Cat Clinic

I've brought my cats to the clinic for the last few years and have been pretty happy with the service, however, I had a particularly unpleasant experience with them that has caused me to never return and I thought I should share it with you.

The summer before last, a stray cat showed up at our door. She was obviously starving with no claws and (of course) no tags. The cat was really sweet and a friend offered to adopt her if she was in good health, so I took her to the Cat Clinic for a check up.

When I arrived, they gave her a quick exam and informed me that the cat had not been fixed and, in fact, was pregnant. I asked them what my options were and was told that I could pay them at least $300 to have the cat fixed (and the litter aborted - gulp), or I could take the cat to the animal shelter where she would most likely be put to sleep.

Thus began a quest for a low cost spay/neuter clinic. I wound up driving back and forth (and back and forth) to a clinic in Akron, and almost two weeks later the poor cat passed away during the recovery from her operation. I was completely devastated and felt (and still feel) terribly guilty.

The low cost clinic in Akron was wonderful and was so apologetic - I don't blame them at all. I do blame the Cat Clinic for basically shutting the door in my face. I was willing to help this homeless cat, but the Cat Clinic was not willing to help me (I would have almost certainly paid half of what they were asking). I've spent hundreds of dollars there over the years and I'm sympathetic to the fact that they are a for-profit business, but they couldn't have bothered to come up with some kind of discount? Those weeks may well have made the difference between the happy life of an adopted cat and the unfortunate outcome.

I brought my 3-year-old cat to the Clinic for the first time. I moved from the east side and was looking for a place on the west side to care for my cat.

I should have trusted my cat's instinct from the start - she is normally very sweet and docile at the vet's, but when I brought her into the office, she was skittish and reclusive to the point of low growling when anyone came near her - and she's a mellow, friendly cat!

The staff talked to me like I didn't even know what a cat was, and proceeded to go through EVERY piece of superflous literature in the folder given to me. (thanks, but I already *know* which plants are dangerous to my cat, and yes, I already have pet insurance, and you would have known this had you actually LOOKED at the paperwork from my previous veterinarian - paperwork that you TOLD me to bring when I arranged for the appointment!)

The vet saw my cat for approximately four minutes, for which she charged me $40.00 and admonished me to feed my cat only canned food because "all" dry food had more calories. While this might be the case, I asked her if that was applicable across the board for ALL cat foods regardless of brand (I wouldn't think so, but okay *shrug*)

I feed my cat a premium brand of cat food that has no by-products, rendered meats or fillers, endorsed by Dr. Weil, etc. She didn't appear to even recognize the brand I mentioned, which left me with an uneasy feeling. Perhaps I'm asking too much that my cat's veterinarian be familiar with different brands. *sarcasm*

At my previous vet, my cat's claws were trimmed while she was there; this vet didn't even suggest it.

Neither my cat nor myself was happy with this abbreviated and rather condescending visit. I would rather trek back to the east side than subject myself and my cat to this.

I didn't care for the way I was spoken to - even if what they told me WAS true - I have dropped FRIENDS for talking down to me; I certainly am not going to take it from a service provider.

Vet is hard to get a hold of, even when I was instructed to call for med refills. Felt like the vet wasn't listening. Vet talked down to me on several occassions.

I have taken my pets to Lakewood Animal Hospital and The Cat Clinic for 26 years. My last 3 opportunities were very dis-heartening. Most recently, I got a new kitten. I called for spaying appointment and prices and between the shot required ($85) and the spaying, it was just under $200. I called the Neuter and Spay Clinic in the Fulton Rd. Shopping Center and took my kitty there....walked out with the same service, shots and all for $63. My last two babies had cancer and we got sucked into over $1800 for each of them. Now, with the light of day, these were totally unnecessary surgeries like amputations, and the cat's only lived a month or two after the costly surgeries. The once great caring I used to get from the Cat Clinic and Lakewood Animal Hospital has seemed to become a more capitalistic practice. Sorry to say, but I will seek out a different vet now. Three strikes and you are out.

The Cat Clinic has become the only place I take my cat to anymore. They have all the medicines and tools needed to examine and treat cats specifically, and they treat your cat really well. They care about them and go above and beyond to make sure they're in the best health. My cat needed immediate surgery after swallowing a long string (which wrapped around his intestines), and he returned fully recovered. I trust my pets in their hands; they're very medical-savvy, experienced, and experts in veterinary treatments.

The vets at The Cat Clinic are great. They always treated my animals very well and were concerned for them like they were for their own pets. Treatment was always top notch, and they always made sure to fit me in if I had an emergency. I would highly recommend them to other people.

Specializing only in cats, we rely on the Cat Clinic for our "baby's" needs. Recently loosing my 15 years old cat to cancer, we got another one. She's an older girl, so they were able to see her special needs. Callie needed some dental work, and she came home happy and healthy. The staff is very caring and knowledgable. The whole place is decorated in cat items, very charming. You know when you walk in that this clinic will do everything they can for your feline baby.

I've taken my cats here since I adopted them from the APL in 2003. The staff really does anything and everything they can to help their patients, and the vets themselves are outstanding. Dr. Lindsey and Dr. Barney in particular are wonderful. I feel that my girls have gotten excellent care from the facility.

The Cat Clinic is dedicated to the care and the health of cats only. The same owner does own Lakewood Animal Hospital in which you can take any pet to At the Cat Clinic they offer vaccinations, medicine, x-rays, surgery and denistry for your cat. I have cats as pets, so I would recommend the Cat Clinic for all of your kitty or cat's needs. You will need to call for an appointment.

PROS: They cater to cats only
CONS: