A negging veterinary office. While they present as a kind of boutique, upscale cat hospital, their playbook seems to be to criticize your pet parenting to the point you're wondering if they're going to call CPS on you. Then they upsell on unnecessary tests and services. I had to negotiate several hundred dollars of unnecessary costs out of what should've been an urgent care visit for a sick cat. read more

I am writing to alert Dr. Jane Brunt to what happened today at the office. My cat has been a patient at CHAT for 6 years. In that time, we've had nothing short of perfect service from the vet techs and the vets. They have been wonderful. Very clear. Very transparent. Very kind. My cat has adored them. This time--today-- I met with a senior vet tech (name unknown) and Dr. L about a dental issue. My cat had lost two front fangs. First, the cat was evaluated by senior vet tech name unknown, who weighed her, briefly looked in her mouth, and listened to her heart. Then, Dr. L came in. Dr. L took a thorough look into her mouth and said there was some inflammation; she should get a dental cleaning; and there may be part of a tooth left in one of the fangs that might need removal. He quoted an estimate of about $1500. He said it might take month to get an appointment because they were booked out. He left and senior vet tech came back with an estimate of $2400-$3100 with FOUR extractions. He also told us we could get in the next day. This was whiplash. I asked him go over the bill with me. I could not reconcile the vet citing one possible extraction and a cleaning with the vet tech citing a possible four extractions. He said that I could choose not to follow his recommendations but then, my cat would be in pain. I asked to speak with the vet. Dr. L again. Dr. L came back in with the practice manager, a woman I'd also never met. He said (contrary to what actually happened) that he'd barely looked in my cat's mouth. I asked him to look again and he refused to look into her mouth again because he didn't need to. He said that no one could know how many extractions she would need until she had xrays, which could not happen until she was sedated (understandable). He said that the estimate he gave was just an estimate too. I pointed out that it was a bait and switch. Dr. L and the practice manager protested. Dr. L said sarcastically that from now on he'd lead with the high estimate. I showed them that their files did not indicate any gingivitis in my cat and no one ever mentioned it. They said that is because no one looked thoroughly at her mouth. Huh? They told me several times that we did not have to do the surgery for the cat and I echoed what senior vet tech said, "if I didn't do it, my cat would be in pain." They agreed she would be and said senior vet tech was just being transparent. We went back and forth a few times before the practice manager declared the conversation non-productive and suggested I find a different vet to do the surgery since I clearly "did not trust them." It seems to me these particular individuals are running an office with a message "we only want to help you if you are rich." When I raised the issue of cost, they suggested, I shop around to other vets and perhaps go to the ASPCA because shelters also do dental work. I told them sadly that after six wonderful years with CHAT, I would be leaving to find my cat a new vet. Dr. Brunt, none of this is ok. My cat and I have come to your office yearly for six years and have never been treated with anything other than kindness and care. I am writing because I thought you should know. read more

Very well organized, compassionate team. Cadillac, top notch experience. 10 + yrs client. Thank you.

CHAT has been a blessing to me and our two cats Violet & Mary. The CHAT team has been very caring and professional and lovely. Dr. Martin is awesome! She is extremely knowledgeable, smart and kind. She knows cats! My Bombay, Violet is having some potentially serious issues and the team has been extremely caring and attentive to her case. Mary, my Siberian, had some very tough matting last Spring and needed grooming. Karen did an unbelievably beautiful job gently combing through her long thick hair and avoiding having to shave her. When I moved back to Baltimore after many years, we were so happy to find that CHAT was still in business as my Mom always had very good experiences at CHAT over 25 years ago. All the folks at CHAT LOVE CATS & KNOW CATS! Mel, Jess, Jen and the entire team staff are patient, caring and very efficient! I highly recommend them. Stacy - Mary & Violet read more

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I love these vets!! They have a very small and tight knit staff- so especially if you have multiple kitties like me, you'll get the pleasure of meeting most of the staff.. and let me say they are all absolutely incredible and absolutely CAT PEOPLE! If you know how important that is, you know!! They have treated all of my girls with such love and care, i have full trust in them. They are particularly awesome with not pressuring you to jump to the most expensive test and try other things before you have to shell out the big bucks. Took me forever to find a vet that I felt confident taking my prized possessions to but they will be seeing us for the foreseeable future!! P.s. it's pricy, but so is every quality vet in MD!! You get what you pay for, and I pay for them to crawl to my cats and call them babies to make them comfortable (totally optional and not recommended, but they do it!!!) Thank you CHAT! read more

If you have cats, you need to go to CHAT. I'm always extremely satisfied when I take my cats here. They're truly experts on anything and everything about cats. In a lot of ways, they're superior to the "traditional" veterinarian that sees all types of animals. Going to a cat exclusive vet is less stressful for the kitties and makes me feel like my cats are getting the best care. I discovered them originally in June 2021. They were able to fit my kitty in for an emergency appointment when no one else was able to (or wanted to). They took good care of him and updated me frequently about his status and what was going on. They had quoted me somewhere between $800-900 for emergency service (kitty needed xrays) but my total bill came out way less than what they originally quoted (about $500). They really do care about the cats that they see. read more

Don't use this vet! Helter skelter roulette at CHAT! too many vets, lack of communication within the staff, and obvious some staff don't get along! Nightmare re: dental issue on one buddy and adopted a cat from cat rescue of Md, inc via CHAT and were not made aware of an intestinal issue that required antibiotics! Received no medical history or any paperwork at adoption! Cat was being sedated while at CHAT due to being feral! We were not made aware of this! Had to bring the intestinal issue to CHAT's attention once we did get some medical history in order to get the antibiotics needed! Had to go back for a longer course of antibiotics and was made to feel this was a personal issue! Two close friends had serious issues with CHAT we learned only after our nightmare! DON'T GO TO CHAT! You will regret it!! Also, seriously expensive! read more

I referred my dad to the Cat Hospital at Towson. I'm very disappointed in the service he received. I believe they take advantage of people that are niave when it comes to pet costs. I paid $95.00 for the "exam." The front desk assistant was not doing her job. She told him everything was "good" and he was "good to go" without giving him a receipt or rabies certification and "wellness" visit summary. He had to ask for EVERYTHING twice. It was as if she was trying to usher him out the door as quickly as possible. He didn't get any information on whether the cat was in good health or if there was anything we should be concerned about. He didn't speak to a doctor at all. I believe they take advantage of people that are niave when it comes to pet costs. I paid $95.00 for the "exam." I also didn't appreciate the new client/new patient exam price. It goes towards NOTHING! "Biohazard waste complaint" was $8.00 and the "hospital stay" was $31.00. She was there from 7:30 - 3:30pm. I brought both of my cats here years ago, but I think it may be under new management. read more

Wonderful caring environment for our fur baby- they were able to fit us in the same day I called. Dr. Smetana was patient and thorough with her examination. That they attend to cats only relieved Winnie's overall anxiety of visiting the vet. read more

Cat Hospital At Towson - Incredibly calm given her injury, thank you Dr. Smetana and team! - Veterinarians Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Would not recommend if your cat has serious health issues. After reading reviews, I was excited to try this place out. The staff was very nice and accommodating but my cat did not experience the care that she needed. I felt like this hospital just cared about business and profit and was dismissive about my concerns for my cat. I ended up taking her to a different vet 2 weeks after this one and they were actually able to find the problem. Unfortunately it was too late for her and we had to put her down. Makes me wonder if it could've been avoided if these vets were more thorough. read more

A WONDERFUL hospital. My cat was a client of their for years and she died at 26! They took wonderful care of her. Recently they went through LEAPS ANS BOUNDS on a Saturday to help my new pet get a medication. I will be forever grateful- this is the absolute best place to send your cats. They have the biggest hearts and you can rest knowing your loved one is in the best hands thank you so much!! read more

Very satisfied being it was my first time there...my Chucky has been with me for a very long time and he is a long haired cat.His hair had gotten so matted it was terrible but you guys groomed him so beautifully and made me feel like it wasn't about the money but about making Chucky feel comfortable.I will always come back and refer you to all of my family and friends read more

I have been taking my cats here for almost 25 years. Several years ago the vets I have been seeing here, retired, and the business was sold to a younger generation of vets" the care my cats receive when I take them in for an examination is still excellent. However, customer service and follow up is poor. Recently took my 12 year old cat in because she's been having some problems. They did a chest x-ray, and the vet told me it was either lung cancer, or chronic asthma. . she wanted to send it to a radiologist to confirm the diagnosis and I agreed. This was last Monday. I called on Thursday and I was told that the results were back, but the doctor had not had a chance to look at them. It is now the following Wednesday, and I still have not heard anything. I have been calling every day, and I have gotten numerous excuses, including: it's a surgery day so you likely won't hear back, it is a long weekend and she's really busy and today I was told that the doctor has a lot of things on her schedule. I told them that I need to hear some thing today. But here it is close of business and I haven't heard a word. frustrated because I am extremely anxious about my cats health and the doctor just can't seem to be bothered to let me know if she has a Terminal illness. This is absolutely unacceptable. read more

Dr. Cottrell and her assistant were amazing! They were incredibly kind, patient, attentive, and gentle! I couldn't have treated my super skittish kitty myself! I'm thoroughly impressed, with their professionalism, and attention. Huge perk: my kitty and I were not separated at any point, making it easier on both of us ;) read more

Cat Hospital At Towson - Veterinarians Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

First of all, it's really great to have a vet that caters to cats only. CHAT has a great location and private parking in the back, and is inside a nice large house converted to offices. My cat is extremely shy and they did a great job trying to accommodate her in her state of abject terror, as she huddled in a ball and tried to escape any way possible. The vet tech, I think it was Deirdre, was great and by the end of the visit my cat was much more at ease. I saw Dr. Sternefeld, and she was extremely gentle and knowledgeable and explained all the possibilities and various treatments I could try for my cat's allergies (I know, it's ridiculous). They let me stay with my cat while they did shots and stuff, so she would be less scared. Very accommodating. They did recommend a number of tests and various things that I felt weren't absolutely necessary/can't really afford, like teeth cleaning, but they didn't push me or make me feel guilty for declining the services. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because it is fairly expensive, even without the several services I turned down. I guess that's the premium you pay for full service cat-only vet care. I think if you just need vaccinations you could get them a bit cheaper elsewhere, but for checkups and medical stuff, particularly for skittish cats, this place is great! read more

This review will end up being a companion review to the one-star review from Jessica L. We took our cat emergently to CHAT a few weeks ago on a Saturday morning for clear pain and distress. Dr. Sternefeld saw him and diagnosed him with a blocked urethra requiring immediate treatment. They told us we could either have him treated onsite, or take him to the Pet ER. The Pet ER would be more expensive but he would receive higher-level, around-the-clock care. There was no charge for the exam. I came away very positively impressed that they had taken him immediately and then referred him away when that was best for the cat (if not best for their business). His treatment at Pet ER went fine and now he is home and healthy. Reading Jessica L's review, it is clear that this wisdom was hard-won. One reason we seek experienced clinicians for our pets and for ourselves is that we hope they will be familiar with our problem, and will have learned from the tough cases. In this case I can personally vouch for their having the benefit of experience. read more

customer services sucks. I was on holder for no longer then 20 minutes and hung up and was on hold again for 20 minutes waiting to make an appointment. You would never get my business. read more

The following review is intended to provide some lessons learned to other cat owners. This review also describes how Dr. Sternefeld failed to provide competent veterinary care to my cat Kid. Kid had an abnormal urinalysis in February 2016. Dr. Sternefeld recommended a follow up test because at times the lab lets samples sit out for periods of time, and that's when the crystals may have formed. The unreliability of the lab results was concerning but I understand that there is always potential for human error. Dr. Sternefeld ordered an In-House lab test in April 2016 to retest Kid's urine. The results came back Negative. Dr. Sternefeld emailed me the results saying she had "no concerns over his urinary health." No third test was ordered for the future, and no recommendations were given in regards to warning signs or diet changes.. All of these preventative measures could have been dispensed and were not. I have learned them all now when it is too late to have made a difference. Fast forward to a Friday morning in June 2016, where I woke to Kid sitting in a corner and crying in pain. I followed him to his litter box, where he squatted but was unable to urinate. At the time, I knew this was serious but did not realize it was life or death. I immediately called Dr. Sternefeld's office and was offered an appointment on Monday even though I told her my cat was unable to urinate (which later learned is a clear sign of urinary blockage and a life/death situation). I had to push her to please ask the doctor if we could come in that same day or at least request advice from Dr. Sternefeld. She eventually provided me with instructions to drop Kid off and told me they would fit him into the schedule that same day. Within an hour of dropping him off, Dr. Sternefeld confirmed the urinary blockage. She explained the Emergency (life/death) situation and that she must insert a catheter to allow passage of the urine. Additionally, she explained the 24 hour vet stay requirement and quoted me a price of $1,000. Dr. Sternefeld did not explain that she was limited in catherization tools. While she was adamant about the situation being life threatening, she did not advise sending Kid directly to the Pet Emergency (located 5 miles down the road). Even though the ethical code of conduct for veterinarians states, "Veterinarians who believe that they haven't the experience or equipment to manage and treat certain emergencies in the best manner, should advise the client that more qualified or specialized services are available elsewhere and offer to expedite referral to those services." I followed Dr. Sternefeld's recommendation and gave her the go-ahead to proceed. An hour and half later, Dr. Sternefeld informs me via telephone that she is unable to attach the urinary catheter because she does not have "the proper tool" and that I must bring Kid to the Pet ER. I took leave from work, and immediately headed over to pick up Kid. At this point, Kid was completely lifeless. Dr. Sternefeld further explained that she lacked the proper tools and promptly requested payment of $780 for the 1.5 hours of failed urinary catheterization. I paid the bill and took Kid to the ER. The Pet ER team successfully catherized Kid on first attempt. During the procedure, I learned that multiple attempts to catheterize causes more trauma to the cat. This is when I also learned some of the at-home preventative measures that could have potentially prevented the urinary blockage. The ER docs recommended transferring Kid to the surgery team for a procedure that would help reduce the risk of future urinary blockages. The surgery was a success, and Kid is thankfully doing well today. Kid's bill for 7 days in the Pet ER was $3500, roughly $500 per day for 24 hour care. Dr. Sternefeld charged $780 for 1.5 hours. I reached out to Dr. Sternefeld. I addressed the initial lab test results that she conducted back in Feb 2016 as well as her failed attempt at catheterization. I respectively requested a partial refund of the $780 bill as Dr. Sternefeld failed to provide competent veterinary care on multiple levels. Dr. Sternefeld never responded. As Kid's primary doctor for the past three years, one would expect Dr. Sternefeld to assume accountability for her actions. Instead, the practice manager called me to say that she witnessed the entire catherization procedure and claimed Dr. Sternefeld did everything correctly. The practice manager is not a veterinarian so it's unclear as to why she is involved. Dr. Sternefeld has chosen to remove herself from the situation. That is her choice, but it reflects a lack of compassion towards animals and their owners. We were ultimately able to fight the charge through our credit card. I hope Dr. Sternefeld can remember why she became a vet in the first place because it is clear she has forgotten how to compassionately care for pets and their owners. read more

I took my cat, Neely, here yesterday. She had been feeling under the weather lately and I figured I would give it a try. I had been taking her to falls rd animal hospital, and I can't stress how different the experience was at CHAT! It was so nice to have a calm, quiet experience at the vet. My cats usually hate going to the vet because all the dogs barking and the noisy televisions. They had some sweet adorable cats for adoption in the front, and all the staff members were very nice. They got me in the same day as I called, reassured my neurotic cat-mom worries, and got me out of there within an hour. They did lab work and tests. All vets offices will try to give you services you don't necessarily need, so don't feel bad about refusing any service. The doctor was very sweet and loving and knows how to handle cats. I like this place!!! read more

I cannot say enough about Dr. Cottrell and her fabulous staff and the exceptional care they gave my kitty, Abagail, in her last weeks of life. I've lost kitties before, but the genuine thoughtfulness and kindness CHAT showed to her and to me is worth writing about. Their devotion to executing exceptional veterinary care is obvious. From the intentional way they make their hospital environment cat friendly, warm, and cozy, to the way they interact with us humans showing patience and empathy, they are a remarkable care team - simply remarkable! Thank you for making one of the hardest days of my life peaceful, and as joy filled as it could have possibly been. Well done CHAT! read more

This was our first trip to CHAT since we moved here with two healthy young cats three years ago. The place was clean, parking was easy, the wait wasn't too long. I do think they put on the "hard sell" to get you to buy the premium services like insurance, etc. And really...I am not going to pay hundreds of dollars for my cats' teeth to be cleaned, let's get real. But they seemed nice and thorough and followed up with a call the next day. read more

So happy we found Dr. Sternfeld and her staff! Since moving to Baltimore we've had a difficult time finding a vet for our furbabies, especially finding someone we can trust. We found Chat to be very clean, warm and friendly. Their prices are definitely reasonable and let's face it, owning animals is never cheap! But most importantly our Callie girl was super relaxed and calm throughout entire visit (which was very thorough). read more

My compliments and thanks to the staff and Gayle Sternefeld, DVM, at CHAT. After taking my cat to Falls Road Animal Hospital, and after my cat was misdiagnosed, experienced a seizure, and nearly was given the wrong medications for a third time, I brought my cat to CHAT. I explained my situation and they listened. At no time was I told what to do. I experienced nothing but quality care. Everything was explained to me in a professional manner....these people truly care about cats. I cannot thank Gayle and her team enough. I will forever be a client of CHAT. Do not think twice about taking your cat here, in particular if your cat needs serious medical care. read more

The woman at the front desk, the nurse, and the doctor were all extremely helpful. They made sure me and my cat were comfortable, explained everything in great detail, and seemed to truly care about my cat's health. They also helped me carry her crate out to the car at the end. I would definitely recommend this vet! read more

I am really surprised that I am the first person to review this wonderful practice. From the beginning, they stand out from the crowd. A beautiful building with a "house cat" (they have cats for adoption that they show sometimes and take care of it). It is a real house. Pleasant music is being played. Wonderful receptionists. Great vet assistants. Superb doctors! Dr Cattrell spent an HOUR with our kitten, just on his physical! Really being detailed. My personal physician takes her cat there and she said that CHAT is always very good on follow-ups, they call, email... Send slow mails... Doctors and everyone who works there clearly love cats. Great place, great practice, great doctors (three in the practice). Also, they are not that expensive at all... The price difference for neutering between CHAT and beltway Animal Hospital (which I consider to be the cheapest but you have to wait forever to be seen and then it is five minutes and you are done), anyway, the difference was just 10 dollars. CHAT is totally worth it. If you have a cat (or want to adopt one!), please, check CHAT out. read more

I've been taking my beloved cat to CHAT ever since I adopted her (2 years). Dr. Cortell is great, really gentle and professional, and all the assistants are amazing too! They provide great service, they will remind you of your appointments, they will email you lab results, receipts, etc., if necessary. They are organized and tidy. The place is clean to perfection and it has a private parking lot in the back. It is great to have a place for cats only, I think it is a less scary situation for them. I would take away a 1/4 a star, though, because of the price. It is quite expensive. I actually save money every month in order to afford this for my kitty. I think it's worth it, though. I also agree that they always try to sell you a lot of things you don't really need and that are VERY expensive. Eg. Cat Dental Insurance, or a treatment for fleas when your cat has never been outside our apartment in the 9th floor, and she is the only pet we have. But as I said, I'm willing to pay the extra expense, because I can see I'm paying for a cat only place and for a great location and cleanliness. I'll go back to them. They are GREAT people and professionals. I trust them! 4.75 stars!! :) read more

Five Stars for CHAT. We've been bringing our cat there for 3 years and have found the service reliably and reassuringly informative, thorough, and friendly. We have been consistently happy with the doctors, techs, and staff. Happily all our visits have been routine; if and when our cat needs more intensive care, we know we will get the best! read more