The doctor will see you meow

Northern Ontario's first and only cat hospital officially opened for business on June 1. The Sudbury Regional Cat Hospital, located at 1543 Paris Street offers a full range of medical services to felines of all ages.

Dr. Nicole Baran has worked as a veternarian for more than seven years and has now turned her focus to providing a niche service for Sudbury and Northern Ontario.

“Sudbury has several veterinarians, but this is the only cat hospital in Northern Ontario,” said Baran. "I know there are a few like this in southern Ontario, but none in the North. You need a city about the size of Sudbury in order to sustain this type of business, it wouldn't really work in a smaller community.”

Baran has spent the last seven years of her life working with a wide variety of animals, from small household pets like birds, cats and dogs as well as wildlife.

Cat calls might not be everyone's cup of tea, but Baran has always been drawn to felines.

“When I worked in other clinics, I usually gravitated towards cats," she said. "I was always more interested in seeing a grumpy cat than a puppy.

"I wanted to provide a service where people can bring their cats and be at ease. Sometimes it's not easy to bring a cat to a veterinarian where there could be barking dogs that could be upsetting to your cat.”

The Sudbury Regional Cat Hospital itself is a clean and bright space that boasts top-of-the-line resources, including x-ray machines and surgical equipment. The hospital runs the gamut when it comes to the needs of cats: check-ups to dentistry, vaccinations to spaying and neutering, to emergency surgery.

Dentistry is of a special interest to Baran, who explained that it is one of the most important aspects of caring for your cat as poor dental hygiene can contribute to a myriad of other health issues, including kidney disease.

Most services offered at the hospital require an appointment, but Baran works on an as-needed basis as well.

“If there's a true emergency, we'll address it right away,” said Baran. “If someone brings in their cat because it's having seizures, then I would definitely see it without an appointment.”

Veteraniarian-specific cat foods are available for purchase in the hospital lobby, prices range from $2 for a can of wet food, up to $25 for a bag of dry food. Cat owners are welcome to come in any time to purchase food for cats in different stages of life, though dietary-specific or prescription foods require a prescription.

“If a cat has allergies or needs food for something like a kidney infection, then we would require a prescription for that,” said Baran.

The four-person staff at the Sudbury Regional Cat Hospital are taking appointments and Baran is hoping to spread the word around the South End first and continue to grow.

“Right now we're looking to provide a level of convenience to cat owners who live in apartments or don't drive, so we're nearby where people can walk to us with their cats,” said Baran. “If and when we start growing we may have to add another veterinary technician or even another vet.”

You can find out more about the Sudbury Regional Cat Hospital online at www.sudburyregionalcathospital.com or contacting Dr. Nicole Baran at [email protected] or 705-586-0414.