Gulf Coast Scratching Post Cat Hospital — Local services in North Port

I am not one to leave negative reviews unless I see fit, and this one isn't really negative... just shows some room for improvement. However, I feel it is important to know what to expect when you decide to take your cherished pet to a veterinarian. After reading positive reviews about Gulf Coast Scratching Post Cat Hospital (GCSPCH), we decided to give it a try, even though we traveled from Punta Gorda (further than the other vets we used). We had two elderly cats, and my 18 year old would freak out whenever the other came home from the vets with all the unfamiliar animal smells. She would go into hiding for days. On the positive side: (1) by having only other “cat” smells (instead of dogs as well), our other cat didn’t freak out as much. Stayed away for a few hours, but didn’t go into hiding; (2) everyone we encountered was very pleasant (front desk, techs, doctor) and we felt that Dr. Norell was very knowledgeable (even though she sometimes talked too fast to keep up); and (3) the follow-up after the first visit was incredible (multiple phone calls to see how our kitty was doing. On the negative side: (1) when we thought of a “hospital,” we thought there would be multiple doctors available instead of a single-veterinarian practice (which could result in long wait times); (2) after the second visit, our diagnosis was delivered by techs and not the doctor, which required multiple phone calls to get answers to basic questions; (3) we never received a follow-up call to check on our cat (unlike after the first visit), even though she had a pancreatitis diagnosis and was put on long-term steroids and anti-nausea meds, due to constant vomiting. I really thought someone would reach out, especially since they reached out so much after the first visit. When she continued vomiting, we knew there was nothing else we could do for her. When she vomited and fell over (and was unable to get back up), we knew her time had come (Dec 21). Since it was a Saturday, we took her to the Veterinary Emergency Clinic to have her put down. This was only two days after we had to have her sister put down (Dec 19). These are my wishes for GCSPCH: (1) If you say you’re a “hospital,” it would be nice to have more than one doctor, as well as services you would expect from a hospital, that don’t need to be outsourced (sonogram, blood work, etc). (2) As a single-doc practice, I know you’re extremely busy, but a personal phone call for a diagnosis that is going to require long-term meds should be warranted. (3) If someone has spent over $1,000 with your practice, maybe you could “forgive” a small (less than $10) tab after you hear their pet has been put down. I think it is important to digest all of this information when making decisions about our fur babies. I wish GCSPCH the best...

I thought I had written this one, but I couldn't find it, so here we go. Consider it a follow-up, if need be.

Two years ago, or so, we had heard that there was a new Cats Only vet opening near us, but a 40-45 minute drive seemed excessive when the regular vat was 6 blocks away. After seeing how our anxiety-ridden Ivar was treated at the usual vet, though, and following Bjorn's severe illnesses for which the vet was reluctant to refer us to a specialist, we decided to make the move.

Transferring our care to Dr. Norrell at Gulf Coast Scratching Post Vet Hospital was the BEST thing we have ever done for our boys since adopting them. We have been faithful patients at Scratching Post for a year-and-a-half, now. I wish we had gone in the moment she opened her practice!

Dr. Norrell and her staff are not only THE most highly skilled medical practitioners, but they treat my boys with love and dignity. When, at our first visit Dr. Norrell told me that she wouldn't give up on my baby, and would get him back to health, I broke into tears. (His previous vet had said "I can't fix your cat"). She hasn't given up, either, and I will love her forever for that.

Ivar now receives treatment that handles his behavior issues, and he is a happy little boy. Belly rubs are acceptable, no more aggression toward his "brother" or humans, and when an emergency vet couldn't handle him on a weekend recently, we took him to his Dr. Norrell on Monday morning, and she was able to perform an XRay, blood tests, and make a diagnosis with grace. She really "gets" cats, and can deal with the most fractious of them.

Bjorn is her star pupil, I think. (I may be partial). He's gone from a young cat that could not walk due to long-term vestibular disease, was experiencing seizures, has heart disease and allergies to a little guy who runs, and is stable under her care, and Dr. Norrell gets the credit. Dr. Norrell has networked with his specialists and even brought in an internist in order to provide him with the best care available.

Scratching Post is a Cat Friendly Practice, and each employee there is trained on appropriate treatment of cats. The environment is quiet and soothing, the doctor and techs loving and gentle. Seeing my Bjorn being held like a baby in the arms of a tech and given belly rubs and pets by another is pretty good therapy for me, too!

I really can't recommend Gulf Coast Scratching Post Cat Hospital more highly. Thank you, Dr. Norrell, Tim, and staff! You genuinely...

We used GCSPCH and Dr. Norrell, a USDA licensed vet, to complete the import requirements to get our cats to Japan. Firstly, Dr. Norrell is such an amazing veterinarian and she is so incredibly caring and wonderful with the cats she cares for. No other vet has had the kind of relationships with our cats that she has. Secondly, Japan is notoriously the most difficult country to import animals into, which all of us were aware of going into our appointments.

Unfortunately, much of her administrative staff is problematic. It took us two months to get the appropriate paperwork from the admin assistant Tim, as every time we requested the paperwork, he emailed us the incorrect documents. He also told us that he would get us a report of our cats medical histories in November of last year, which we never received. We had him lose our appointment for their health certificates (a document that must be issued within 10 days of the cats arrival in Japan and must also be endorsed by the USDA APHIS office) that he booked us for three weeks prior, so when we showed up for the cats appointment, we weren't on their schedule (which goes to show, if you don't receive an appointment reminder call the day prior, be sure to contact their office).

Thankfully, Dr. Norrell understands how important and time sensitive the certificates are and Tim rescheduled us for two days later and Dr. Norrell had the staff come in early that day to ensure that our certificates were completed in time for us to drive to Gainesville to have the documents endorsed. She even completed additional forms A, C, and AC, when normally she would have only completed 7001, because we asked for them. When we left the office, we realized that we were missing one original rabies certificate for each cat, and we called the front desk and spoke to Darla, who, after we explained what we needed, seemed aggravated with us and hung up on us without saying goodbye.

In the end, we managed to get all of the documents we needed signed and endorsed and our cats are now safe and sound in Japan. Dr. Norrell really goes above and beyond to help her patients in any way that she possibly can. I think if you are just needing routine and emergency cat care, this is the best vet clinic that you'll find around. The import process was stressful for everyone involved and I think they all did the best they could, and we are grateful to everyone for that, but some of the staff could be...