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This is what I think about The Cat Doctor: they don't care about their patients and customers, are incompetent and should have their license revoked. The owner is a real cold-hearted woman who showed her true colors after the death of my beloved pet, referring to her as "the cat" after she DIED, right to my face, when previously, she always referred to her by name. How this so-called cat loving vet could turn so cold and distance herself from one of her own patients by referring to her as "the cat" after her DEATH, clearly displays a significant lack of sympathy, tact, professionalism and caring in the face of grieving pet owners. It clearly shows how they really view their patients: as "a cat", not a beloved pet/family member of their owners. My baby was denied access to this woman, who was her primary vet, upon request when she was ill, which is another example of how they care for their own patients. The attending vet was a complete, incompetent idiot who should not treat any animal!
No cat should have their health put at risk. Don't be fooled by their name and motto, they do NOT provide loving care! Remember to check with the California Veterinary Medical Board before you use any vet. Citations, fines, and complaints against vets are not made public knowledge, you have to ask for the info.
I found out how these people really operate after it was too late. My sweet kitten is DEAD! I hope you know what I'm getting at. DO NOT USE THIS CLINIC!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
My kitties have been patients of Dr Kendra for years. She is absolutely a cat whisperer, if we bring in a nervous kitty, she knows how to make them calm. We have one baby that does not want to be carried. Kendra can carry her everywhere. I feel sorry for the over reacting individuals on this thread. Dr. Kendra and her staff are the best.
I've been a customer of The Cat Doctor in Thousand Oaks for many years. My cats have seen Dr. Lovelace, Dr. (Kendra) Decile, and Dr. Cody. My experience has always been extremely positive. Drew has always been very polite and considerate and very loving towards my cats. Most of the time I go in for routine periodic health checks, but I have one senior cat who has gotten quite sick at least four times over the years, twice with serious respiratory infections and twice with pancreatitis. For the respiratory infections he stayed overnight receiving IV medications, and for the pancreatitis he's been sent home with medications. In every case he was treated with what was necessary and no more, and quickly got well again. I have never felt that any treatments were medically unnecessary, and I have always felt that the veterinary science being applied was solidly-founded (I work am in medical research myself). The time that I met Dr. Lovelace was when I brought in a stray cat that I had found on the street and was concerned about. This was my first visit to The Cat Doctor several years ago. Dr. Lovelace not only quickly diagnosed the cat's problem and gave him a shot for it, she was so appreciative that I would spend my time and money for a stray that she charged me only for the shot (not for her time) and even gave me a cat carrier for the stray since I had brought him in with my bare hands. Overall, over the years, I have always found The Cat Doctor to be professional, ethical, scientifically competent, and very warm and welcoming to customers and patients.
I have only had one problem with The Cat Doctor and it was really with one particular vet. Dr. Darcie, I feel, is cold-hearted and rude. We had brought our very sick cat in and we're used to seeing Dr. Kendra who was amazing. We had been trying to figure out what was wrong our cat with Dr. Kendra and Dr. Darcie accused us of torturing him, told us he had cancer (which wasn't true) and very abrasively told us to put him down. I realize that he was probably not going to get better, but the way in which it was handled traumatized me and my young daughter. This was 5 years ago and I'm still upset by how it was handled. I still love Dr. Kendra and would love to see her, but she only works at the Ventura office now. I would caution against writing scathing reviews against clinics when you have a problem with a specific vet.
I heard this guy Drew drunk one night in a bar downtown and he ranted about patients and then I spoke to his friend who says he was arrested for animal abuse outside the state at another job he had at a shelter in Phoenix.
This is a bunch of lies. I worked at the cat doctor for years and all we did was spend time being gentle and loving to the kitties who were in our care and also to they'r people who sometimes (like you) are very difficult, . Yes Drew is a guy and maybe alittle less loving then us girl techs but he isn't as you describe. You must have been a horrible and very rude client. Maybe if you weren't such a %(#(*# us techs would be nicer. But theres only so far you can push someone. I love the cat doctor and the owner and even tho I don't work there anymore I still take my cats there. The owner Darcy is in love with every cat and would never be rude to a client so what your saying sounds like lies. Get over yourself and stop harassing the local vets.
Don't worry-I'll file a formal complaint for you. My Cat BoBo is has been a important part of our family for 17 years. He's 17 which is the human equivalent of 85 in cat years. You have to handle him gently and softly because of his age. BoBo had developed an ear infection so I called around and found The Cat Doctor-and I wish I never did! I really wanted to like The Cat Doctor... They had lots of propaganda about how they care about animals so I thought it would be no big deal to treat BoBo's ear infection. I was given prices over the phone for the ear infection by Faryn Kapala, listed as a veterinary technician. Suddenly Dr. Drew Johnson came over the phone in a rushed manner and said I would need an appointment. I made one for 3:30 and he said to show up a half hour early to fill in paperwork. I showed up with my agitated cat on time... was put into a TINY room where I waited for 2 hours as my poor old cat paced the room in a panic and in pain from his ear...! Finally Dr. Karen Lovelace, listed as a veterinarian, came into the room. I made it clear I was there for his ear infection but before Karen even treated his ear, she began insisting I LEAVE MY CAT OVERNIGHT FOR A TEETH CLEANING in the morning where they would "sedate him"... I was shocked that she seemed more interested in running up charges than actually helping his current problem; the ear infection. Having previous sales experience I saw through her sales pitch and I said "Why on Earth are you up-selling me expensive overnight room, board and teeth cleaning when I am here for an ear infection. Shouldn't you, as a vet doctor, treat the ear first, before we worry about a tooth cleaning? And WHY would I leave BoBo overnight when he is in such ear pain? If I brought him for a cleaning I would just bring him in the morning and pick him up in a couple hours-why on Earth would I leave my family pet in pain in a strange place for a meager tooth cleaning? (BTW: SO THEY COULD CHARGE ME FOR OVERNIGHT BOARD!) Please let's just fix his ear!" (Clearly this Vet office is only interested in selling expensive unneeded services!) Unable to sell me on the extras, she left the room for another half hour! At this time my poor cat BoBo is freaking out being in this tiny room and pacing in pain. They still would NOT treat his painful ear! Finally Dr. Karen Lovelace comes back into the room SAYING ONE SHOT WOULD FIX MY CAT! Great! One shot and he's cured? (Later I found out this was untrue! This treatment would NOT have helped BoBo! He needed ear drops instead. She is a terrible vet giving WRONG treatments! But at this time I thought the ONE shot would cure him.) and she had with her a list of charges that were TRIPLE what they told me on the phone including a ridiculous charge of $42. for just looking at a slide under the microscope! Surprised that the prices were NOT what they told me on they phone I then asked if she could ask the person in charge for at least a discount... She "Sure, no problem" and left the room and closed the door. SUDDENLY-THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN AND A FURIOUS DR. Drew Johnson, veterinary technician, with red eyes bulging and spit flying, SCREAMS AT ME "IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR SERVICES GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" Meanwhile-my poor sick cat GETS SCARED at his yelling, and goes running past Drew Johnson, into the lobby and running through the offices. To my horror- Drew Johnson, supposed veterinary technician, chased my cat around the offices, grabbed him forcefully and shoved him into the carrier. I could NOT believe what I just saw! A vet treating a sick cat in a forceful mean way! I was just shocked! I showed a roll of $300 cash I had brought to pay and said, "I never said I wasn't going to pay, I simply was asking for a discount!" He continued to scream at me "Get Out!" despite a shocked waiting room of The Cat Doctor's next victims. I will never forget the look on their faces as Drew Johnson, continued his screaming! I spent all afternoon at this awful MEAN ANTI-CAT place in a tiny waiting room and instead of caring about my cat it was clear they ONLY CARED ABOUT MONEY. Now I had taken time off work, been SCREAMED AT and totally humiliated in front of everybody in the lobby and WORSE my cat was STILL in agonizing pain and not treated. In UTTER frustration I called THE CAT DOCTOR'S head office in Thousand Oaks and mentioned how I was treated (and how BoBo was NOT treated), and how I was going to report them to the Vet Board. William at the Thousand Oaks office seemed nice as he begged me not to file a report and write this review. I must be a sucker for "sweet talk" because I want to believe vets actually care about the animals. The truth is most vets just want money from our turmoil and suffering. He suggested I come to the main office the next day and they would "Comp" the charges for treatment. Despite having made an appointment elsewhere, the next day I showed up at the CAT DOCTOR's Thousand Oaks office. Here BoBo was seen by Dr. Darcie Heyes, CEO and veterinarian who said that the ONE SHOT that her other doctor was going to administer, Karen Lovelace, WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED! She gave me ear drops instead. This took maybe 5 minutes to finally treat poor BoBo. The Ventura office did not care if BoBo suffered another day. As I was leaving the office they gave me a bill for $65. I mentioned that William had promised to "comp" BoBo... but since William was "surprise" not there... I just gave up and paid anyway. BoBo ear is fine now but I went through hell to get treatment for him. This is not a new problem. I called and took a poll of all my friend's and they say most Vets in Ventura consistently charge for unnecessary procedures and cause more suffering so they can improve their bottom line. If anyone knows a good, HONEST Vet in Ventura that doesn't charge an arm and a leg please post it and let us know! Folks-don't blindly let some strange vet take YOUR precious family member on a horror ride just so they can charge you and arm and a leg. QUESTION the treatment! Question your doctor! and WRITE REVIEWS! Reviews are vital so we as consumers and pet owners can help out each other and put crooked thieves like THE CAT DOCTOR-Ventura out of business! Thanks you for your time reading this.
I have had wonderful experiences with The Cat Doctor for the last 15 years. There have been lots of health issues with my cats, but I have always found them caring and compassionate and extremely capable.
I CHECKED AND THE CAT DOCTOR HAS NO COMPLAINTS ON RECORD WITH THE CALIFORNIA VETERINARY MEDICAL BOARD.
I checked and the Cat Doctor has no complaints out against them with the board of Vet Medecine.