Gulf Coast Scratching Post Cat Hospital - North Port, Florida

Alyson G.

This vet was recommended to me by a friend. Everyone who works in this office is extremely nice and helpful. Receptionists, vet techs, and the doctor herself are all exceptional. Their priority is your cat's health. One thing I love about them is they don't mind at all if you ask a million questions. This practice actively works to reduce cat anxiety AND cat owners anxiety. Thank you to everyone here for taking care of my boy!

Anastasiia

True feline experts! As a responsible cat owner it’s super important to provide a safe and proper vet care. It’s a blessing to have a feline only, professional veterinarian in our area. And I only have great things to say about this office.

Dr. Norrell performed spay surgery for my Siberian kitten and even though it’s a stressful experience for both pet & owner - everything went exceptionally smoothly. No complications, easy recovery and quick communication with office stuff post-op.

Same goes for the regular appts - they make sure to keep limited interaction between cat patients; feliway everywhere; treats available; both technicians and the doctor handled my kitten with love and care. Responsive front desk and transparent billing is a cherry on top lol!

Judy P.

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 going forward.

Bentley T.

Thank you to Dr. Norrell, who understands cats! She was crucial in helping us find the cause of my cats chronic cough. She sent us to a skilled, experienced surgeon who found the cause. This is a clean hospital, great staff, they examined my cat in front of me, versus taking him in a room. I am so glad we found her.

Stacy A.

Doctor Norrell and her staff are absolutely wonderful. I'm a new cat owner, and they helped answer my questions and took amazing care of my kitty when he got neutered. They truly love cats and what they do. I'm so glad I chose this practice to take care of my Mose!

Rosalie S.

I first took my 12 year old cat to be checked out because she had symptoms of diabetes. She was treated, and still is on insulin, but I can see how much better she feels and acts now. I then took my other 3 year old cat for a check up and shots. I just adopted a 3rd cat a few months back and brought him there as well, got him up to date on shots. All 3 of my cats are currently in excellent health and I haven’t had to go back for emergencies. The staff is really nice, and when I called in the past for my diabetic cat, they were able to see her quickly without much wait.

Michael B.

We took our cat Fluffy here and Dr. Norell and her husband Tim were very friendly. They are very knowledgeable and professional! They know how to care for your Cat. We are excited about having such an experienced Dr of Cats right in our back yard. Our cat, Fluffy (yes that's cliche but it's his name)is relaxed again and is doing better! I received a follow up call as to the status of his condition and I'm very happy we chose to take our Cat to a specialist in his care! What an amazing experience. We couldn't be happier.

Sasha P. M.

Today I took my boy Simba to see Dr. Norrell. I cannot begin to explain how wonderful my experience was. Im the type of person that gets severe anxiety worrying about my cat, and taking him to the vet. I couldn’t sleep all night but as soon as I got there, I felt at ease. Dr. Norrell and her staff were extremely professional, caring, and were able to do all the planned work the SAME day. I am so thankful for Dr. Norrell and the entire staff for being so amazing and taking such great care of Simba. I’d also like to add that price was so affordable. If you have any anxiety about taking your cat to the vet or are looking for a new vet for your cat look no further, this is the place. Thank you Gulf Coast Scratching Post Cat Hospital ❤️