Whiskers To Tails Cat Hospital

Dr. Iburg helped us with 4 cats over the last 10 years. All lived long and healthy lives. She listened to our situation and helped decide the right course of action based on the cat and our financial situation. She has a great understanding bedside manner and our cats love her. Only once did we have to stop taking a cat to her, or any other vet. He was feral and was traumatized by ANOTHER vet tec at a different vet. I would not want to harm her or the staff, so we had to get a mobile vet for him. Patient pet parents produce calm pets. Dr. Iburg is calm and patient. We love her.

Over the past 15 years, I have taken a total of six cats (including two adopted from the hospital) to Whiskers to Tails and have found Dr. Iberg to be the most compassionate and professional veterinarian I have even seen. I've since moved about 40 miles from Whiskers to Tails, but I still take my cats to see Dr. Iberg (Unless it's an emergency situation). It's well worth the trip. It's a blessing to have as much confidence as I have in Dr. Iberg.

I love the doctor and she has been so helpful and informative. I was a new cat owner and I learned sooo much from her and now have a family of 3 cats and they all see her on a regular basis as well as any rescues I find I take straight to her to testing and exams. I really like the fact that they always have rescued cats for adoption in the office as they really care about the well being of these animals. The office is also VERY reasonable. I live pretty far away but it is worth the drive to see this wonderful doctor and I wouldn't take my cats any where else!

Dr. Iburg and her Whiskers To Tails Cat Hospital and staff have been a godsend to me and my beloved five cats over a period of 14 years. I have nothing but praise for Dr. Iburg and her staff. Her rates are very reasonable, but it is the love and attention my cats get that are most important. She is of great service to the community and has my heartfelt thanks and utmost recommendation. I am deeply sorry for anyone who has to experience the tragedy of losing a loved one. Whiskers To Tails Cat Hospital will do their very best to save and help take care of your cat. They have a great deal of integrity and are one of the world's treasures.

Dr. Iberg is a great person and an amazing vet. She also works extensively with rescue groups. She has cared for my four cats for years, and has always given them thoughtful and thorough care. In reading the negative reviews on this site, I have to say that I think the problems were caused by the pet owners, not by the doctor or staff. I have always been treated well, but I am also willing to be patient as the staff juggles many duties. Sometimes they are very busy, and there is only one doctor who takes her time with the patients. One reason that you sometimes have to wait to pay is because Dr. Iberg writes copious notes on your cat in it's chart before you leave, and the staff cannot create the bill until she is done. I personally cannot even imagine Dr. Iberg telling someone not to come back, so I think that the situation was probably extreme for that to happen. She sees the worst of what people do to animals, and she tries to do what she can to take care of as many as possible.

Dr. Iburg has been seeing my cats for about 6 years now. I had a scary episode of Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) which those of you with male cats know can kill in a couple days. She treated a very difficult disease and saved his life. The person below with the bad surgery outcome should realize that sometimes despite the best care things can happen. If it was surgery to remove a urinary blockage and it had been done before there is no wonder that there were complications. It is also true that the office gets backed up, but I have never been treated rudely or unfairly. They explain all the charges well and these people have other duties. I am glad that I am not pushed out the door in the name of top efficiency. I have recommended Dr. iburg to several people and they've all been happy. I still continue to drive out of my way to come. She really is personally concerned with every cat. As with any healthcare (human or otherwise) you will need to ask any questions or voice any concerns. Highly recommended!

I have been taking my cats to Dr Iburg for years. She is a loving vet, fair priced and knowledgeable. My cat had a few conditions and I had to take him to 3 vets and spent easily over $1500 for phony remedies. Dr Iburg brought my cat back to health with one operation which was a total of $400 including after surgery treatments which were included - without cost. Also they only treat cats here. It's great. No barking dogs ever in the waiting room!

I have always met with Dr Iburg personally - so I don't know what anyone is talking about in the column. And my appointments have been 100% on time - ie I'm seeing Dr. Iburg within minutes of my appointment. Only once in 3 years I had to wait - and it was because of an emergency surgery and Dr. Iburg kept on apologizing.

However, there are quite a few bad seeds in the front desk staff and they can be outrageously rude, terribly slow and I daresay lazy. Combined with the fact you are already stressed out with your cat who is stressed out, this doesn't make for a positive experience.

You can easily wait 20 - 30 minutes to pay your bill when certain people are manning the front desk. If you are unlucky and get one of these people - after you pay your bill, count on some attitude. Once when my cat freaked out after waiting for 30 minutes after his appointment, I got a pissy lecture on how to keep my cat calm. I can tell you right now, not waiting 30 minutes would have kept him a lot calmer.

There is also the National Chief of Cat Rights at the front staff. I've received and heard several people receive lectures - all which have the same not so hidden message which is - you are somehow abusing your cat. As if anyone who will catch their cat, put their freaked out cat into a carrying case, zip up the case, put the writhing case in the car, drive to the vet while the cat is ceaselessly yowling at the perfect pitch to turn your hair gray and turn your nerves into jelly the entire trip,and taking it (trust me, when your cat is this way, it is no longer your cat, it is basically an alien) to any vet,paying a sum of money for the experience and then repeating said process to release crazed cat into home and generally receiving some form of bodily injury and possibly some house repair, doesn't care about their cat. It's simply ridiculous.

Generally, I don't return after bad service - the only thing is Dr Iburg is fantastic, really understands cats and people who love them.

My cats have been seeing Dr. Iburg and the rest of the staff for six years. We are so fortunate to have found them! Dr. Iburg's knowledge, compassion, dedication and care are second to none. My cats have ranged in behavior from wildcat to fraidy cat, and Dr. Iburg has treated each one in a way that has truly respected their individual needs and personalities. She and the staff were like extended family during the year that my eldest cat--who has since passed--was going in for weekly treatments. When my cats are under the weather or just need their annual check-ups, it's great to know that I can take them to a doctor and staff I can trust and genuinely enjoy being around.

We have been taking our cats to Dr. Iburg for nearly ten years now and can say, without question, that she is the warmest, most gentle and knowledgeable veterinarian we have ever encountered.Even out most timid cat is butter in the hands of Dr. Iburg.If ever there was a vet who'd qualify for Sainthood...Dr. Iburg is the one!We couldn't be more pleased. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended!!Terry and Julia Miller

I have been taking my cats to Whiskers to Tails for about 10 years now. Dr Iburg helped me nurse my first cat through kidney failure to the end of his life. She was incredibly helpful and compassionate, giving me free visits for his check ups as he needed so many over the 6 months, and selling me the drugs and saline solution and IV needles at cost. I could never have afforded to care for my cat through to the end of his life if she had not done this for me - I would have had to have him put down immediately. Rosie and the staff were fantastic. I have three other cats that I have aquired during this time, and Whiskers to Tails is my first call for them. Often I can't get them in if it is a short notice situation, but Rosie and the staff always have an alternatvie to recomend for me. I once tried to book the follow up from the alternate vet proceedure with W to T, and was told that it would be better, as well as more ethical, if I had the follow up with the operating vet. I appreciate their values.

It is hard to get in with Dr Iburg, so I just know to book ahead as far as possible, and I try to get the first appointment of the day to minimize the wait time.

I don't know what to make of the folks who have written bad reviews about Dr. Iburg and her staff. Please read them with a grain or two of salt--The person who recommended them to me has followed Dr. Iburg for 20 years and she is a huge animal caretaker and would certainly know if there was anything bad to say. She raves about Whiskers to Tails and her opinions come with much experience.Though it is somewhat of an inconvenience that this vet works alone, it is also a great thing to know that your cat will, in fact, be seeing it's actual doctor.

The staff is extremely knowledgeable, helpful and courteous. Dr. Iburg is very professional and wonderful with the cats, takes her time with them, and communicates well with the owners. She is truly there for the animals and not just for the $$ and does not rack up your bill with unnecessary tests and whatnot.

Pros: your cat doesn't get passed around among a group of vets; professional, caring, reasonable fees

Cons: sometimes difficult to get an appointment

Dr. Iberg is very gentle wtih her "bedside manner" and is very up-to-date on the veterinary health of felines. Her staff was very friendly at my last appointment and I was completely happy with my cat's care. I also noticed a rescue group in the waiting room so it appears that she does help area groups as she can which is wonderful! The other clients that I spoke with in the waiting area all seemed very pleased with this clinic and their services. Would recommend.

Comes highly recommended, BUT best beware. Vet is good, if you can "get in the door" past a snotty bunch lead by Rosie. I even had this unnerving sense that she is racist.You can't cloak lack of care, experience or knowledge with "attitude" which is all everyone was being meted out.
Hard to gather information without being there in person and the prices will vary from what you are quoted (range) on the phone or what is put up on the SNIP website for spay/neuter rates etc.(they don't have their own website). The only time they seem to "talk" is when they were pushing the brands of food they carry.
Dr. Iburg is badly served by Rosie but ultimately she is responsible for making a vet visit a reassuring/kind one. Not worth the aggravation when you are already stressed about a sick cat.

Whatever happened to the caring vet who went the extra mile. In the meantime be sure to enclose a good recommendation for a great vet because its taking me hours to find one.

Other than dr. wattanabe in san marino who is not accepting patients because he's been overwhelmed. (again)

Thanks.

Being a cat lover herself, Dr. Iburg tries to care for all of her patients and provide the best care possible, as if they were her own. My cat has been a patient there since she first opened her doors...my cat is now much older and i would trust her care to know one else.

I understand that people may be upset. She is the only doctor there but does have a large and helpful staff. She does have a lot of clients (which tells you she must be good) and so sometimes there are long waits or she may miss or not catch something. But i think if you are a responsible and caring owner that you would know your pet best and be proactive in your cat's care.

She does what she can and at times more than she should but never wants to turn anyone away. She is more than dedicated and a real professional. I think it would be great if there were more doctors like her but am glad to have found her and her staff (and by the way Rosie is so helpful) and know that i have to be aware and keep track of my cat so that she can give her the best care possible. I feel that we work as a team in that sens and thus say that if you do not approve of her that you should find the doctor best for you and your cat so she has more time for her dedicated and happy to have her clients.

The care that my cats have received from Dr. Iburg is excellent. She is an unusually good doctor and has been exceptionally thorough in her diagnosis and treatment of my animals. I have also found the staff to be pleasant and kind. There is no veterinarian I would trust as much with my cats.

Dr. Iburg seems to really like cats and I was drawn to this vet because it is
a cat-only practice.

However, my experience was not so good. First, Dr. Iburg put my cat on
a prescription diet and then stopped carrying the food shortly after with no
means for me to even order it! Further, they hadn't written down the amount of
food my cat was supposed to eat (and I had forgotten). They also said I'd need
another vet visit to buy the different food, because my cat's weight may
have changed. I felt that this was all their fault, because my cat was perfectly
fine on the first food and was a very finicky eater anyway. Okay, minor quibble.

Later, after an experience in which Dr. Iburg tried to examine my cat by herself
without a vet tech present in spite of my reminders that we always needed
a vet tech in the past, because my cat was a bit of an unruly patient - hissing,
scratching, etc. she turned to me and said that my cat was no longer welcome
as a patient at her clinic! I felt it was her fault for not listening to me and for
not remembering past experiences with my cat! (For the record, she was not
scratched or bitten, but my cat did swat at her.)

I find it interesting that Dr. Iburg also asked another patient not to come
back as well! I've been with Dr. Vanderhoof ever since and don't regret it!
I just wish that the people with big dogs who visit Dr. V would be a little more
considerate to those of us with skittish little cats and bunnies who are
terrified at the sight of a big, boisterous dog whose owner only has loose
command of the situation.

I have visited Whiskers to Tails for the care of two cats and have often recommended this vet to my friends and colleagues. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to make this recommendation.

At my last visit, my interactions with members of the staff were rude and unpleasant. After some discussion, I have come to the conclusion that neither the staff nor Dr. Iburg kept track of whether our cat was due for any shots or treatments. This is also true for care. My previous cat was a bit old when I brought her in, and they did not recommend any physical exams or metabolic testing. The cat passed about a year after the visit due to complete liver failure. I believe a more proactive approach would have caught the condition.

When I first began visiting Dr. Iburg's office, I was very impressed with the skill with which she was able to care for my cat. In the years since, owners no longer go to the back with their pets, and rarely have any interaction with Dr. Iburg herself. Instead we must rely on the staff, some of whom are pleasant, and others who are decidedly not pleasant.

it is unclear how knowledgeable they are, either. they completely neglected to tell us that we needed to get a health certificate approved by the usda, and have caused us to delay the cat's international travel plans. to resolve this, i've contact dr vanderhoof's office and they're MUCH more helpful than whiskers to tails, who merely wished us "good luck" with the arrangements.

if you love your cats, try these guys instead:

Vanderhoof Veterinary Hospital
2235 Lake Ave # 101
Altadena, CA 91001
(626) 798-5901

PROS: dr. iburg seems to love cats
CONS: unpleasant staff, poor care

I must caution cat lovers regarding this facility. Recently our two kittens were spayed and micro-chipped. No problems with the spay, but immediately after arriving home we noticed what appeared to be blood half-way down the spinal area of our white kitten. I assumed it was not blood, but two days later when we discovered the micro chip on the right chest wall of the kitten, we were then certain that someone at this facility had incorrectly inserted it. Proper location should have been between the shoulder blades. After confirmation from another vet that the chip was indeed in the incorrect location, we returned to Whiskers to have the sutures removed.

We discussed this situation with Dr. Iburg. Who had inserted them? The vet said she had done one and "someone else" the other. Later after we made our concerns clear, she then said "I probably did them both." I pointed out the incorrect insertion and current location of the chip. "That is acceptable." NOT TO ME. She appologized but I expressed our dissatisfaction with this outcome. On the way home I said "We won't be going back there again!" Several days later we received a letter from Dr. Iburg explaining that since "You are dissatissfied with our care we will no longer treat your kittens." Enclosed were their medical records.

I do not recommend this facility -- they behaved unprofessionally.

I brought my cat here three months ago for a routine surgery for a recurring urinary problem. He's had this surgery before at his old vet's office in another area (I moved and that's why I can't take him there anymore) without any problems or complications.

After Dr. Linda Iburg (vet in residence) performed the surgery on my cat, he was worse off than before the operation. He developed a severe bladder infection (despite a battery of meds prescribed by Dr. Iburg) that caused him to urinate extremely bloody urine in the middle of the night. We had to rush him to an emergency vet (and pay much $$$) in order to stablize him until we could get in to see Dr. Iburg again. She prescribed even MORE drugs that caused him to develop skin ulcers and which also caused minor damage to his retinas. This retinal damage has resulted in my cat's eyes being extremely dilated in low-light conditions, more so than before taking the drugs. Dr. Iburg even admitted to me AFTER THE FACT that the retinal damage was due to the drugs she prescribed.

I've since taken my cat to another vet and will never return to Whiskers to Tails. If I were more litigious, I would sue this vet. Stay away!

Great folks. They are very easy to work with.