Fiv

[Koronin]

They go every year. One actually needs to go soon. (After this week I won't be slammed with work. For some I seem to get slammed with project work at Memorial Day and that is when the one is supposed to go in.) So she'll end up going in about a week or two after what she should have gone in. Tiger had a thyroid issue which she got the radio active iodine treatment for about a year and a half or so ago and is so much healthier now.

My new vet here is a cat only vet (and the vet she sent us to for Tiger's treatment is also a cat only vet, just an hour away). Our old vet where we used to live had separate waiting rooms for cats and dogs.

[westtexas]

Koronin, you're lucky! We're considered the "cat clinic" around here but this weekend I've got some frail ones in the hospital and the incessant barking of holiday boarders... poor kittens.

[Koronin]

I felt very lucky finding a cat only vet here. When I met with her before bringing in my cats one thing I really liked was that she felt if she specialized in cats she could help them better than if she tried to deal with both cats and dogs. The clinic in Wilmington (where Tiger went for treatment) she recommended for that treatment, and is the closest clinic that does it. Also apparently only one of three in the state that even use it for thyroid treatment.

[Veronica]

We have five feral cats we feed. Although I'm not sure how feral they really are since 4 of them I can pick up. And one of them likes to wander into my house on occasion. They have all had one trip to the vet to be neutered.

We've always had our two indoor babies vaccinated for everything because while we try to minimize their contact with the outside cats, there is some - sniffing through screens and Tucker likes to get out and check them out. They usually just run from him. And like I said, Curly Cat does wander in from time to time.

Our thinking was that we couldn't really control what happened to the outside kitties, so we needed to protect our indoor ones as best we could. When we started feeding the outdoor ones in 2005, I never expected that they would stay around so long or become so affectionate.

Veronica

[westtexas]

... one thing I really liked was that she felt if she specialized in cats she could help them better than if she tried to deal with both cats and dogs.

This is where I am hopefully headed. But they won't let you sit for the test until you have 6 years of practice under your belt (you start studying in year 5). So a ways away for me, but worth in the end, I think. Luckily my new job I start in a little less than a month will afford me the opportunities to get the continuing education and credentialing I want to get there as soon as possible.

[Koronin]

Good luck, I'll know you'll get everything you need.

[Possegal]

I have a cat-only vet and I adore her!! When my renal failure cat died after 6 yrs of treating her, not only did I get a sympathy card from the practice, I got one with a very nice letter from the vet, where she talked about me letting Chelsea-cat go out on her own terms. PLUS, I got a letter from Cornell Vet School that the practice had made a donation in my cat's name.

I love my vet.

[Brandi]

Westtexas rules! Nothing like having someone who knows what they are talking about. You bring comfort to a lot of animal people on this site! Sometime I will ask you about the feline leukemia shot. I have questions about that one.

[Maye]

Taking my two kitties to the vet this weekend. Great info in this thread!!