The Cat Practice
4.7 (133) 145 W 24th St 3rd floor, New York, NY 10011, USAHours:
Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
How to Save Money at The Cat Practice
Schedule Regular Vet Visits
One of the best ways to save on vet bills is to prevent expensive health issues before they develop. By scheduling regular wellness checkups, your vet can detect health issues early, helping you to avoid costly treatments and surgeries down the road.
Price Shop for Pet Prescriptions
Oftentimes our fur babies are prescribed human drugs off-label. Your vet is apt to charge more for these medications than you would pay at your local pharmacy. In fact, big-box or chain pharmacies can offer steep discounts. So it’s best to price shop.
Pet Insurance
Most pet insurance providers will pay between 80% and 90% of the vet bill. You can even get coverage for routine care and things like vaccinations and dental cleanings. If you do the math, you’ll most likely find that pet insurance makes financial sense in the long run as well as gives you peace of mind.
How Do You Choose the Right Pet Insurance Provider?
Pet Insurance Review makes it incredibly easy for pet parents to select an insurance provider they feel good about. You can use our handy comparison tool to get the gist of what a company offers. We’ve also collected over 150,000 reviews of insurance companies from real pet parents like you to rank the top providers in the market. Here is the current ranking of each:
| Rating | Provider | Total Review |
|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | AKC | 895 |
| 4.5 | ASPCA | 12,067 |
| 4.9 | Embrace | 19,675 |
| 4.9 | Fetch | 5,109 |
| 4.1 | Figo | 2,814 |
| 4.5 | Hartville | 179 |
| 4.9 | Healthy Paws | 10,919 |
| 4.8 | Lemonade | 819 |
| 4.6 | ManyPets | 2,413 |
| 4.6 | MetLife | 7,195 |
| 4.8 | Nationwide | 21,418 |
| 3.9 | Pet Assure | 15 |
| 4.3 | PetPartners | 120 |
| 4.9 | Pets Best | 14,554 |
| 4.8 | Pumpkin | 2,913 |
| 4.6 | Spot | 10,498 |
| 4.9 | Trupanion | 58,886 |
| 4.8 | Prudent Pet | 2,601 |
Or, you can simply get a fast quote from multiple providers and go from there.
Thinking of insuring your pet?
Get Quotes & CompareGetting to Know Your New Vet: Essential Questions to Ask
Choosing a new veterinarian is an important decision for any pet owner. You want to find someone who is competent, compassionate, and a good fit for you and your fur baby. To help you get the most out of your first appointment, here's a list of essential questions to ask your new vet:
Tell me about your experience with [pet type].
Different vets have different areas of specialization. Some are experts with cats, some dogs, some pocket pets, and some horses. Knowing that your vet has vast experience treating your specific type of pet can bring you peace of mind.
How do you handle emergencies?
You must know what to do in case of a pet medical emergency. Inquire what after-hours policy the clinic has, whether they have on-site emergency care available, and if they have a relationship with any nearby emergency animal hospitals.
How do you communicate with pet owners?
Good communication is key to building a trusting relationship with your vet. Ask how they prefer to communicate (phone calls, emails, online portal) and how often you can expect to hear from them.
Are there any breed-specific health concerns I should be aware of?
Some breeds are predisposed to certain health conditions. Knowing what to watch out for can help you catch problems early and get your pet the treatment they need.
Do you have any questions for me about my pet?
This is a great question to ask because the answer will show that the vet is interested in getting to know your pet as an individual and is willing to listen to your concerns.
Bonus question: Can I take a tour of your facility?
Getting a feel for the clinic's environment can help you and your pet feel more comfortable during your visits. Remember, you’re not just looking for a veterinarian, you’re looking for a partnership. Do not be afraid to ask these questions and any others you can think of. Any vet worth their salt will be happy to answer them. Because the more informed you are, the better equipped you'll be to make decisions about your pet's care! And that should be every vet’s top priority.
Reviews from Google
We've been taking our rescue cat to Cat Practice since he was a small kitten. He's still kinda neurotic, but the staff and Dr Dougherty are so calm and wonderful they make his visits go smoothly which is great. They are experts. Plus no dogs is huge. My cat wouldn't handle that well at all. The space is a little funky but does my cat care? Absolutely not😸
posted: 09/06/2025
I brought my daughter to this practice For the first time on Friday… The doctor put us both that ease, I felt very comfortable with him and so did she…. He ran a blood and urine test which he did with expertise and caused her no pain whatsoever…. He has a team of wonderful assistants… I trust him completely and highly recommend his practice
posted: 01/18/2026
Dr. Dougherty is knowledgeable, thorough, and compassionate. He accurately assessed my cat’s symptoms and was very gentle with my Olivia during testing. His assistants were excellent, and the fees were reasonable. I highly recommend this practice.
posted: 01/20/2026
Our neighbor recommended the Cat Practice when we were struggling to find a good family vet for our cat last year. Our cat has rare health conditions + food allergy. We’ve seen Dr. Eric for consultations and treatment on each one. He’s extremely experienced, insightful, and understanding. He maintains a relaxed approach to the concerns we bring, and always points out what’s going well + what we are doing right. We always feel relieved and encouraged after seeing him. My cat’s wellbeing has improved greatly. Everyone in his team is very kind, approachable, and experienced with taking care of your cats & you.
posted: 08/19/2025
Best of the best. Hands down, period. If you have a cat in NYC, do not waste your time elsewhere. Dr. Dougherty is the most caring and knowledgable vet I have ever met. I've been a patient for over 8 years now but dealt with a scare with my 12 year old cat recently. Luckily, she is ok but the care and communication I received since the initial visit has been above and beyond. They treat my cats like their own and the comfort that brings to me as a pet owner is immeasurable.
posted: 08/18/2025
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