Vets and how to get the best from them.
Whether you have one cat or 20 cats at some time in its life you will have to visit the vets.
If you are new to the area or it is your first pet ask around other owners for the name of a good vet or if you move from a different are then ask your old vets to recommend one. Otherwise go to the Feline Advisory Bureau website for their list of cat friendly vets.
Try and build a relationship with your vet and the nurses in the practice . This will make things easier for you when you visit. You may belong to a practice that has more than one vet but the principle is still the same.
When you visit the vets with a sick animal it is advisable to take notes of your cats symptoms ,behavior and any other things that you notice with the cat.This will make it easier for you to explain to the vet about your cat.
Don't be afraid to ask questions about the procedures or suggested tests . Ask them what they are going to do and ask the cost .If the cost is a problem discuss ways of payment or other options before going ahead otherwise you could end up with a large bill that you cannot pay.
if you are not satisfied with what the vet decides is wrong with the cat ask for a second opinion from either another vet at the practice or from another vets altogether.
Check to see what hours the vet works and if they have an out-of-hours service or if they use an emergency practice. Ask the charges for out-of-hours calls and treatment as they can be very expensive and you may have to travel a distance to get to the emergency practice.
Ask if they run vet nurse clinics or visit the practices web site to see what they have to offer before you make a decision.
