5th Avenue Cat Clinic
Category: Veterinarians [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Park Slope225 5th Ave
(between Carroll St & President St)
Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 398-1187
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
13 Reviews for 5th Avenue Cat Clinic
Right after I adopted my kitten she got a pretty bad eye infection, so I brought here here. They were very kind to her, and, even though she is a very shy and skirmish kitty, she responded very well to the vet. They were gentle and kind to both of us, and I felt they were very professional. It was about $90 for the visit, including the two medications.
When it came time to get her spayed, I had wanted to bring her back because I really liked them and they're walking distance from my apartment. But when I called and found out that it was a few hundred dollars, I went elsewhere. The price seemed too high to me.
I got little Muffin in her crate no problem this morning, but she howled like a beaten child all the way to the 5th Ave Cat Clinic. Perhaps the screaming was a foreshadowing of the big bill I had coming my way for a quick 5 minute visit & some shots.
The folks waiting there w/ yelping (haha sorry) kitties were pleasant, the receptionist was very sweet, the vet helper was either not happy or just stoic.. not sure, and the vet himself was nice, smart, fast, etc. Muffin was pissed but she doesn't get out much.
Muffin's actual appointment was basic- 2 shots in the rear, feel the belly, check the teeth, look in the ears/eyes, weight check, heartbeat check. she's healthy, thank god. Unhappy-vet-tech popped her back in her crate, Vet shook my hand, and voila. easy.
Easy until the receptionist told me that my total was $202. That is for the visit, shots, and health certificate so Muffin can come on the plane with me to Seattle on Wednesday. Ouch. Not what I was expecting since on the phone I was quoted $90.
It's a good kitty place but be sure to check cost before you bring Fluffy in.
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I was a brand new cat owner--still am relatively here a couple months later, not everything is second nature. I'd just gotten my kitten the day before and found worms in his stool. Disturbing, especially since I'd been provided proof of recent doctor's visits, shots, revolution treatment, etc. by the org I adopted him from.
New kitty howled the entire way to the vet, the entire time we were there--which was disconcerting for a worried new parent. Front desk staff was detached, dispassionate, as was the man in the white coat, I guess they call him doctor. His assistant was nice, but didn't have much of a role in the production so it did little to treat the wound.
Yeah, he prescribed some "meds," got me in and out of there in I swear 4 minutes--it really felt like he needed to get to happy hour or something and we were holding him up.
No prognosis to speak of, no reassurance, new catowner tips or investment in having us leave there feeling hopeful. (And by the way, new issues have surfaced with the cat that seem to be connected with this worm problem)
On my way out I noticed pics on the wall of a man whom I guessed was the father of the doctor we saw and first owner of this practice. One imagines, just imagines, that this guy really loves/d animals and that his son, after perhaps failing to pass the bar multiple times, just settled reluctantly into a comfy, ready-made position over at dad's. Just a theory.
I really want a vet who cares about animals, who is in the business because he/she loves the kingdom, who never makes you feel like a burden--which makes absolutely no sense because we're paying them? $100 for 4 minutes of negative energy and a pill some say I could've had mailed to me for $15.
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I found a kitten on the streets who was sick with upper respiratory infection. I brought him 5th Ave. Cat Clinic and I was very impressed with how gently and caringly they handled him. They even wrapped him up in a towel to go home with! Within a few days of being on their medicine, he was all better. During his convalescence, whenever I called with a question, they were always patient and helpful (and they even left a message after enduring my two minute long silly teenage voicemail!). The people there simply so sweet and nice. The experience was a pleasure!
It depends on the doctor you get. Once I go back and get both of their names (Good and Bad), I'll edit this review so that it is very clear who to avoid. Good= Librarian Vet; Bad= SE Asian Meanie (If you've seen these doctors, you'll know what I mean).
Good vet pet my cat and talked to it gently. Bad vet choked my cat, held it down viciously while she gave it a shot and told me "You have be be rough with your cat so that he is used to visits with vets." Uh. No, SE Asian Meanie. NO. You need to have some proper motherfucking beside manner. Good vet undercharged me. And followed through. Bad vet gave me ludicrous prices and wasn't available to ask questions to afterwards.
Point is, just like any medical institution, it is the doctor that is the most important element. 5th Avenue Clinic doesn't really deserve any stars, but the doctors who work there do. Good doctor gets 5 stars, for being gentle and patient and HUMAN. Bad doctor will get penny socked.
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I love my pets like they were my children. So when it came time to have my 7 mos. old nutcase aka Giorgio neutered, I spent hours researching and decided on this place. They accept the Muffins certificate so that was a big plus and they even did the vaccinations that I lagged behind on (I know, shame on me). According to my boyfriend who took Giorgio in, he felt so comfortable with the vet that he didn't even flinch when he was being examined. In fact, he purred. They called me promptly in the afternoon when the surgery was over and let me know what time I could pick him up. When I got there, the front desk staff was very friendly and she even called me a cab. Great place and I'd take Giorgio there again if needed!
We've taken our 2 cats to 5th Ave Cat Clinic since we moved to Park Slope 3 years ago. The people who work there are always nice and professional. We have to buy prescription cat food here regularly, and sometimes they run out of ours, but they're good about reordering so we usually only have to wait a day or 2 (and really, it's our fault for waiting til we're totally out!).
We've also had to board our cats here when we travel, and we've had great experiences, although at $20/cat per day, it's a little pricey. They will put our cats together in a large, connected cage so they have each other as companions. Last time, I guess our boys were fighting, so they separated them. Each cat gets to come out and have "free time" in the boarding area every day, which is nice, so they are not just cooped up the whole time. They always tell us how sweet our cats are, and they're happy to have them back any time. Nice to know ours are sweet and cuddly, since a lot of the cats being boarded tend to look freaked out (hiding in litter boxes and under blankets) or pissed off (hissing).
The vet was very helpful in treating my cat's cold (though she pushed two boxes of antibiotic while it was clear that one would be enough). When the cat developed a diarrhea as the side-effect of the antibiotic, she returned my concerned phone calls with reassurances and advice (free of charge) several times.
However, when my cat continued to have intestinal problems, I was given contradictory directions by the staff (nurses/receptionists), when one told me to feed my cat boiled rice and chicken and when I called back for details, the person who answered the phone time was horrified at the advice I got previously and told me to NOT do it, but instead experiment with different brands of cat food.
Go figure.
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If you have a cat that is seriously sick, get a second opinion. The doctor there (a confessed horse doctor in practice) gave the cat only a 15 minute run through. We spent $100 in lab tests for all of our cats, after we brought a new cat in from the shelter. The test for worms all came up negative, as the cat gave all my other cats the runs. . We finally suggested and forced the doctor to test specifically for giardia and lo and behold the lab test came up positive. After giving the cats flagyl, one of our cats the older one got better, while the other two had severe runs still. We brought the cats in again, at this point we've spent several hundred dollars already and the doctor suggested we Xray and do a sonagraph for like $800.
We went for a second opinion and the vet said that the diagnosis for whatever the cats have have to be contagious to add up. He asked if my vet ever took the cats temperatures? I said never. He said why not? I shrugged, he then did up some blood work, this is three months later mind you, and he found that the shelter cat tested positive for FIP. Potentially the shelter cat gave our other cat FIP as well. Forewarned I will never go to this vet again. They do half assed imcompetent work, despite the place being kept clean and the appearance of the place being a specialist for cats. They certainly do a poor job if you ask me.
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First Visit:
One cat had a scratch on her eye and the Vet was great and helpful and after a couple of follow-up visits that they didn't charge for, she was cured!
Second Visit:
One cat had weakness in her back legs and loss of weight and appetite and I brought her in and saw a different vet and they did $375 worth of tests and made no diagnosis but wanted to do $600 more of x-rays and cat scans. 3 weeks later, my cat got better.
I guess the upshot is, some of the vets there are okay and others are not great at all. I don't think I'll go back.
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Decent service, great prices.
At one point I cursed this place's name to everyone I knew. My cat had an infection and I called them for help. They said that considering the symptoms my cat would be fine and I could make an appt. the following week. Well, not everything was fine and my little floor mop of an Himalayan ended up in the $$$$$ Animal Kind Hospital with a $1300 bill. OUCH!
Coming to my zen like sensibilities (though few), I guess this place is usually ok. I've taken my cat here for a few examinations and for her shots. Everything went well and the prices were cheap compared to other vets in the area. The best part about this place is that they only see cats. Therefore, you're little one will not be as nervous when visiting the doc (who by the way is nice, thorough, but a little bit granola crunchy).
Do I recommend, yes. However, if you have a problem insist you bring in your animal right away. It will save you stress and $$$.
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I love the 5th Ave. Cat Clinic. I adopted my first cat from them and have gotten all of the cats shots, treatments, and spaying done there. I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes after my appointment time, which I've heard is a real problem at Hope. They have never pushed me to do unnecessary testing, and are always very nice. Its also nice if you have a skiddish cat, since the clinic is only for cats, there are no dogs around to add to the anxiety of going to the vet.
If you own a cat, or you've ever catsit before, or you've ever had to pretend you had an allergy to cats in order to avoid going over to someone's house, then you know what I mean when I say that cats are a species completely unto themselves. Bless the vet (in this case the owner of the 5th Avenue Cat Clinic) who wishes only to deal in cats. Especially those older cats (like mine) who develop myriad kidney and thyroid problems and who must be held down by special attendants who know how to deal with the rage of a tomcat scorned. And wow, how you must rake in the dollars with all those senior cat blood tests. I'd like to know what the mark-up on those babies are. I know I should have chosen a different profession.
Seriously though, these guys seem to know their stuff about cats, and as someone who treats their kitty like their firstborn, that means a lot to me.
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