The internet is a great resource. Most, if not all local veterinary clinics have online reviews from current and past clients. This is a good place to start. Just keep in mind extremely positive or negative reviews can be misleading. Here you are looking for an “overall” impression from other customers of the clinic.

You should hear a “smiling” and “happy” person on the other end of the phone. A stressed out employee or an employee who is uninterested would not be a good start for this practice. The person answering the phone should be able to answer all of your questions or direct you to someone at the practice who can. They should also show interest in your cat. Questions like “what is your cat’s name”, “how old is your kitty”, and general concern for your cat’s health are all positives.

A clinic should be ready and willing to give you a tour of their facility. This shows their clinic is clean, organized, and they are proud of it. This also tells you as a cat owner this practice has nothing to hide. When you come in for a tour the staff should be happy to see you. The clinic should be neat, clean and not have any offensive odors. Ask to see their surgical suite and some of their equipment.

Your friends may be one of the best resources. They will be open and honest about their experience and tell you what to expect.

Mainly how long have they been in practice? Have they always specialized in just cats? A new graduate may not be the best choice for your kitty. Experience with cats and feline disease is very important. You should be able to research all of this information on the internet.

Normally the longer a clinic has been in business will be a good sign they practice decent medicine. Clinics close all the time. Normally clinics go out of business when people stop coming to see them. Clients leave clinics when they do not feel their cat has received the best care.

1) Does the clinic offer payment plans?