Dr. Dougherty is the best. He's been our family vet for years, and we are truly so lucky to have him in our lives. As others have noted, he is super knowledgeable and takes the time to answer every question, explain treatments clearly, and his calm, reassuring manner makes both pets and owners feel at ease. I completely trust him with all our cats health. read more

What a wonderful group! My old vet practice corporatized and the care, knowledge and follow up went way down while all of their prices went way up. I also have generally felt like most veterinarians only know dogs and cats are not their speciality. Dr Dougherty & his staff amazing - I feel like they really know cats and really care. Their follow up and service has been great and totally worth venturing out of my own neighborhood. My newly diagnosed diabetic kitty is now in great hands!! read more

The best cat hotel and vet could you hope to find. All the staff are very friendly and love cats, to us that makes a big difference. We have used them several times for 1 - 2 week stays and our cats come back more chatty and every bit as happy as when we dropped the off. read more

Dr. Dougherty took care of all my cats with great skill, brilliance, compassion, empathy. He wasn't fazed or scared of my big, bad boy, he was tireless in caring for all three when they were sick and he and his staff took care of me as well. The assistants were all dedicated and loving toward the animals. I am forever grateful. read more

Excellent doctor, friendly and knowledgeable staff. We brought cat on after he'd escaped had what we think was a dog attack. The doctor was excellent and the staff friendly and knowledgeable. We will definitely use their services in future. read more

The practice is well-staffed with intelligent people who listen patiently while the cat careta kers describe what they observe in their beloved cats' behavior and over-all health. They then take the ball & run with it to score recovery and good health. I listened so intently that I left my rolling suitcase behind. I look forward to my next visit to see how my Schnitzel is doing! read more

I've been going to Dr. Dougherty for over a decade and I trust him implicitly. Not only is he extensively knowledgeable and always keeps up with the advances in veterinary science, he's unfailingly compassionate. I confess that I'm a hyper-anxious cat mom and tend to have a lot of questions. Dr. Dougherty never, ever rushes me and always patiently and kindly explains the situation and the options to me. He and his staff treat my cats with the utmost gentleness and care. He is the best! read more

This is the best vet in nyc. They only deal with cats!! If you love your cat, you'll bring them here! read more

The Cat Practice - Vet examining a cute cat - Veterinarians Near Me - New York, New York

I just brought my kitten for his first Vet appointment and Dr. Dougherty and the rest of the staff were so great! You can tell how much they all love cats and everyone was very knowledgeable, thorough and kind. Would definitely recommend :) read more

They are attentive, gentle, and thorough. My kitty is losing muscle mass and I'm afraid what that means.

I brought my 17.5 year old senior cat to The Cat Practice for a second opinion, after she showed signs of anemia but the results from another vet were inconclusive. Dr Dougherty and staff were all fantastic and I could tell they really cared about her health. The visit didn't feel transactional, and I felt their compassion when they explained a new health issue and the best options I had for treatment. The ambience of the space is very soothing and doesn't feel clinical. My cat hates the vet, but I can say she was a bit calmer there. I made quite a long trek from Brooklyn, but felt good about taking her to a vet that specializes in felines. A week and a half after I took my cat to The Cat Practice, she ended up being put to sleep due to the worsening of the new health issue that was flagged by Dr Dougherty. When I informed them of the news, I received a call from Dr Dougherty to express condolences despite only haven't met my cat once. I did not receive a single word from the other vet who had been treating her for over 6 months, so I was surprised and grateful to receive a call letting me know they understood and cared. This was my first time going through the loss of a pet after this long (17 years), so it meant a lot. Commuting to Manhattan from Brooklyn was a bit difficult but ultimately worth it as the new diagnosis and second opinion were extremely important when I made the decision to help her pass. I'm grateful to Dr Dougherty and everyone at The Cat Practice for providing an appropriate environment and compassionate care for felines. read more

I love it here so, so much. We bring our 3 cats and always feel 1000% confident and comfortable with the care they get here. One of my cats is very spicy and they're always so kind and understanding about it. We all feel so very lucky to have The Cat Practice! read more

Finding Dr. Dougherty and his team at The Cat Practice has been a godsend. We have two seven-year-old cats who are our absolute world and have unfortunately each experienced quite a few health concerns in recent years. The Cat Practice has been a tremendous breath of feline-focused fresh air in a world of veterinary offices with intimidating, barking-dog-packed waiting rooms and doctors who clearly didn't have specialized expertise in diagnosing and caring for cats like they do at The Cat Practice. We found them online and figured it was worth a shot to take a drive in to the city (we live in NJ and had visited a number of more local vets, none of whom had been able to really make a difference for us) and are SO GLAD that we did! We will be clients for life. I would seriously look in to flying back to see them if we ever had to move out of the surrounding area. Dr. Dougherty is incredibly knowledgeable, thorough, compassionate, and SO gentle. He always takes the time to fully explain everything that he's doing and thinking, and he has such a calming presence on both cats and nervous cat-parents alike. You can really feel how much he truly adores cats and is personally invested in making sure they are all as healthy and happy as possible. His Tech Dylan is also fantastic and so kind...Dylan didn't even flinch when, during one visit, our tabby Toast got a little scared and took a swipe at him, literally leaving a claw shard dangling from his cheek. He kept carefully holding her until Dr. D finished up, and then he was actually comforting US before leaving the room to clean himself up. Toast suffers from allergies and an autoimmune issue which cause her to be very itchy and to dramatically over-groom, and Dr. Dougherty has been the only one to be able to figure out exactly what was going on and finally get things under control for her. His amazing partner Arielle has spent hours helping us navigate different pharmacy/medication options, and Toast is now doing the best that she has in years, with fluffy fur covering her previously bare patches and a dramatically improved quality of life! We could not be more thankful to see Toast so happy and comfortable again. Recently, our tuxedo cat Monkey started limping and not being able to jump out of nowhere, and Dr. Dougherty got us in right away and was able to identify what was wrong IMMEDIATELY. It turned out that Monkey had torn her ACL (extremely unusual in cats, so not something many Vets would have known) but he was able to feel and accurately diagnose our very agitated, hurting girl within minutes and got us referred to/seen by an excellent surgeon at Blue Pearl within days. We are seriously always amazed by what a cat-whisperer Dr. D is - his expertise is so specialized and so impressive. The Cat Practice's prices are very reasonable, and they never suggest any procedures/treatments that are not absolutely 100% necessary (which is something I have not found to be true with previous vets). Even with treatments that are very important, they will walk you through what order things should be done if money is tight, and help you to understand all of your options. The office itself feels more like a warm, cozy home than it does a medical facility, and your cat is free to explore the exam room prior to the appointment rather than being confined to the carrier which seems to lower anxiety levels. We trust Dr. Dougherty, Arielle, Dylan, and the whole Cat Practice team without question, and we will continue to drive into NYC to see them from NJ for as long as they'll let us! (By the way, we always find convenient street parking right outside of the office too, which is a great added bonus for those driving in.) Oh, they also offer boarding, which we've not done yet but if we were to ever need to board Toast and Monkey, The Cat Practice is the ONLY place we would ever trust! read more

See all

Would just add that Dr. Dougherty and his wife were absolute life-savers as we prepared to move our two cats from New York to Hawai'i. The necessary paperwork is very complicated but they took care of all of it - and were incredibly patient and accommodating throughout the process. If you are looking for medical help for your cat, we cannot recommend Dr. Dougherty highly enough. read more

The Cat Practice - Miki at JFK - Veterinarians Near Me - New York, New York

Warm, positive all cats practice! Dr Dougherty & whole staff are caring, attentive, responsive & listen! Great to have this all cats practice ! Reasonable rates too! read more

Every time I come here I am reminded of how much Dr. Dougherty cares for his feline patients and their humans. He's very knowledgeable about cats -- I can certainly see a clear advantage to seeing someone who specializes in one animal. Every time there's been a wait he has been profusely apologetic, showing that he genuinely values your time. He charges reasonable prices for the area and I trust my kitten in his care. I would sincerely recommend his practice to any cat parents out there. read more

The Cat Practice - Veterinarians Near Me - New York, New York

We had a wonderful experience boarding our cat Eddie for 2 weeks with the Cat Practice. Eddie usually gets very stressed when left alone, even with daily visitors, so we decided to board him this time around. From our initial tour of the practice to picking up, we had an excellent experience. The man who gave us a tour made us feel so comfortable leaving him in good hands. We got updates every time we called while away, and Dr. Dougherty even called me to follow up after I picked up Eddie to tell me about his stay and welcome him back any time. I would highly recommend The Cat Practice to any anxious cat owners and we will definitely be back! read more

I don't think it's normal to be so happy with a veterinarian clinic, but here we are. This was my first time personally in the office as my significant other used to take them and COVID etc, so this was really my first time seeing them in action. Dr. Dougherty and his team are seriously the best. If you have any type of cat, sphynx, regular cat, whatever, I highly recommend you take them here. They have a love for cats and their care for them shines through. Their office is beautiful and well run, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable and their bedside manner is second to none. Dr. Dougherty let me dump my anxiety on him and talked me through every one of my concerns, in layman's terms that also came with a huge amount of confidence. He was not trigger happy to run any tests and really gave me the pros and cons of every test and was completely upfront with pricing. When it came time for the dreaded rabies vaccination, not one of my (admittedly, very easy going) cats even flinched. I have a Sphynx breed and for some reason other vets seem to hem and haw at what he's dealing with, Dr. Dougherty didn't bat an eye and seemed to be able to communicate with Morrie on a feline level. I am truly blessed to have Dr. Dougherty and his team in my cat's corner, because I know with them, my cats will always have the best medical care. On a slightly irrelevant note (but to me equally as important), Dr. Dougherty treats his coworkers and techs with such respect and kindness, I was truly inspired. read more

So far very caring and nice to my cats and to me. Friendly atmosphere. Prompt care, my one vet fearful cat was even somewhat calm.

I brought our 17 year old cat here (in June) after scouring Yelp and Google to find somewhere that wouldn't charge too much, were honest, and wouldn't make me feel horrible for having an aggressive cat. And I needed someone NOW. Dr. Doughtery and his team graciously squeezed us in the same day, after closing hours. Cat had thrown up and then refused to eat for more than three days. Because it was Covid, I handed the cat over, and they called me by phone to update. It wasn't hard to park since there were several meters. He respected my budget (broke musician who lost all work due to Covid), and only did the necessary tests, and had to recommend me to Blue Pearl as they don't have an ultrasound machine and it is more of a general practice place. But they called for me, took care of everything, and checked in on us, even when we had to leave the state because we couldn't afford rent anymore. Thank you for being so prompt, kind, no nonsense. I especially liked talking with Arielle to help me navigate how to care for my cat with possible kidney disease, what to expect, and just be a person to chat with and be heard. read more

Warning: This review mentions tapeworms, squeamish readers be advised. I have to say I'm pretty surprised at all the great reviews of Dr. Dougherty and The Cat Practice. I brought my cats here because one cat had extremely foul-smelling poops as well other symptoms that clearly indicated the presence of tapeworms. I'll start with the good: The office is clean, well-decorated, and felt spacious. The receptionists, vet techs, and other staff were kind and clearly loved cats. Dr. Dougherty was adept at handling my cats. The problem is that Dr. Dougherty was extremely dismissive of my concern that my cat had tapeworms. For weeks I had been noticing small rice-grain-like bits squirming around my cat's anus that caught my eye because they definitely DID NOT look like litter or anything else. They looked exactly like the images of tapeworm proglottids (aka reproductive segments) found on cat butts on the internet, so when I took my cats in, I told Dr. Dougherty that. Unfortunately, there didn't happen to be a piece of tapeworm on my cat's butt during the appointment, and Dr. Dougherty told me that it was very unlikely that my cat had tapeworms because they're supposed to be uncommon. He told me that the things I had seen on my cat's butt were probably roundworms. He gave my cat a dewormer that does not affect tapeworms, as well as some probiotics and instructions to bring in a fecal sample for a lab test. I went home and looked up what roundworms looked like, which as it turns out look completely different from the white things that were appearing around my cat's anus. I looked up again what tapeworms on cats look like, and re-confirmed that they looked exactly like what my cat had. A few days after, I actually saw one actively squirming its way out of my cat's anus, and got a video of it. I also got a video of one that fell off when my cat sat down that was wriggling on the table. I then looked around for more evidence on the table and found several dried-up golden specks that, once again, looked exactly like the images of dried-up proglottids on the internet. I emailed the videos and pictures I took to The Cat Practice and called to let them know what I sent. Their response was that I still had to bring in a fecal sample first. No acknowledgement of the email I sent. So I brought a fecal sample in and paid the $90 to have the lab test it. The receptionist called me the next day to tell me that it came back negative. Fecal tests are known to have a high false-negative rate though, and I had seen enough of my cat's symptoms to be determined to advocate for him, so I insisted that I get the tapeworm medication anyway. She put me on the phone with Dr. Dougherty, and I again told him that the symptoms I saw matched exactly with tapeworm symptoms, and mentioned the email I had sent to him containing the videos and pictures. I don't think he looked at it at all because he just started telling me again how tapeworms are uncommon and that it's much more likely to be roundworms, even though the white grains looked exactly like tapeworm proglottids and nothing like roundworms! I really insisted that I get the tapeworm medication even if roundworms are more common, so he finally agreed to get me some. It cost $50 and I gave it to my cat at his next meal. 2 days later, there were no more white things squirming around his anus, and now almost 2 weeks later I still have not seen a single one, so I'm pretty sure that a) my cat had tapeworms and b) the tapeworm medicine killed the tapeworms. After all this, there was still more salt in the wound: I looked up the tapeworm medicine and found out that it costs $9-10 online for the dosage I got for my cat. I understand that the vet provides more value than the cost of their supplies in the form of knowledge and expert judgment, but I am not pleased that I spent over $300 to have my cat diagnosed by me and not the vet, and that the charge for the drug alone (literally me going to the office to pick it up in a pouch and administer it at home) cost 5x the retail price. So what are the lessons learned? 1. Advocate for your cat when you know something is wrong. 2. Investigate your options for purchasing pet drugs. 3. Get a vet who listens to your concerns. read more

I was very nervous about selecting a bet after reading so many bad experiences across various vets. I liked that this was a cat only practice and the reviews were very favorable. My cat has never been so calm in a waiting room and the doctor and techs were all very mind and thorough. I recommend this practice to everyone! read more

Dr. Dougherty is an excellent and compassionate vet who clearly cares about feline wellness. He works with you and listens to your concerns. My cat Celeste is somewhat medically complex and has had a few issues over the years that other vets have struggled to diagnose and treat, and it wasn't until I saw Dr. Dougherty that I received any real guidance. Sometimes vets who treat both cats and dogs can get a bit caught up on how dogs are treated and overlook cat issues but this place is focused just on cats and it is worth the trip into Manhattan. Thank you for all of your help Dr. Dougherty! read more

Compassionate, serious care for your beloved cat. I brought my cat all the way from Queens, which involved a car ride that my cat hates. My cat had developed a chronic wheezing cough that was very worrying. It was worth it to make the trip in, as the doctor here listened carefully to my concerns and description of past advice from other (non-specialist) vets. Would strongly recommend to anyone with a cat-specific concern. read more

Just moved to nyc and needed a new vet! This place was quick, easy, friendly and I love that it's just for cats. The front desk was very friendly as well. Later on, when my cat seemed sick, they gave me some awesome free advice over the phone. I found them through Yelp and got a big discount for being our first visit! Thanks for taking care of Milos! read more

The Cat Practice - Veterinarians Near Me - New York, New York

We moved here to the city in August and I was always a bit concerned about finding a good vet for our cat Jubilee. We have been so used to our vet in Florida and California before that. We took our puss cat for her annual shots and a wellness check. Both the vet and Dylan were amazing! Such a fabulous practice . We didn't get to see inside due to Covid as it was curb side pick up etc, but I trust from the photos it was clean and safe. They really are a great vets and so happy we found them. Thank you for being so kind to our cat. read more

The Cat Practice - Our spoilt little girl - Veterinarians Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing service especially for it being my first time ever going to a vet for my kitten, was attended quick and efficiently, would most definitely recommend read more

The Cat Practice doesn't disappoint. It's very clear that everyone there is passionate about taking care of cats in particular. I love both cats and dogs, but it's sometimes hard to find a vet that gives as much care to cats as they do to dogs. So The Cat Practice is a fantastic experience! Dr. Dougherty is so exceptionally kind and professional. He's very upfront about what his thought process is, and he was very thorough in his evaluation of my cat. Overall, it's so fantastic to have a caring, personable vet and staff in my area. If you live anywhere near this place and need a cat vet, definitely check these guys out. read more

This is the only vet I will take my cat to. I've taken her to other vets, who've described her as having severe anxiety, and she's always very uncomfortable and uncooperative with them. However, the Cat Practice is very gentle with her, and you can tell that they truly love cats there! At our first visit, she was immediately picked up and loved on so nicely before realizing that they were strangers! They can get her to do any exam without stress or discomfort, and exams are always thorough and efficient. Dr. D is knowledgeable and extremely patient with answering all questions, one of the nicest guys. read more

I literally cannot recommend Dr. Dougherty and the staff at The Cat Practice enough. They helped me through putting my sweet cat Pepper to rest. By the time I visited The Cat Practice I had been through several other vets and no one could give me a solid treatment plan or even tell me what was wrong with my cat. Dr. Dougherty finally was able to tell me that Pep had cancer and was unfortunately close to the end, and prescribed her some pain meds to keep her comfortable until it was time to make the decision to put her down. When that day finally came, he reassured me that I was making the right decision, gave me plenty of time with her before it was time, and walked me through every step of the process. It was a very difficult appointment but it went as best as an appointment like that can go. The next day after the appointment I got a call from Dr. Dougherty just checking in and seeing how I was doing. He told me that I can reach out any time. That phone call was so beyond the call of duty and it's why I'm writing this review right now. Dr. Dougherty and his staff are all so incredibly professional and they lead with empathy. When I'm ready for another cat, they're going to be my first choice in veterinary care. read more

Super friendly staff and vet who obviously love cats. The office is more like someone's living room than the typical vet exam room with cold looking metal tables. Appointments are punctual and the staff are on top of the administrative stuff. My cats aren't crazy about going to the vet and the comfortable environment definitely put them at ease. The best part is the practice has their own house cats who would wander around like in any other apartments. Procedures and costs are all explained upfront so no surprises unlike other places. I would not hesitate to recommend this cat only practice if you are looking for a downtown vet for your cat. read more

If you are a cat owner living in the city, I highly recommend you bring them to The Cat Practice. I will start with the basics by saying scheduling is easy, the facility is clean and well run, Dr Dougherty is friendly and knowledgeable, and he possesses good "bedside" manner with cats and their owners. Now, what really distinguishes this practice is in service. In more serious cases where my cats needed care from specialists, The Cat Practice has spearheaded the arrangement of that care. When my Persian needed immediate hospitalization, Dr Dougherty made the arrangements at Blue Pearl and gave me an overview of what to expect over those ensuing days and the doctors' names. It gave me confidence in the process. When my Himalayan had a serious eye infection, Dr Dougherty's wife Arielle was ah-maaaazing in reaching out to specialists in the NYC area on our behalf and getting an appointment scheduled for us the next morning....during a stretch, mind you, where hospitals in general were booked out for weeks/months. She is personally responsible for saving my cat's eye due to her willingness to go above and beyond, work the phones, plead, cajole, and get us scheduled within 24 hours. She also followed up more than once to check in on my Himmy's status over the ensuing days, even though The Cat Practice was not directly involved in his care. This more than anything speaks to the fact that The Cat Practice has an old school relationship-oriented mindset that is becoming more rare in today's world and is truly appreciated. read more

I thought my cat may have had a problem so I took him here. Even during my initial call Dylan explained SO MUCH to me about my cat and put my worries at ease. Even though my cat ended up getting past his problem after a few days I took my cat to this practice for a checkup. Literally Dr. Dougherty stopped and took my cat up to the practice even though he was on his break picking up his coffee. Him and Dylan were so nice and explained everything and were very clear about pricing and expectations. They were so thoughtful and thorough that I had to leave a review. They gave me extra resources about my cat and I feel really comfortable bringing him back to see them from now on. read more

The Cat Practice on 24th street. Most amazing, kind and knowledgeable Veterinarian we have ever met. After going to other veterinarians including animal hospitals, no one has been able to help and diagnose and treat our Tiger (and my other kitties) like Eric Dougherty. He specializes in cats only and puts all his focus, expertise and experience at work for your precious feline companion and the results show!!! I wish we had a doctors like him for humans. On top of being excellent and thorough with my cats, he is the most kind and attentive human being. read more

The Cat Practice - The Cat Practice on 24th street - Veterinarians Near Me - New York, New York

See all

have been coming to the cat practice for a few years now my cat Pandora is in such good health I love the office it is cat friendly and Doctor D is so nice with her she can be somewhat a little difficult sometimes I would highly recommend DR D highy I would never go anywhere else Thanks DR D read more

The Cat Practice has helped both cats recover a number of times in the last decade. The Dr. and staff are all very patient and caring

If you love your cat look no further for a vet. Dr. D is phenomenal and I guarantee that you will never find another veterinarian or practice better than this one. The team truly loves cats and it shows (I mean the only see cats!). We have been going here for about two years now and I only wish we had started going sooner as this is hands down the best place for your feline friend! We have also referred several friends and they have all had great experiences. read more

This vet is the BEST vet for cats in NYC. We tried so many other vets and they were all so disappointing. Dr. Eric is very patient and he has amazing staff. Our cat was really really really sick when I brought him in and after our consultation we were able to find the best medical care for our cat. Our cat is now very healthy and happy! We also had to reschedule multiple appointments and the staff were very very accommodating. Thanks cat practice read more

I am from upstate NY, and have been having issues with my cats paw. I've seen 2 vets, a neurologist, and found The Cat Ptactice on Yelp. I was never at Dr. Dougherty's practice before. The place is so warm cozy and filled with love for cats! I brought all of my cat Bentleys information to Dr. Dougherty. He never even took me back into a room, the man was so kind and honest. He said, " Mrs. Scala I do not want to take your money or do the same things all these vets have done already!" I believe Bentley has had everything I would have done here. He knew we were from upstate and said let me call my friend, Dr. Phillippa Pavia at Blue Pearl. An orthopedic surgeon and see if she can fit you in. How sweet knowing I was so upset about my cats unknown underlying issue. He got me in ASAP and off we went, not before he stopped to see my 18 pound fur ball and in his eyes I saw LOVE, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, AND EMPATHY for cats, and my Bentley! This man is the Angel of Cats!! If I lived in the city.....He would be our vet NO DOUBT! If you live in the city and have a cat, be sure to look this wonderful Dr. up and have your cat puuuurfectly happy in the hands of Dr. Dougherty!! Thank you so very much kind sir! With Love, Bentley & The Scala Family read more

I have mixed opinions about The Cat Practice, I'll start with the good. Staff has always been good to me. I never once had a bad experience with them and only have good things to say. They always answer my questions and have been great at looking after the well being of my cat. Unfortunately I do have some negatives. It seems like the cat practice is limited in what they do on site. My cat recently had something that needed to be looked at and they were my first call. As mentioned above, I received good service as expected. Eventually it was determined that he would need surgery. Unfortunately it appears that they do not do his surgery on site or aren't confident in their ability to do it. I was recommended a specialist and I've also done some searching around. All of this would be fine if I didn't have to shell out another couple hundred dollars for an exam at another vet. Turning this into a more costly endeavor than it has to be. Had I known that maybe they wouldn't perform this surgery I would've looked elsewhere. That way I would've saved $300 and just paid for the exam and surgery else where. I do like the Cat Practice but it could be time for me to move on or use them as a second option. I would recommend them for vaccinations, wellness exams, and bloodwork. Also read carefully on their website to see what they offer or reach out to them yourself. read more