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The Cat Doctor is NOT a full-service veterinary practice – instead, we manage your cat’s day to day healthcare needs with referral to fully-equipped veterinary hospitals if needed. Think of us as your cat’s general practitioner (GP), your first point of contact should you have any concerns regarding your cat’s health and wellbeing. All clients of The Cat Doctor must also be registered with a local veterinary clinic, who will provide urgent care, hospitalisation and advanced diagnostic testing as needed.
Provision of Emergency Veterinary Services:
As a single-vet practice with no clinic facilities, The Cat Doctor does not provide emergency services. If your cat is seriously ill and required immediate treatment, please ring your veterinary hospital to arrange for this care. If you’re not sure whether or not it is an emergency, you are welcome to ring us on 07961 154886 and we will do our best to assist. However, if you are unable to get a hold of us, do not wait, contact your hospital immediately to discuss your cat’s condition. In the event of an out-of-hours emergency, the hospital’s voicemail should direct you to their provider, or please see our website for a list of local emergency services. You are responsible for providing your own transportation to a clinic if necessary – many taxis will take a cat in a basket, or you can ring Veterinary Assist (a veterinary ambulance service) on 07961 952 379 or 07940 360 936 or Duty of Care Pet Services on 07909 966892.
Opening Hours:
The Cat Doctor’s usual opening hours are 9am-5pm Monday-Friday. Our consulting hours are 10-3, M-F. As a single-vet practice, there will be times during the year when The Cat Doctor will be closed. During periods of staff holiday, we will do our best to monitor messages once a day but will be unable to take your call. Should your cat require veterinary treatment while we are closed, please contact your clinic for assistance. Please note that additional charges will apply for any case seen out of hours, so please ask for an estimate when these services are required. Further details are available on our website.
Referrals to Local Clinics:
As a mobile practice, there are some services that we are unable to provide in your own home (such as surgery, hospitalisation and advanced diagnostic tests). Should your cat require these services, we will refer you to your local clinic for care. You will be responsible for getting your cat to their scheduled appointment at the clinic. If you do not own a car, many taxis will take a cat in a basket or you can ring Veterinary Assist (a veterinary ambulance service) on 07961 952 379 or 07940 360 936 or Duty of Care Pet Services on 07909 966892.
Fees:
The Cat Doctor is not out to make a profit – our goal is to run a sustainable business so we can continue to help you and your cats. We are not a charity however, and receive no outside funding, so we need to make ends meet. Our fees are regularly evaluated and may be adjusted up or down depending on the current costs of providing our service. Veterinary services and products are subject to VAT, and this is included in our listed prices. Payment is accepted via credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Maestro only) or direct bank transfer. Payment in full is expected at the time our service is provided. For ongoing cases, this may include settling any balance at the end of each day. Written estimates are provided upon request and are valid for 1 month.
Prescriptions:
When your pet requires a medication, we may provide this ourselves or you may be given a written prescription to purchase medications from another veterinary surgeon or pharmacy. You may also request a prescription at any time should you choose to purchase your medications from another source such as an online pharmacy. There is a charge for each written prescription. If you have any concerns about the cost of your pet’s medication, please bring this to our attention. Medications not dispensed at the time of a visit may either be posted to you or delivered to you, and a small fee may be charged for this service.
Use of Unlicensed Medications:
In an effort to provide your cat with the best possible care, it is sometimes necessary to use a medication in a way that differs from that listed on the medication’s data sheet (‘off-license’), or to use a specially prepared unlicensed medication, or to use a medication imported from another country. By accepting treatment by The Cat Doctor, you accept that there may be risks and side effects associated with these (or any) treatments, though every reasonable effort will be made to minimise them. Should your cat be prescribed an off-license medication, we will advise of any common side effects but please feel free to ask if you have any concerns.
Client Confidentiality, Ownership of Records and Patient Photographs:
All patient and client information is held in confidence according to the Data Protection Acts and will not be disclosed except under the following circumstances – when the client provides a confirmed request, when another veterinary surgeon requests it to provide continuity of care, to the court or our agent as part of a legal process, or to an outsourced reminder service for vaccinations or other treatments. Case records and similar documents (including chargeable diagnostic images such as x-rays) are held by and shall remain the property of The Cat Doctor, however we are happy to provide copies and a clinical summary to the owner, another veterinary surgeon, or insurance company at the owner’s request. By submitting an insurance claim, you are requesting us to provide a copy of your cat’s clinical history to the insurance company. We sometimes take photographs of our patients and/or their medical conditions, and may use these photos for educational or marketing purposes. If you’d rather we didn’t photograph your pet, please let us know.
Concerns and Complaints:
We aim to provide every cat and their owner with the best possible care and hope that you are happy with the service you receive. If for any reason you are dissatisfied however, please do not hesitate to address your concerns in writing to Amy Bergs DVM MRCVS first so we can try to solve the problem. We want you to be comfortable with your cat’s care so if at any point you would like to seek a second opinion, we are happy to forward your cat’s records onto whichever veterinary surgeon you choose. No addition or variation of these conditions will bind the practice unless it is specifically agreed in writing and signed by the Practice Principal. No agent or person employed by, or under contract with, the practice has the authority to alter or vary these conditions in any way. By registering with us, you agree to these terms and conditions. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these terms and conditions, please contact us on 07961 154886.
The Cat Doctor is committed to providing the best possible care to both you and your cat, in a straightforward and stress-free manner. We want to make sure that you’re happy with the care your cat receives so if you have any questions or concerns, please ask!
