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Category: Veterinarians [Edit]
Neighborhood: ParksideNeighborhood: Outer Richmond
"Never had a disappointing experience with them, they take great care of my pets. I do get my dogs teeth cleaned via Barking Lot, they have…" read more »
I've been bringing my (now very old) cat here for years. All the vets are terrific. Even though my cat hates the car ride from the Mission, it's well worth the journey. Not only do the vets and vet techs provide top-notch cat care at affordable prices, but take the time during follow-up phone calls to explain test results. They don't do the oversell of tests or products. And they have some nifty cat quality-of-life tricks up their sleeves! They have definitely played a big role in keeping my cat healthy and happy for years.
I can't possibly recommend Especially Cats high enough!
Meeeeow, (that's cat talk for highly recommended).
Your furry little prince/princess will get the best care possible at this place even if they have a little attitude.
Lola went in with a major claw emergency and came out purring to a new tune. They decided to give her her annual check up early since it was just a few weeks away. She's all good for another year!
Trust me Lola doesn't like just anyone....but she loved Dr. Ira.
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The best vets ... the best care ... and nice front desk people!
And it's just cats. No barking drooling dogs and their annoying owners in the waiting room. Just cats. It's their specialty.
Especially Cats - they ROCK!!!
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This is one of the few vet clinics that is both animal specific and doesn't try to get you to spend any more money than you need to. I have had nothing but great experiences with the staff at Especially Cats. They are great at putting you and your furry one at ease. If a procedure is only recommended rather than absolutely necessary they won't force it on you or make you feel like crap for not wanting to spend the money. This is huge for me.
Their commitment and compassion toward kitties really makes you feel like you're doing the right thing coming here. Dr. Rozycki is awesome. He even went the extra mile and sent us a beautiful condolence card right after we had to put one of our babies to sleep following a lymphoma diagnosis-that was after only seeing her twice ever. She was not diagnosed nor euthanized at Especially Cats but they followed up on her anyway. How many vets would take the time? Five stars.
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Big, big fan of Dr. Ari Rozycki. He is a wondeful vet- kind, skilled and patient. My cat, Newman, seems to like to him also. Yours will too!
Okay, I've only been once, but it was a great experience. My bad experience at Nob Hill Cat Clinic prompted my visit. Dr. Benfatto was wonderful with my cats, and she really took her time with the exam and explaining things to me, even though I was late at the end of the day on a Friday! Hopefully my older cat won't be scared of the vet anymore (which he wasn't until Nob Hill--grrrrr.....). I live nowhere near here but it's totally worth the drive.
And did I mention cheap, anesthesia-free teeth scaling!?! Yay!
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Once upon a time I lived in Sunset, not too far away from Especially Cats. I no longer live in the city and don't miss it much, the exception being the food and Dr. Benfatto at Especially Cats.
There used to be a big black kitty that would sit in the waiting room like he owned the place. I don't remember what his name was but I remembered he was a big kitty (17 pounds!), was calm and didn't hiss at the frightened kitties in their pet carriers.
My kitty is very skittish and hates going to the vet (what pet doesn't?!) but LOVES Dr. Benfatto. Dr. Benfatto is very gentle and was even successful at cleaning her teeth without putting her under general anaesthesia. Dr. Benfatto must have done some Jedi mind trick - "OK kitty, this is going to be relaxing" and got my kitty to sit still without biting her!
Everyone at Especially Cats was caring and gentle with my kitty and that deserves 10 stars from me.
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The horror of feeling like a weird cat lady is definitely offset by the great care my 15-year old meow machine receives from Dr. Rozycki and the rest of the staff. I've been bringing him to Especially Cats for two years now, and wouldn't consider anywhere else. This is the first cats-only veterinary practice we've used, and couldn't be happier. Parking usually is not an issue, but it is metered, so bring your quarters or your meter debit card!
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You can be assured that any and every doctor at Especially Cats will provide the best treatment and advice for your cat, and will be good to you, too. Dr. Benfatto, Dr. Korol, Dr. Roszycki, all have my complete trust when it comes to caring for our precious animals. Over the years they've given our new kittens their first shots, treated a cat for kidney failure, and euthanized two of our kitties who were old and sick. They've always been caring, expert, and thorough.
Because they only treat cats, the atomosphere at Especially Cats is calm. I feel strongly that taking a cat to a cats only facility is a benefit for your pet. It minimizes the unsettling nature of any trip to the vet's office.
My husband takes one of our cats to a different vet where the doctor leaves the exam room every few minutes to check on other patients. This has never happened to me at Especially Cats. The doctor is with you from the beginning to end of your appointment. I really appreciate this service.
Parking is rarely a problem, even on busy Taraval Avenue. And yes, the waiting room is small but it's big enough. Also, I've always been able to get through by phone and make an appointment with ease.
I truly appreciate and rely on the terrific service from Especially Cats; Oscar and Mr. Peabody do, too!
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Especially Cats is a literal lifesaver!! I simply can't say enough about how wonderful they are, and I'd recommend them to any proud feline owner. Too bad we can only award five stars in a review.
Our sweet, loving tabby Bijou (AKA Sir, AKA Chubby) had a rough several months in '07- he was losing weight, vomiting, lethargic, constipated, and wasn't interested in food. We had taken him several times to our old vet but in hindsight they just weren't doing anything for him... we dropped a TON of cash with repeated visits but he just got worse. It was truly sad, and he lost so much weight we couldn't even refer to him as Chubby any more!!
The poor guy needed a break, and Especially Cats delivered. The vets were SO patient and understanding with us, spending real quality time working for a solution, where we always felt rushed at the old vet. Dr. Roszycki and especially Dr. Benfato worked wonders, making dilligent follow-up calls, offering sympathy and truly listening to us.
Well, they certainly pulled a miracle- with the right meds and some special food, all recommended by the vets from Especially Cats, this kittie has turned a big corner and is healthier than ever! He's gained his weight back, runs around, plays, and demands food- you can't even walk towards the kitchen at my place now without being bum-rushed and trampled by this cat.
He's so healthy now, he's even doing off-the-hook stuff he could never do before, like climbing on top of the refrigerator and jumping 5+ feet down to the floor - and he's 12 years old, going on 9 months!
Thanks Especially Cats!!
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Dr. Benfatto is very good with our cat. Gives us good advice and reasonable level of treatment (not too over-zealous, especially for a private, cats-only place; but not overly minimal either).
This is my cat Montekor. He craps on the couch.
http://static.px.yelp....
He also craps on the floor, and has been known to crap on clean linen, usually found on beds, mainly my bed.
Because I am moving, my extremely attractive friend is cat sitting him right now. Monty crapped on my friend's couch, and his floor so I think he felt right at home.
The other day my friend noticed that there was some blood in Monty's crap, and promptly made an appointment for him at the same vet he takes his cats too. He has 3 cats of his own, which technically makes him crazy.
Anyhoo, we rushed my cat Monty to the vet, who was extremely nice and very knowledgeable. Instead of taking Monty away and leaving me in the waiting room, I got to go into the exam room. I really appreciated this because I got to watch the nice vet stick his fingers up my cats butt, which is more entertaining then reading those boring pet magazines.
It turns out Monty is perfectly healthy and a little blood in the crap is normal from time to time. We have also determined that Monty crapping everywhere is a behavioral, and not because he is sick.
So basically, my cat is an asshole.
(actually, something probably scared him and gave him a negative association with using the covered litter box. The vet suggested getting a litter box that is uncovered and shaped differently and putting it in a different location. So far this is working.
5 CRAPTASTIC STARS!!!!!!)
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My cat has a crush on Dr. Royziki. (Pronounced: Rose-icky)
My little girl cat is very shy. It takes a long time for her to open up to people, but not Dr. Royziki. His voice was very gentle and he was very kind to her.
When we got home instead of doing her normal hide-for-hours-under-the-bed in protest of going to the vet, she hid for 15 minutes and then came out and sniffed her carrier. I think she was thinking of another way to get to see him again.
She loves Dr. Royziki
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Update: I saw a different vet this time, Dr. Benfatto, and she did a much better job than the last guy we saw. She diagnosed her well and provided options for treatment and I was also glad to hear the diet I put my fat cat on has her losing weight. Just stay clear of Dr. Clark if you come here.
*****
I am really questioning if my cat is getting the best care here after our last visit. Compassion is very important to see displayed toward my cat if it isn't feeling well and that was lacking from the last vet we saw here. Makes me wonder how they would care for my pet if it were to get seriously ill. In the past the other vets here have been very sweet but even the nice ones may have missed the boat on some treatment obviously needed earlier.
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Especially Cats has been really good to my little love. She had sort of a weird boycott of eating where she lost a lot of weight (terrifying!) and though it turned out that she was just a diva who wanted wet food and not dry (really! enough for a hunger strike in protest of our dry food offerings) this place was very thorough and diligent. Both Dr. R. and Dr. B have been great to us.
The hunger strike did end up costing over $600 before we found out that she wanted wet food, however. But I think it is better safe than sorry so I'll still give 5 stars.
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I also found this great place on Yelp. A vet hospital just for cats? How terrific is that?! Dr.Benfatto saw my cat and she was very gentle with him. My cat is on the fearful side and her kind manner put him at ease. She also kissed his head while interacting with him and that just melted my heart. This place gives animals the complete respect they deserve and I would never go anywhere else.
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They've done a really great job on taking care of my two cats (Zoe and Little Guy). Both are special needs cats that are about 14-15 years old.
They saved my Zoe... she went from 13 pounds to less than 10 pounds with the previous vet who couldn't figure out what was wrong. A lot of blood tests and misplaced X-rays. The, enter Especially Cats, who did the correct tests for her. Yes, her thyroid problem came back, they said. It doesn't happen often, but the tests showed that it did. Dr. Coral put Zoe on thyroid medication and she's happy as a clam nowadays.
They saved our Little Guy. He was hiding out a lot and sudden started walking funny. He was losing weight too. We took the poor guy in... For a hearty eater, he had dropped a couple of pounds. They tested him and it turned out that he had diabetes. Dr. Anne-Marie Benefacto put him on a new diet, and BAM... his diabetes was kept in check and he didn't need injections.
Dr. Ari Rozycki helped Zoe immensely and took great care of her this year when she have to have a tooth removed. He was magnificent and attentive. He understood that she was an "older" girl and did everything to ensure that she would be OK. He also called back several times to see how she was doing after the operation!
I also love the fact that they are concerned about my cats.
I have a web site http://www.psycherelic...
You can see how healthy the kids look under the care of Especially Cats.
Hell... the doctors there speak cat.
They are beautiful people! Anyone with cats should check them out. They are such loving people and it shows.
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These people really know what they are doing. The place is spotless, well-organized, and offers the kind of personal care you can only get from a smaller operation. (I've seen the back area, too.) Dr. Rozycki is especially good with animals. I have seen a lot of vets over the years, and I think he may be the best in the Bay Area. He is not only exceptionally loving and attentive, but he is an expert with phlebotomy (finds the vein every time; always painless to the cat), dental surgery, and any procedures he's done for my three cats. He is also very sensitive to weighing the benefits of a procedure versus the stress it would cause to the animal. I believe the other vets at this practice are very good, too. One of them recommended a very effective joint-restoring supplement to a friend of mine, and it worked wonders for her cat. The senior vet tech staff is also highly skilled and intelligent. PLUS, the prices are fantastically reasonable. This place is a gift to the community. Highly recommended!
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It's nice going to a vet that only treats felines.
The vet staff is consistent and has many years of experience. They take their time and do thorough exams. They are gentle with my cats and keep good records.
One time...a newer vet was doing an exam on my cat and recommended that the cat have some scaling done his teeth. Because the cat needed to be under heavy sedation for the procedure, a full blood work-up needed to be done for $100. Feeling that this was good advice by a trained vet, we had the blood taken and came back for the consultation by another vet, and found out that our cat's teeth are in great shape and the blood tests were not needed. What a waste of $100!!!
No refund was given...which takes away 2 stars by default
I've moved too far away to bring our cats back here, but I'd still recommend this office for any cat owner. Just make sure you get one of the main vets to do the examination.
I feel really lucky to have found this vet after moving here 3 years ago.
They saved my cat's life!
Shortly after moving into my new apt, she somehow got out of my building and got sick being on the streets for a few days. (Thank God for microchips!) They took her in and gave her and me the best treatment. Because of her age and condition, they gave me a 50/50 chance she could pull through and patiently waited for me to decide if I should put her to sleep or go for lots of treatments. I decided to go with extensive antibiotic treatments, overnight treatment at All Animals Emergency Hospital (love them too!), high caloric prescription food, electrolytes, etc. What else is your savings account for anyway??
Long story short, she recovered and with their awesome care she's now a healthy, happy 17 year old kitty! Yes, 17!!
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I and my 5 cats have been going to Dr. Coral at Especially Cats for 3 years. It has always been a pleasant experience every time. Dr. Coral not only takes great care of the kitties, she also provides us with great advices and answers all questions patiently. No one at Especially Cats ever rush us through the appointment. They always make sure to take good care of us and that the kitties are comfortable. All staff at Especially Cats are gentle with my kitties and very helpful too.
One time, I decided to foster a dog for two months, and Dr Coral provided us with very helpful advices on the medical care for our foster dog and how to introduce dog to our cats.
I had also brought a cat who was being difficult at other vet clinic, and Dr Coral took care of her without any problem.
FIVE STARS for Especially Cats!!!
One of my kitties suddenly got sick and I knew over the weekend that I needed to take him somewhere ASAP Monday morning. After calling a few vets and letting them know that my cat might have Fatty Liver Disease - Especially Vets let me know that I could bring my cat in. I brought my cat in and they were very gracious about making sure that there were no men around (he doesn't like men) and seeing him.
He's still sick but they have designated a plan to try to turn it around. I am so happy that I took him here and am only sad that I was moving out of the area. To whomever I mentioned that I took my vet here - they have said 'Oh I have heard great things about this place!'
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I love Especially Cats. All the vets and staff are friendly and I feel very comfortable bringing Kimmy Kitty and Lucy to them for their annual check ups. It's already bad enough that I have to chase them throughout my house just to capture them and get them into "the cage" (everyone, you know how that is -- THEY KNOW), so when they get to Especially Cats they're pretty stressed. But the vets are very gentle with them, they ease up and take the thermometer up the butt like good little kitties. And I like the fact that they only specialize in cats and are around the corner from me! Very convenient and easy street parking for others.
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My family has been taking our cats to Especially Cats for over 20 years (really - since 1986!). Not once have we had a bad experience with this fabulous veterinary clinic. Dr. Constance Korol and Dr. Ari Rozicki are phenomenal doctors who truly understand and care for their feline patients. Dr. Anne Marie Benfatto has also seen some of our cats, but I do not have as much experience with her personally (though my mom says she is also great). The staff and vet techs absolutely rock as well.
In 2004, when our family cat Peter was diagnosed with FIP, the doctors at Especially Cats did everything in their power to help us. They even suggested an alternative medicine vet for a second opinion. Dr. Korol went out of her way to research some alternative treatments and called and emailed me with ideas and suggestions. She had seen Peter since he was a kitten and she actually had tears in her eyes at one of our appointments when it was clear he was failing. Having this clinic as a trusted resource made an awful and difficult time just a bit easier to bear.
However, most recently, I want to rave about my experiences with Dr. Rozicki. I live in Los Angeles currently and I have had a really hard time finding a good/reliable vet for my personal cat Chip. I've gone through three vets at this point. During his last visit to our current LA vet, Chip was agitated and had to be held down to be examined. I thought they were rough with him and weren't really listening to me. Their opinion was that Chip needed a full teeth cleaning and I just wasn't sure. So when I recently came home for a week's vacation with Chip, I thought I would bring him in to Especially Cats just to get another opinion from a vet clinic I really trust.
What a difference! Dr. Rozicki gently held Chip who calmed down immediately and let the doctor do everything that was needed, including a hand-scaling of his teeth - without even a meow of protest. It was just such a stress-free trip for my cat and all of my questions and concerns were addressed to boot. Thank you! I *heart* Especially Cats.
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The veterinarians at this hospital are totally knowledgeable and caring.
When I took my cat there for the first time the vet looked at the black spots on her chin and told me that's feline acne. I had always thought it was from the dry food. And she had been to lots of other veterinarians over the years and nobody had ever noticed this. All I had to do was switch from plastic food bowls to ceramic ones and the acne disappeared!
It's also really nice for the cats that no other types of animals (especially barking dogs) are around.
The only thing I did not like is that for the boarding they charge another $20 for the day the cat is picked up on. Even if I get her as soon as they open in the morning (something about some cage maintenance bs).
But other than that, they really are great!
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FYI - I called today (8/20/07) and was told they are not accepting new customers because they are overbooked as is.
They get 3 stars for not being able to meet customer demand.
My feelings about this place are very close to those already stated.
I took my little guy here during the last two weeks of his 17 year life because of issues w/another vet.
Even though I had to eventually put him down everyone here was great. I will return and recommend w/out reservation.
Thanks to the Yelp reviewers, I found this wonderful site for my cat who suffers from neurological problems. I've had three vets in SD, and thanks to Dr. Corol., she is the only one that really has the expertise to help my cat live a good, quality life, while controlling her seizures and biting. I am really thankful that someone cares enough to help my little cat.
Update: Dr. AnneMarie is also awesome. She and Dr. Corol both are helping me with my kitty. They're so helpful and kind and I'm really glad I found this vet.
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My cats have received care from this clinic since February 2003. While all the vets are fantastic, Dr. Anne Marie Benfatto is especially good. I've rescued two breeds (a Siamese and an Oriental Shorthair) and she is great with their special needs, particularly with Laki and her asthma.
The staff is fantastic- very helpful and friendly. The clinic can provide most medications on the spot. Parking seems to always be available along Taraval or the close by side streets.
I especially appreciate the exclusve "all cat" approach. Very helpful in keeping my girls calm. I do't know what I'd do without this clinic and the expertise of Dr. Benfatto. I recommend this clinic to any cat person I meet!
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I have what is often referred to as a "caution kitty." My Misty can be less of a cuddle bum and more of a beast of terror. So, whenever I have to take him to the Vet, it's a little rough on both of us.
In the past, the vet has always had me secure my cat in towel, and basically hold him down, while they did their exams. Growls, hisses, and emptying of the bowels were always the finishing touch to any vet visit.
I now however, have begun taking my ferocious feline to Especially for Cats. When I checked in at the front desk the first time, I whisper in an urgent tone identifying Misty as a caution kitty.
They were unfazed.
Concerned that everyone working there would keep their fingers, I explained the seriousness of the situation.
They were unfazed.
Misty was whisked into the back, and they told me that they would come get me in a moment. When I was allowed into the exam room, I was laid flat out. There was my cat sitting patiently on the exam table, a little afraid, but not attacking anyone. Apparently, they have a protocol for kitties like mine, and they know just how to keep them happy, or at least calm.
The exam went outstanding, and when my cat got sick a couple months later, I was relieved to know that I could take him here and they would be able to handle it. Misty may still ambush the ankles of everyone who enters my home, but thanks to Especially for Cats, I know that he will be doing this for YEARS to come.
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This is the best place I've ever taken my cats to. The people here are warm and caring. The vets know their stuff and have a wonderful "bedside manner." My cat gets the BEST care here. I'm so fortunate to have found this great place.
My favorite vet here is AnneMarie Benfatto. But I saw Ari Eric the other day for an emergency and he was really wonderful, too.
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I like this place. There are cat pics (patients) everywhere and each pic made me smile. It's a really small waiting room but everyone doesn't seem to mind. Everyone at the front desk was nice and attentive. They even sell food/products there.
This was my first time here for Clair's recheck for her cornea ulcer since I really did not want to go to pets unlimited anymore.
We met with Dr. Ari and he was really laidback and informative. He was really gentle with Clair.
Vets at PU had such a heavy touch, it made me uneasy at times watching them handle my cats...should you be forcing that qtip in her eye like that?..should you be shoving that thermometer up her butt like that?...I don't think you need to pin her down like that?..you get the pic...
But Dr. Ari was so gentle with Clair she didn't resist once..not even for the thermometer...she just chilled on her blanket on top of the examination table. My cats are pretty mellow but at PU she is ready to give the vets the paw and hide under the chair (yes, Clair does the 'talk to the paw' move when she ain't havin' it.)
The prices are way better than PU! The same drops used in the eyecheck here cost me $15 vs. $28 at pu.
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My kitty was relaxed. It was very quiet (as opposed to Park Animal where they slam doors constantly). No dogs. Knowledgeable vets, highly recommend them.
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I've been going here for many years now, having tried other places in SF that pretty much sucked. I've had appointments with, I think, just about every vet at Especially For Cats, and they all seem competent and congenial as well. This may sound weird to non-cat people, but I really like the way they treat my cats - friendly, but not patronizing. I'm not into people who do the baby talk thing, etc. but appreciate vets who recognize that my cats are really cute and special. Dr. Korol seems especially knowledgeable, but last i was there, seemed to be cutting back on her hours (getting ready for early retirement?). The best thing about this place though is the fact that they don't push unnecessary surgeries and on you or perform extra procedures without asking you for permission and then charging you a lot (a problem I had with other places in the Mission and Nob Hill). And, even though they are busy, they will clear their schedule for you in emergencies. When my last cat was dying from lymphoma, they were very empathetic, did all that they could (within my financial means) and even gave me literature on how to decide whether or not to put my old friend down. Ths support staff - some are nice, and some are just so-so in the friendly department.
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I will always adore these vets. I got a kitten from a shelter and he ended up having distemper. I spent three days with these vets and the emergency vets trying to figure out what was wrong with the little guy. By the last day I had been up for three days bottle feeding him at night, and the poor little guy was suffering. I was sobbing and distraught and they helped me make the decision to put him down. At the end, one of the vets gave me a huge hug, a big long mom hug. I really appreciated their kindness.
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this place is great. dr coral rules!!! she is so knowledgable and has been so helpful with my cat who we thought at a young age was showing signs of FIP.
i really appreciate the time, care and attention they take with my cats. dr. coral is really patient and never tries to rush you out.... you always leave feeling like you've gotten really great care for your baby.
I had a great experience getting my cat a checkup and some meds today, except for a 25 minute wait.
I had one big issue, though, with getting my cat chipped. If you're planning to get your cat a microchip implant, read on.
Instead of a single, national pet registry in the US, there are dozens. Especially Cats implants the HomeAgain brand chip, but it's up to you to register the chip with one or more registries. They hand you a form that you're supposed to mail in to HomeAgain, who will then charge you $10 plus a $14.99/year recurring fee. I'm sure this is a great registry and service, and if you don't care that it's way overpriced, go for it.
Here's where the problem came in for me though: The vet recommended that I mail in the form with a check for $10, and just ignore the $14.99 yearly fee. She said that HomeAgain will enter the chip into their registry anyway. But according to the HomeAgain agreement, they reserve the right to delete your chip from the registry if you fail to pay the recurring fee. If I were a risk taker I wouldn't be chipping my cat in the first place!
This is a relatively recent development: used to be that HomeAgain charged only a one-time fee for registration. At that time, they registered you with the non-profit American Kennel Club's Companion Animal Recovery registry. Then in 2005, HomeAgain decided to run their own registry and start charging a recurring fee to be in it.
You can still register with AKC though, for a one-time-only $12.50 fee, and save yourself from recurring credit card charges. They're at www.akccar.org . There are other registries you could use, but AKC seems to be one of the larger, more established ones.
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So, as difficult as it is for you to find a good doctor for yourself-- it may be more difficult to find a good vet. here's why: you never know if your vet is truly good or not until there's something seriously wrong-- and until then, you just go in for a checkup every year and hope they're not 100% incompetent. plus, your pets can't talk, so a vet has to have extra deductive powers to figure out if there's a problem not to mention what it is.
So, i would never admit this on a forum as open as the internet if i weren't married...but i love cats! i went through like four vets in memphis because none were *quite* good enough for my little guys. exhibit a: i had this super inbred persian and he had this spot on his back that was so ticklish- if you scratched it he would actually go into a seizure and pee. one vet referred to it as a "fun party trick." WHAT?? ARE YOU HUMAN??
so you get the picture. anyway. we just tried a new vet- especially cats. the first woman we saw -- for my coughing cat, winnie-- was great. incredibly thorough. she actually called to check up weekly to check on her. and did extra research to *make sure* it was asthma and not some rare disease that, say, only affects grey siamese in potrero hill. she actually scared me a little....
but hey- i'll take it. we just took her brother in and had another great experience. they're nice. they get how much freaks like me love our pets. they might actually like them a little more...
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Awesome. It's because of the amazing staff, and of course the dog free environment. Go friday morning for good parking. Dr Benfatto is the warmest and best around. Always kisses our cat on the head before the exam!
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This is the best cat vet office in the city !!! Dr. Royziki is so kind, compasionate, and competant. I can't say enough good things about him. He is the best vet I've been to in over 20 years. They diagnosed problems in two of my cats that another vet in the city missed. I have been going to them ever since. Their prices are reasonable and they are VERY COMPASIONATE and know cats. Dr. Royziki knows cats. Period.