Yorkshire Cat Rescue and vets

One of the keys to the success of Yorkshire Cat Rescue is the amazing partnerships we have had with veterinary surgeons.  We've used many vets over the years, but two in particular stand out.

Our main vets

When our charity first started, back in 1992, Holborow and Tapsfield vets based in Hebden Bridge offered us an account with a ten percent discount, reduced fees for neutering and as many freebies as they could throw at us.  After a few years they increased our discount to 20% and chose not to raise the cost of neutering for our cats.

In 1996 they took up the challenge set by our founder to undertake neutering of kittens.   We became one of the first charities and they became one of the first vets in the country to do "early neutering" - it was very rare back in 1996.

The practice grew and was renamed West Mount Vets. We enjoyed a good relationship with them for many years including for some years after the owners retired and sold the practice.

Sadly when we were hit by lockdown in 2020, Westmount could not meet our needs and after 29 years we were obliged to look elsewhere.  Step up Baildon Veterinary Centre!

Privately owned Baildon Veterinary Centre were able to fulfil our needs and we have been working with them since the summer of 2020.  Like Westmount, Baildon offer us a significant discount, undertake low cost neutering and vaccination for us, and offer us amazing advice at the drop of a hat.

Yorkshire Cat Rescue would not be as successful as it is without the wonderful support we have received from West Mount Vets and Baildon Vets.

Vets used by our fosterers

Because we have fosterers all around the county (and beyond!) it is often not practicable for the fosterers to return cats to Baildon or Westmount for ongoing treatment.  Sometimes we have to use vets local to the fosterer.  (This also reduces the traveling time and therefore the stress for the cats).  These vets vary in their approach to us - many of them offer a discount and because they get to know the fosterers who use them, they can offer direct advice and support that is invaluable in their care of the cats.

Where possible, of course we do ask the fosterers to use Baildon (and West Mount to a lesser extent), but we consider the stress for the cat and the ability of the fosterer to travel when booking appointments.

Why don't we have an onsite practice ourselves?

Well, this is something we would like to have but we are not able to yet for a number of reasons 

• We don't really have the space.  
• We would have to employ a vet and a nurse, but the hours we would need them to work would vary hugely
• We'd have to manage them and we don't have staff qualified to do this.
• Insurance and regulations would also need to be considered.
• We would still have to use outside vets for more complex surgery.
• We wouldn't be able to "overnight" cats recovering from surgery or who were ill enough to require round the clock care.
• If we offered the services to members of the public we'd have to provide cover 24/7.

It's not something we have ruled out, but we don't feel we are there yet.

    

What do we do for vets?

Many vets approach us to ask if we can take in cats that have been brought in for non-medical euthanasia.  This might include a cat that is no longer wanted, a cat that is a stray, a cat that needs medical treatment that the owners can't afford.  Where possible we will help these cats.  And many times the vets will undertake some, if not all, medical treatment the cat needs.