to A Cat Practice and received outstanding care. The vet (Dr Hernandez) knows cats and had all kinds of advice and treatments two other vets hadnt offered. If you have a cat and live in the area, give this place a visit.

Posted 08/16/07 | Report Abuse

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Warning - the attitude in this vetinary clinic is NOT primarily for the care and well-being of your cat, it is for them making money.
My cat requires thyroid medication or else he rapidly becomes ill and would die. My wife is a Dr and I've been away on business a lot so we have been unable to get our cat in for MORE bloodwork. When we called to say that we needed more medicine as we were almost out, we were refused.
Explaining that we could bring him in the following weekend, we were given too LITTLE medicine extra to last us. Upon calling back again to explain that we needed more, and we're talking a couple of weeks here only, we were refused point blankly.
I informed them that my cat would die without this medicine and I was HUNG UP on! A thyroid condition requires medicine twice a day and routinely levels need to be monitored to ensure the correct amount is being given. This is the reason they refused ANY more medicine, because they wanted to do more bloodwork in case they MIGHT have had to ADJUST the levels. Instead, my cat runs the risk of getting sick now as I need to find a new vet asap to get him the medicine he requires.
Just thought I'd pass this on as I don't want anyone else to receive bad treatment for their pet.
I also have had varying 'accounting' problems with them as per another reviewer.
I'm not sure about the rest of you animal lovers out there, but I adore my cat and this I find to be absolutely unacceptable.

Posted 05/31/07 | Report Abuse

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When I moved to Silver Spring and had to pick a new vet, I was nervous because my cats are pretty anxious about new environments - particularly when the new environments are overrun with large, friendly dogs. A Cat Practice was the perfect fit for us for obvious reasons. They aren't cheap, but they aren't exorbitantly expensive either, and they seem to really take good care of their patients. I definitely recommend them.

Posted 05/17/07 | Report Abuse

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This practice was recommended by a friend. She'd taken her cats there for checkups and vaccinations. I took my cat there and she ended up having a dental extraction and a biopsy. She had undergone these same procedures a few years earlier, with another vet, before we moved to this area. She never showed signs of resentment against that vet. But for some reason, at Cat Practice, I heard her growl and hiss. In the 12 years I'd had her I'd never seen her react that way to anyone. Not a good sign. In my eagerness to get her home, I failed to ask about the results of her bloodwork, so I called and they said they had no record of bloodwork. I had record of payment for bloodwork. "Oh well you can just bring her back and we'll do draw it." As if it was nothing for a cat that had just undergone a major procedure. Was told there were no stitches where the biopsy sample was taken -- lo! there were 2 stitches. We didn't go back. A year or two later, heard that the vet who treated my cat had left, and I thought "maybe it was a fluke, or maybe it was just that vet." So I called to find out whether there was a new vet on board, and when I mentioned why I was asking, I was informed rather snarkily that I didn't have to take my cat there since there were numerous other vets in the area. Well all righty! We didn't go back.

Posted 05/09/07 | Report Abuse

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I went in recently to get a urinalysis run for my cat who has a UTI. When i arrived they brought out a hand written bill stating that i owed an extra money because someone has mistakenly charged me previously. Come to find out they have funny math and they actually ran the numbers wrong. When i tried to explain the situation and they realized the error was their own the attitude started immediately. I felt uncomfortable with having my cat examined there. They don't seem to have the caring attitude toward poeple or animals. I think it starts at the top and trickles down. I won't be going back! By the way they still owe me $5.35 :)

Posted 03/13/07 | Report Abuse

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My cat has a history of UTIs and is peeing blood. I made an appointment with A Cat Practice. They didn't warn me that they are surrounded by massive amounts of construction and I may need extra time to get there. What should have been a 20 minute drive took closer to an hour. We got there about 20 minutes late -- they refused to see my cat and wanted me to reschedule..... Any vet who's more concerned with getting out of the office on time than they are with an animal that's peeing blood is not a vet I want to deal witht. Needless to say we won't be going back there.

Posted 01/27/07 | Report Abuse

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I took my cat to there for a shot, this is a place really specialised at treating cats and they know what are they talking about. Very knowledgeable and experienced. The location is also close to everything, which is a plus for me. I definately recommend it to all my friends.

PROS: Expertise
CONS: N/A

Posted 06/29/06 | Report Abuse

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This is a great veterinary practice and I highly recommend it. The facilities are clean, bright, cheerful, and the staff is very professional and friendly. When I took my kitty there, I felt like we were not just another client to them. The doctor and his staff had a great "bedside" manner, and were very gentle and soothing with my little guy.

The only downside was that I had a very hard time finding it! It's in a somewhat remote wooded residential area, but as long as you find it the first time, you'll know where it is for the next time. I am definitely sticking with A Cat Practice!

Posted 03/21/06 | Report Abuse

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Being a former vet tech myself (and an animal lover/shelter volunteer, and owner of 2 cute kitties), I know this can be a tough business to run. But A Cat Practice does a great job of treating your pets like family, too! They are a small family business (hidden away in a little local wooded spot in Silver Spring) that specializes only in cats, and know their way around them. They gave me great tips last time I was there, and all the staff I believe are genuinely caring and for the most part knowledgeable. Dr. Lanier, DVM, has a great way with the feline kind. Highly recommended if you are in the northern DC area!

Posted 09/02/05 | Report Abuse

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