VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia

I’m sorry to have to write this review. They asked years ago for us to write a review and I obliged (and in fairness did not ask for a favorable review, but saw that we were happy at the time with the service).
The place still has knowledgable and well-​trained doctors, but there is the feeling of sales pressure now. I and some friends have had similar experiences bringing in cats with minor issues only to be told that it could be one of a dozen things, all of which needed to be tested for, no matter how remote the chances. There’s a pushiness that’s always been there, but has, in my opinion, gone over the line. In two separate incidents, I have spent over a thousand dollars on a relative’s cats, only to find that the situation resolved itself and needed no testing, no biopsies…
You’ll notice that several other reviews report a similar experience of «sales pressure,» «upsell,» and «huge bills…»
You could argue, as they do, that you need to be thorough, but one cat had never been outside and was being checked for a disease that cats *only* get outside. When asked how this could be, there was a «you never know… the cat could have somehow gotten out or perhaps an animal from the outside got in and then left and you didn’t see it…»
The front desk service is spotty, at best. The techs range from competent to less competent. Only the docs are consistently tops, but then there’s that sales pitch on the Cadillac style health care…
And most significantly, the prices are truly astronomical, which I mentioned in my first review. But on recent visits, we haven’t gotten what we’ve paid for – or anywhere near. Time to find a new vet for all the cool cats in Philly!

I have been bringing my assortment of furry babies here for 16 years now. I can recommend them without hesitation. No matter what we have needed over the years: emergency visits, last-​minute schedule changes, boarding, routine care, specialist referrals and all the issues associated with end-​of-​life, VCA has provided compassionate, friendly and professional care.
We see Dr. Simpson (unless she is unavailable) and she truly feels like part of our family. She is always willing to help us navigate treatment options with one eye on the best care for the cat and another on a realistic budget. (I would do almost anything for my cats, but let’s be honest, I can’t always afford thousands of dollars for a vet visit.)
The rest of the staff I’ve encountered are just as sweet and helpful. We have zero complaints after 16 years — I won’t take my cats anywhere else.

So yesterday we had a minor emergency with my kitty. He’s doing okay now but he has some lower urinary tract issues that apparently are very common in male cats (who knew!)
Aside from that I’d like to put my plug in for VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia. They were so nice to the big boy and they explained everything with price transparency and ease of understanding. The vet outlined everything that she would do to make sure he was okay with the prices next to it and then I decided what we should and shouldn’t do. I’ve never had a vet do that. My experiences before have always been «well we need to do this thing» then bang, boom, there’s a $ 300 charge on your card and you’re left confused, upset, and feeling lonely. So, yeah, this was pretty freaking great.
They also accept Care Credit (which, if you don’t have I would recommend applying for now) and financing for 12 months. They were personable and I felt like Winky was in the best hands possible.
While they aren’t «cheap» (what vet care really is though?) I really feel like the price we paid was well worth it. They also aren’t the most I’ve paid for a vet visit. So there’s that too.
Dr. van Saun was really great and all the staff just loved Winky. Winky being a bigger cat, with not the best demeanor, we have run into some issues with the vets not being very warm to him. They were nothing but warm to the guy. I highly recommend.

Do not take your cat here! !! First they «forgot» to give the cat her medicine (shot) before she left so the cat had to return the next day and was left untreated. Then they charged me close to $ 500 to run a bunch of the exams. After taking my money they claimed the cat was fine. I called several times to tell them that the cat didn’t seem fine when she was using her litter box every five minutes. Of course they wanted me to bring her in again for more tests. I took her to the Cat Vet on South Street and had this facility fax over her records. It was right there on the results of her urine work… I’m not a medical professional yet I could see where it clearly indicated that she had blood in her urine. My kitty is okay now but its no thanks to this facility. I would never ever take one of my pets there again

VCA is a wonderful cat hospital. I have found all of their staff to be extremely helpful, kind, and knowledgable. As someone who is cost-​conscious about pet care, I appreciate that they take the time to break out all of the options by cost, and review what they feel is necessary, ultimately leaving the decision up to the pet owner. One thing that is nice for me, since I don’t have any other pets, is that it is a cat-​specific practice. That calm environment in the waiting room is nice. Dr. Simpson, Nicola, and Kathy were a HUGE help to me today — I’m flying across the country with my cat and they answered all of my questions and spent a great deal of time helping me prepare. THANK YOU!!!

They worked me in same day… as a new patient… on a Saturday. And the care was EXCELLENT. I’ve never seen my cat so relaxed at a vet appointment. Everyone was very kind, respectful, and gave my cat great care. Highly recommend. Prices are comparable to other vets in and out of the city.

I brought my cat in on Monday after she had been throwing up, not eating or urinating for 3 days straight and I really appreciate the time Dr. Christine Bohn Kirnos took to explain everything to me. Also the male vet technician was very very nice, gentle, and understanding while my cat was nervous and trying to escape through every door in the exam room. The office and layout is just absolutely gorgeous, in addition, the staff is top notch. They gave me tissues while I bawled my eyes out thinking I was going to have to put my Lulu to sleep. To say this place is expensive is an understatement at best but if I had the type of money they charge on vet care I would not hesitate to spend it here. If you have the money to spend this place is definitely worth it. Just to keep my cat hydrated the gave her a free dose of Subcutaneous fluids. I don’t know what magic that stuff had in it back she is back to her old self!!! It’s like she was never sick.

This place is not cheap, but in all fairness, they provide excellent service. We found a very sick kitten by the side of the road, called them at 7am on a Monday, and they saw him within a few hours. They could have seen him even earlier, but I was in transit. Dr. Oster was very helpful and direct about the care needed, and provided me with meds and a free temporary carrier. They also waived the first office visit fee (there was an online coupon), and gave my kitten a free dose of Revolution. It still wasn’t cheap, but this animal was at death’s door!
The office and exam rooms are immaculate, the staff was helpful and caring, and best of all… my little kittycat is all better! I know in my heart of hearts that if my cat had an urgent medical problem, VCA is likely the first place I would call.
The only reason I took a star away was for cost. I am sure there is a lot of overhead, being right in Center City, so I don’t know that they can really lower their fees. I would recommend this office if your cat needs urgent medical assistance and you live in the area.

Vca recommended tooth removal for my cat. Would cost 2k. Got 2^nd and 3^rd opinions which said best teeth they have seen. Clearly vca have quotas to meet. Unacceptable and a rip off. Never going back

Really love VCA. Great atmosphere as soon as you walk in you’re always greeted courteously. My cat is a rescue cat and a little disabled but VCA treat him like the coolest cat on the block. I’ve taken my cat here ever since he was little and Dr Oster and his staff take great care of him. The best thing by far is their commitment to their clients (both owner and animal) — I can send an email with any question or some advice I need help on day or night and it is always answered promptly.
We’re moving to Europe soon and Dr Oster has gone above and beyond by doing all the necessary research required to get all my cat’s official documentation ready for customs and his flight. Couldn’t have done it without VCA. Some may say it’s a bit pricey but I believe it’s only with the animals best intentions in mind. If you’re looking for a great Cat Hospital with exceptional service and care VCA is the place to go.

I LOVE VCA Cat Hospital. More than that I LOVE the staff. I have two cats that are nearing ten and one is diabetic. They are responsive, caring (not just for my cats, but for me as well as the «pet parent») and impressively knowledgeable. I find them to be exceptionally honest with their evaluations and service recommendations. But what I can say with every ounce of energy is that I and my cat’s can not live without Dr. Bohn and her staff. They are truly and by far the most exceptional group of individual’s I’ve met.
I have been a client for 20 years and can say from the front desk to the techs to all of the Dr’s I have never had such faith as I do now. I’ve recommended Dr. Bohn to everyone I know. She runs a truly brilliant practice. To me they give me peace of mind. You do your cat’s a disservice to go anywhere else. Trust me. Tamra

I took my two kitties here for about 3 years. The vets and staff were always kind to me and to my cats. However, I never felt like the care my cats received was unusually good, even though prices seemed unusually high. I am willing to pay a bit extra to get great care, but I felt I was paying extra money at VCA for care that was pretty standard. Also, I sometimes felt pressured into paying for products or services that didn’t seem completely necessary. For example, they tried to get me to pay for extra tests before my cat’s tooth cleaning because at 6 years old he was «almost a senior», and tried to sell me various products that are available much cheaper elsewhere.
After I started feeling uncomfortable about the care I was receiving for the money paid, I began going to the PAWS clinic on Grey’s Ferry for basic services and Hickory Vet Hospital in Plymouth Meeting for emergencies or more complex issues.

They’re quite pricey at this place, but the level of care and compassion are excellent! I took in a stray cat a little while ago, and Dr. Kersting was very sweet, compassionate, and thorough when she gave him his exam. It turns out that my poor kitty was FIV/​FeLV +, had a host of other health problems and infections, and needed an echo prior to undergoing any needed surgeries. Dr. Kersting and all of the vet techs and staff members there were absolutely lovely when it came to taking care of my cat, and were really wonderful when it came to explaining the diagnoses/​how to treat these ailments effectively.
I should note that most of the routine basics of animal care, such as basic shots, deworming/​anti-​flea meds, et cetera are quite a bit cheaper at other places like PAWS/​ASPCA on a walk-​in basis, but if you want an excellent exam and accurate information from people who really know their stuff, I can’t say enough good things about this place!

It’s hard to say what I really want to say about this place. To be sure, the staff is super courteous and they REALLY care about you and your animal.
However, I spent over $ 1500 when my cat was sick, only to have them tell me «Oh, it’s just worms.» This was after they tried to get me to do a $ 10,000 colonoscopy and I said «No way.»
I want the best for my cat, like any pet owner. But he will not be going back there. They’re extremely overpriced, and a problem like worms should have been easily diagnosed when I did my first round of $ 400 worth of tests. But after that, they still couldn’t figure it out, and it was off to UPenn for an MRI. I spent nights not sleeping for weeks because I was convinced my six-​year-​old cat was dying, and that he had colon cancer or something.
Finally, I decided to get his teeth cleaned, and while under the anesthesia the worms came out of him. Oh, and that was after they gave me the estimate of $ 2000 for a teeth cleaning (it ended up only being $ 800, but they had to say $ 2000 just in case they saw something while he was under the anesthesia and had to get it done then).
I understand that worms can be tricky to diagnose sometimes, but I do not think I should have been put through all that. He did not need an MRI, but I trusted them to know what was best for my cat. In the end it caused both him and I a lot of stress and grief.
Again, the staff DOES care about your animal. Very much so. They are sweet too. Their services, however, are a bit expensive, and I feel like they jumped to conclusions with my cat. He did not need to be carted all around the city for a month receiving various diagnostic tests; he only needed some medicine for worms.

You will pay dearly for it, but they will take excellent care of your pet.
My 4-​year-​old cat has managed to fill his short life with lots of interesting drama. Dr. Simpson has seen him through two surgeries and two episodes of acute renal failure. Despite my cat’s «fractious» nature (a diplomatic way of saying this cat will cut a bitch) they have never said a bad word against him — even though the little stinker probably deserves it. They handle him gently and are very calm and soothing even when he needs the Hannibal Lecter mask.
The price can add up very quickly. I feel like I am always presented with the best possible treatment — which can be pricey. Dr. Simpson is super-​responsive to concerns about cost and has always been willing to talk me through options and prioritizing and discussing the need for different elements of treatment and helping me get my cat the best care that I can, while acknowledging that as a grad student I can’t do everything possible.
The staff at the front desk are helpful and friendly. I’ve always been able to get in for an appointment right away, especially when I’ve called with concerns. Their hours are very convenient and they also offer overnight/​weekend care — they mean it when they say they are a cat HOSPITAL. My cat has had surgery here and also been treated as an inpatient on IV fluids for several days. I love that they can do everything in-​house, including bloodwork and radiology, so I get answers quickly. If your kitty needs to stay for care they will call you with progress updates.

My cat Pepper is the world to me, so I want the best care possible for me. And VCA fits the bill. I don’t know how expensive they are to the vets, but when they are wonderful as Dr. Simpson is, price doesn’t matter that much. Though Pepper will never love the vet, I like them and think they do a great job of examining him and make sure he’s getting proper care. To this day, when people see my cat, they comment on how healthy he looks. While some of it is due to the care and love I provide, I credit Dr. Simpson and VCA as well. If you love your cat and that cat is everything to, then go to them.
Only negative is parking. You pretty much have to park in one of those expensive lots, but where they are located, it would be hard to have their own parking lot. And again, like price, when a doctor is as good as Dr. Simpson is and the high quality of care is provided for a loved one as Pepper, none of these complaints matter.

I found a stray and took it to the vet today to get it checked for infections, see if it had a micro chip, got some basic shots, etc. This vet was able to take me the day I called within an hour, so I chose them. Very friendly staff and loving to the animals. I saw many cats and owners in the waiting room and overheard a lot of conversations; all doctors and staff seemed very knowledgeable and concerned for their patients.
Prices seemed normal for me. I come from DC where everything is more expensive, but these seemed reasonable. Of course we’d all like cheaper healthcare for our pets, but at least there seems to be some quality behind the cost of this practice’s work.
Be warned: parking is an issue (Rittenhouse area, so of course it’s going to be a bit hairy). Walk over if you can. I heard of one person get a ticket while I was in the waiting room, and I had to feed the meter a second time for my own visit.

I had taken my cats to a cat only practice here in Philly before — but we moved away from the neighborhood and without a car, I needed to find a vet closer to my apartment in University City. I debated and decided to take them to Rittenhouse Square VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia.
I had to go to this practice previously to purchase special medicated foods for my other kitty, so, I knew it was clean and friendly place. I did not know it had these adorable cat curtains!
Dr Simpson and Staff were all very caring/​loving/​concerned about my two senior kitties health and well being. Although scared, they were very much at ease when getting their shots and exam. my youngest of the two has been prone to ear infections and she also needed her ear cleaned and received medication. Dr Simpson came out to tell me personally what she found in the ear analysis, which both my friends and I thought was very nice. (friends are both cat mommies too). she gave me pointers again how to administer the medicine and said if we needed a refill no problem.
Prices — I think they are comparable to other vets in Philadelphia. For shots and exam for one kitty $ 133. We have to remember, most cats
don’t have insurance so we have to pay the full price.
My cats were fine, not at all upset with me for bringing them to vet, probably thankful I chose a cat only practice with cat-​loving staff!

I want everyone to know how amazing VCA is. We lost our apartment in a fire on Monday, and miraculously, the firefighters found our cat Arkie the next day. We took her straight to VCA, who dropped everything to make sure she was okay. She’s doing great, and Dr. Bohn even offered to board her for free until we get settled in another apartment.
Getting our lives together has been incredibly difficult, but we’re so relieved to know that Arkie is well cared for by such compassionate professionals. I will go to VCA for as long as I live in Philadelphia, and I will tell all of my friends and colleagues how amazing the doctors there have been.
Thank you, VCA.

I’m writing my first-​ever Unilocal review to talk about how much I love this place. I was a little wary at first about visiting what is essentially one location in a chain of veterinary hospitals, but I needed to find someplace to take my cat after we moved here from Chicago, and I’m so glad I gave VCA a try.
Dr. Simpson is fabulous. I am the first to admit that fuzzy old Max is a horrible patient, and I’ve made it a habit of warning vets and techs to take everything slow and gentle so as not to activate Psycho Kitty. Everyone I’ve met at VCA has been very respectful of Max and kept him from entering panic mode, and that counts for a lot in my book. Dr. Simpson is also always very honest and forthright about different options — Max is hyperthyroid, so we talk about pills vs. radiation treatment frequently — and while she’s happy to make recommendations, she never tries to convince me to try some particular brand, or to switch Max to a food I can only buy there, or in any other way give me a hard sell on a particular decision. I always come away with the feeling that she genuinely cares about Max and his well-​being.
Maybe I’ve just always gone to pricier vets without knowing it, but I don’t think there’s anything shocking about the prices VCA charges. My bills seem in line with the prices I was used to paying in Chicago. Plus, every time I’ve had Max in for an exam, Dr. Simpson has given me an itemized bill to review before giving him any additional procedures, and she always gives me the chance to say no to any– or everything before she does anything beyond the standard checkup. I really can’t recommend her and VCA highly enough.