Do I need an appointment? Yes. We are an appointment-only clinic. We do not see walk-ins. You will need to call us at (910)938-4515 or e-mail us at staff@coastalcatclinic.com for an appointment. There may not be a doctor available at certain times. By scheduling appointments, we try to get your kitty (and you) in and out as quickly and efficiently as possible to minimize stress to you and your cat. Ideally this gives every cat the opportunity for the best veterinary experience possible. Our office hours are 8-5 Monday through Friday, closed on weekends.
Are you open on the weekends? No, we are not open to the public on the weekends at all for any reason. We do not discharge any hospitalized or boarding patients over the weekend. Staff comes daily over weekends to feed, water, etc, but the doors will not be opened to the public.
We are a veterinarian for cats only. We don’t see dogs at all (not even little ones). Sorry, but Dr. Smith hung up her dog scrubs years ago and has never looked back!
Doctors:
Will I see the same veterinarian each visit? Yes, unless you happen to have an appointment on one of only a few days a year when Dr. Smith is out of town for continuing education, her own doctor’s visits, or planned vacation. During any prolonged absence, Dr. Smith will hire a relief veterinarian to cover the clinic hours. We only have one doctor other than those few days a year. We will let you know in advance if Dr. Smith is not going to be in (very rare), so you will see the same veterinarian each visit.
FAQ about discounts, billing, and office visits:
office visits/discounts:
Do you give a discount for bringing in more than one cat at a time? No, because we treat each cat as an individual and maintain individual records. Each cat is allotted 30 minutes of the doctor’s time so that you have ample opportunity to ask any questions you have and we have plenty of time to discuss your cat’s health without being rushed. Instead of offering discounts, we try to simply bill reasonably for our time and services for everyone.
Will I be charged an office visit/exam when I just want shots for my cat? Yes, because we do not vaccinate sick cats, and the most important part of the vaccine visit is actually the physical exam. The office visit/exam fee is the bread and butter that helps keep our doors open. It pays the rent, pays the staff, etc.
Will I be charged an office visit every time I come in? Yes, we are a business and that is how we pay our bills. Literally what we sell is Dr. Smith’s time and knowledge for the better health of your cat. If we didn’t charge for that, we would have to close our doors.
billing and payments:
Do you offer billing or in-house financing? No. We are a very small business without an accounts receivable department. We do accept all major credit cards and also offer Care Credit as an addition form of payment.
Can I get an estimate for your services? Certainly. We are always happy to provide an estimate to try to avoid nasty financial surprises. If the cost of treatment is more than you can afford, we can also discuss ways to spread out treatments or offer alternative treatments to help ease any financial issues.
Do you take pet insurance? Yes, but maybe not the way you may be used to. You pay us up front and the pet insurance company reimburses you for our services. We are happy to provide detailed billing and diagnoses to assist you in filing your claim.
FAQ about health certificates:
Do you write health certificates? Yes, we will write interstate health certificates for our own clients. We do not offer this service for non-clients. We do not offer international health certificates. Some international health certificates require months of preliminary arrangements, microchips, rabies titers, etc. The base veterinary services has a higher level of USDA training and certification and is much better prepared to deal with overseas pet travel.
Dr. Smith maintains USDA certification adequate to write interstate health certificates, but that is the extent of it. This allows clients to take their cats on air flights with them within the continental US.
FAQ about boarding:
kitty condos
Do you board cats? Yes we do. We offer “bark-free” boarding. We have large cat cages with perches and porthole doors into other compartments. Space and season-permitting, boarders usually get to use 2 sections of cage during their stay. Boarding kitties have a view of the front lobby and supervise the waiting room! During Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other high-boarding times, cats may only be given a single section of cage. No weekend admissions/discharges are permitted. No hurricane boarding is accepted.
What is needed for my cat to board with you? All cats must be spayed or neutered if old enough! All cats need to be in good health, current on rabies and distemper vaccines, and be free of external parasites. We will board stable diabetics and other pets with stable illness who are already patients at our practice but we can not extend that benefit to non-clients.
Pet travel tips:
What should I know about traveling with my pet? The AVMA has published a nice article about common issues and information about traveling with your pet, whether in a car, on a plane, etc and can be found here.
General cat FAQ:
I just got a cat. What does he/she need at the first visit? The answer to that question depends on many things, including the age and health of the cat. Ideally we should begin seeing your cat as soon as you get it. All cats and kittens should be vaccinated against rabies, should have a distemper vaccine, should be dewormed.
How old is my cat in people years? There is no exact, universally accepted scale, but a good approximation can be found here.
Why do cats spray? That can be a very complicated FAQ. Stress, anxiety, territorial marking, medical problems, etc can all play a roll. Unraveling that ball of yarn can be quite challenging but begins with an exam of your cat and then a consultation about your cat’s life style, environment, food, etc.
My cat stays indoors all the time. Why should she be vaccinated or go to the vet?The state of NC requires all dogs, cats and ferrets over the age of 4 months to be vaccinated against rabies. There is no provision in that law that says “…except animals that never go outside”. Yearly veterinary visits for your younger kitty and twice yearly visits for your cat over 8 years old can prevent problems or catch them early. Regular care, deworming and parasite control will keep your kitty healthier longer. It’s much easier to fix or manage something that has only been going on for a short while than something that has been going on for years.
FAQ about spay/neuter:
When can you spay or neuter my cat? We will spay or neuter your cat at 4 months of age, or 4 pounds, whichever comes first! Your kitty does not need to be 6 months or older and certainly does not need to have a litter prior to being surgically sterilized. We will need to see your cat for an appointment prior to surgery so that we can examine your kitty and be sure that there are not other problems. And we want to be sure that your kitty’s vaccines are current.
Does neutering eliminate spraying? Maybe. Cats spray for a variety of reasons, only some of which are sexually related. Also, spraying is a learned behavior. If your cat has already started spraying, neutering is the first step in trying to correct that behavior.
Cat teeth FAQ:
Do cats get cavities? Yes, but we don’t call them “cavities”. We call them “feline oral resorptive lesions”. They are painful and are not repairable with fillings. We need to pull those teeth instead.
Do you clean cats’ teeth? Yes we do! If needed we can also pull teeth.
Why should I have my cat’s teeth cleaned? Just like with us, tartar and bacteria accumulate in your cat’s mouth. Unlike us, cats don’t brush their own teeth. Over time, the tartar and gingivitis can cause gum disease and root exposure, tooth and bone infection. All this causes mouth odor and pain and eventually tooth loss. Mouth problems can lead to heart, liver and kidney disease in addition to pain.
FAQ about fleas and flea control:
I can’t afford a prescription medicine for fleas. What can I use safely on my cat instead?Advantage 2,Frontline, Cheristin even the generic versions of the products, are safe for use on cats, even very young cats. The Seresto collar is a good choice as well. They may not be as fast-acting as the prescription products available these days, but you won’t be calling us because you accidentally poisoned your cat. NEVER use dog products on cats without consulting a vet first. Some of them are lethal to cats.
My cat doesn’t go outside. Does he still need flea control? Maybe. Just because your cat doesn’t go outside doesn’t mean a few fleas can’t hitchhike inside to him on your pant legs. Or maybe he darted out the door the other day “just for a second”… that’s all it takes. Or you have a dog, even if the dog is on flea prevention…. One pregnant flea, some cat blood, next thing you know you have a serious flea issue.
FAQ about euthanasia:
Do you put cats to sleep? (Yes, and no!) We do NOT do convenience euthanasia. If you don’t want your cat anymore or need to move, that is not a good reason to kill it, in our opinion. If your cat has an illness and is suffering, we can help your cat humanely on its way.
How do I know when it is “time” to euthanize my cat? No one wants their pet to suffer. Things to consider are: does your kitty still seem happy to see you? is he/she aware of his/her surroundings? is he/she still eating well? can he/she sleep in a comfortable position? A quality of life scale such as the one found here can be used to help you to decide when your cat should be humanely euthanized.
Will you euthanize my cat at home? Regrettably, we are unable to perform at-home euthanasia. Dr. Smith’s liability insurance and controlled drug licenses do not cover her when she is not practicing AT her designated facility. Also, since we are a 1 doctor practice, if that 1 doctor leaves, there is no one here to take care of the sick cats in the hospital. There is a veterinary hospice/home euthanasia service in Wilmington called Coastal Pet Hospice which can come to your home. You can contact them for cost and availability if you need them.
