Seattle Natural Veterinary Center

Dr. Kate is the Pet Whisperer. She clearly loves animals, and they clearly love her back. We first began going to Kate with a 8-​year old Rottie who was having intestinal and energy issues. It seemed like Dexter was on a downward spiral… The traditional veterinary care facility we were going to said that Dexter had IBD and they prescribed all kinds of medication — none of which worked, and it was extremely pricey. Some of the meds were compromising his kidneys. My husband and I decided to find a Naturopathic vet, and Dr. Kate is in our neighborhood. She did an assessment, recommended that we change Dexter’s food because he most likely developed an allergy to lamb or rice since we had been feeding him the same food (albeit, high quality) his ENTIRE LIFE! Can you imagine eating the same meal, breakfast/​lunch/​dinner every day of your life?! Within 2 weeks, Dexter’s issues were resolved and Dr. Kate has become part of our family. All the «kids» just love her.
The most impressive, however, is the fact that Dr. Kate can clean our kitties’ teeth with no anesthetics. She simply cuddles the kitty, and they let her clean their teeth! WE CAN’T EVEN DO THAT!
We do have a backup vet that can perform some of the things that Dr. Kate’s office doesn’t offer, but she’s our primary.
#WELOVEDRKATE

Yes there is a wait for Dr Kate, but it is worth it! My dog started getting incontinence issues and rawness from licking … after a month of traditional care from my former vet and her getting no relief at all (and several rounds of antibiotics, wanting to put her on special food that I looked up and it was not good nutritious food…) I went to Dr Kate… she immediately had her on several natural formula’s and got her squared away in a couple weeks. She has had no recurrence since. Maria at the front desk is wonderful too. I highly recommend~

My cat Bug has bladder stones and, because blood is never a good sign, amazingly, they found a way to get her in same day.
First the woman who is your first point of contact (embarrassingly I can’t remember her name) is wonderful. So calm and friendly. Thoughtful — there was an excitable dog coming out of a room so she moved me to the other end of the lobby so that Bug wouldn’t be scared then «de-​dogged» the room before showing me in. wow.
Dr Kate spent a full hour with me. She is completely knowledgeable (and this is from someone who does a lot of research) and knew exactly what to do.
She could have easily given me the supplements I needed to cure her and the food recipe to keep her healthy, sent me on my way, and that would have been that.
Unfortunately, I have a belief system that only allows for very specific protein sources. Instead of being frustrated at me being one of THOSE clients it turns out she completely understood my feelings so we threw ideas back and forth. It was like problem solving with a friend.
She knew there was never a question that I would find a way to give Bug what she needed with or without my constraints, the point is she was so willing to try and find a way to do it within them.
She was so kind to my girl, letting her free in the room to find her own place of safety because she was scared (poor thing is dumb as dirt so a new environment throws her for a loop)
All in all a lovely experience for me and The Bug.

I just love Dr. Kate. She cared for both my giant dogs and totally got them. She really love animals and they love her. She is a little pricier than other vets, but the time she takes with each animal is worth it! Her great diagnostic skills, knowledge of alternative remedies and pet nutrition make her a superstar.
The only down side is that she is so popular. Plan ahead for appointments because it can be hard to get in.

the reviews for this place are great but expect to wait 1 ½ — 2 months, unapologetically, for a new client appointment. such a bummer when your pet is in pain and they hang up with a closing of «best of luck» I would have been thrilled to be put on a wait list etc but they seemed quick to hang up when it was clear I wasn’t an established client.

Taking my cats to Dr. Kate has been such a wonderful experience! Last year, my 14 year old cat’s asthma worsened significantly, and in an attempt to avoid putting her on steroids, I brought her to Seattle Natural Veterinary. Some days, she was having 10 attacks, so even though I like the idea of natural medicine, I didn’t really think it was going to work for such an extreme case of asthma. But it has! With a new diet and a few supplements, my cat is down to 2 or fewer asthma attacks a month. She went from being a convalescing feline back to her old playful self. She used to be a nervous wreck at the vet, but she truly loves going now! It’s like she’s visiting an old friend when she’s with Dr. Kate.
It might seem more expensive at first, but I think it actually ends up costing less in the long run. In my experience in the world of western medicine, vet visits beget more vet visits begets more medicine and more procedures. And, Dr. Kate seems to be sensitive to this issue and doesn’t push for unneeded lab work, etc. I think on the whole, I’ll end up spending less by taking her to Seattle Natural Veterinary.
One thing: it can be hard to get an appointment less than a month out. But it’s definitely worth the wait!

Dr Kate has been taking care of my chihuahua, Domino for a few years now. Love love love the staff. I really appreciate the care and concern Dr Kate has for my dog. She spends time and attention on my dog at every visit and I never feel rushed. Her advice has always been spot on. When it is your appointment time they do not have you sitting around waiting. And the reception area and treatment rooms are always clean and smell fresh.
People have commented that they are pricey, however, my time is also valuable. And my dogs health is a priority. The fees are in line with the level of service, personal attention, and especially respect for my time.

We have been taking our kitty to Dr Kate for almost two years., one kitty for two years and the new kitty is now her patient as well. Not only does Dr Kate at Seattle Natural Vet know her medicine, she quite obviously loves animals and they love her. Minuses – it is a bit pricey and booked ahead, but with our second cat we spent a lot of money at a traditional vet before his problem was discovered by one visit with Dr Kate. The same with our first cat, come to think of it!
First visit… kitty had a mammary tumor and an ultrasound found another tumor in her intestine. Our traditional vet was not optimistic and when we finally got to see an oncologist, she wanted to do a radical mastectomy (all the nipples up one side) and chemo. We did not want to put our nervous little kitty through a lot of trauma, were resigned to saying goodbye to her soon, and since we are believers in naturopathic medicine for ourselves, found Seattle Natural Vet, thinking we would just help her last months be comfortable and stress free. Two years later, on the supplements prescribed by Dr Kate and a better diet, our little kitty is older, slower, but her happy self, taking one day at a time. We were so impressed. Now she just has a quarterly check up and adjustment of her supplements. She still has the tumor but it has barely grown a bit in two years and not spread.
More recently. We had a new kitty who was a foundling, and seemed healthy, so we took him to the traditional vet (much closer to our home and easier to make appointments) and everything was OK for a few months until he came down with sores on his mouth and a bald patch on his face. After a few visits and a few hundred dollars, the traditional vet was having no success, so we took him to Dr Kate (you have to plan way ahead to get an appointment) and even though he is kind of a challenging cat, Dr Kate made instant friends with him and was impressed by his qualities, and found out what the problem was, which is a simple change of diet and supplements, and he is much better. He was not in the least stressed or scared at Seattle Natural Vet, where at the traditional vet he was very nervous and upset with the barking dogs and that vet-​office-​stink that older establishments cannot get rid of.
Hghly recommended.

Dr. Kate is about wholeness and individuality. I have two cats and each have had profound experiences in Dr. Kate’s care. She is able to hone in on the main issues/​challenges, but she also sees the greater picture and is able to see my kitties for who they are.
Both of my animals had been diagnosed with things like asthma and epilepsy by previous traditional vets and in Kate’s care, neither of these diagnoses proved to be true. She uses a holistic approach and is able to know when to use traditional medicine, too. My cats love her and so do we.
Melissa, her amazing assistant, is so kind-​hearted and helpful. She goes out of her way to make sure that our questions are answered and she has so many great suggestions for things like how to get our sick kitty to eat. She is empathetic, funny, and kind.
What a blessing that Seattle Natural Veterinary Center exists!

First of all, my dog has been through hell with two major surgeries. He absolutely hates vet clinics. We have to muzzle him AND put a cone on for extra protection. As soon as we walked into the clinic, he was completely calm. He usually growls as soon as the vet walks in the room, but when Dr. Kate came in, he only wagged his tail and fell asleep. The clinic never has dogs over night and only see one animal at a time so there are no smells or noises that can make some pets uneasy. Dr. Kate was spectacular. She was completely concerned about my dog. The first visit, she sits with you for an hour, wanting to know your pets past medical history and your concerns and thoughts. She explains everything to you in detail and makes sure you understand whatever it is your pet is suffering from or might be suffering from. She is very thorough with each client and she is super nice.
I would recommend Seattle Natural Veterinary Clinic to anyone who loves their pets!

For service: 5 stars. For price: Ouch! (Hence the 4-​star review)
We had our first visit at Seattle Natural Vet today, and Dr. Fernald was awesome with my coward of a dog– took her time, knelt down to help her feel at ease, and never once reached over Fiona’s head to pet her, which makes a huge difference. Didn’t flinch when Fiona roofed at her as she entered the room and was super patient.
Dr. Fernald was also awesome with my husband and I– took time to ask about Fiona’s history, carefully checked over her skin and coat (which were the reasons we brought her in), and didn’t make us feel uncomfortable when we told her that while we absolutely want to do what’s best for our dog, budget is a concern.
We went home with a clear plan to begin working on Fiona’s itchiness and digestive issues, and will be going back in a month for follow up. With any luck, the next visit will cost less than the $ 275 we spent this time for a new patient exam, urinalysis, and 3 supplements.
I cannot stress enough how professional and friendly both Dr. Fernald and the receptionist (Melissa?) were. With previous vets the experience has felt rushed and I didn’t feel like the vet was prepared to look very hard for any underlying causes. Dr. Fernald seemed invested in helping us get Fiona feeling as healthy as she possibly can.

Wow, am I ever disappointed. I knew Dr. Fernald was pricey, but I was fine with that if the quality of care was outstanding. I was a complete disappointment.
First, we went in for our first well puppy visit, and $ 133 later, walked out getting no sense that she got what she was doing. I got copies she gives everyone on food, and she bragged about how on just food she can keep our dog healthy and not needing meds.
When a week later my less than 3 month old pup was having severe diarrhea, she prescribed an antibiotic, never got on the phone with me to ask questions (the woman at the front desk talked to me and I assume is not a vet tech as she was clueless on things I asked her about). And Dr. Kate never asked to SEE MY DOG! How can you assess how a dog is doing without seeing him… especially a holistic vet? And a new client? And a little 12 week old pup whose immune systems are so fragile?
After the 5 days on antibiotics he was worse not better. I was called and told the fecal screen was clear. I told them he was still having diarrhea (by now it was going on 2 weeks). I still have never heard back from Dr. Kate.
I went back to the amazing vet we used with our last dog (I was trying to avoid the drive to Renton), and in 24 hours she has him on the road to recovery.

I took my 12 yr old pug here for the first time today and we had a great experience. They only see one pet at a time which made for a more relaxed setting. In fact, my pug has never been so relaxed at a vet in her life. She even tried to follow Dr. Kate out the door and waiting for her return. It is pricey I will say that but I feel it was worth every penny. I feel like her sr. years will be the best quality with a vet that is helping come up with a plan to enrich them not just say yes she is getting old.

I recently moved from Chicago where my two Samoyeds enjoyed the knowledge and expertise of an outstanding natural veterinarian. I never expected to find a vet in Seattle that gave me as much confidence as my Chicago-​area vet.
Then I met Dr Kate at Seattle Natural Veterinary Center. I needed to update my dogs’ Titer panels and they were due for a general checkup. From the moment Dr Kate met Sam & Bucca (yep, together they come when I call, «Sambucca!»), they sensed her expert and caring manner. They were calm and friendly during her exam.
When the blood work results were returned the next day, Dr Kate called and very patiently explained what each of the readings indicated.
A good vet is hard to find. An outstanding natural vet is a rare find. I’m very careful about who cares for my dogs and Dr Kate has earned my confidence.

If I could give 100 stars I would. Dr. Kate is great and I would pay even more to see her.
Now, don’t go to her! Why? She is sooooo good that she is booked up all the time, so it will just make it more difficult to get in to see her!
Wish Dr. Kate could clone herself!

The receptionist and vet are wonderful — but in my experience, they are so pricey. More than twice as much as VCA or other clinic for basic stuff like Physical Exams, Vaccines and Flotation. There is really no reason for the costly fees on these services. If I heard they lowered their prices, I would switch permanently in a heartbeat!

I love Seattle Natural Veterinary Center. Dr. Kate is totally awesome and Ms. Melissa at the front desk is also very helpful and friendly and great. I used to take my dogs to a certain vet in the crown hill area before (just because it was close by) and I can’t say that I was happy with them. So we made a switch after recommendation from other people. I am SO glad we did!
Dr. Kate is always right on point with the diagnosis she gives. She is very thorough with consultation, gives you explanations that make you go «oh yeah… that makes sense», and you can tell she knows what she is talking about. She does not push «anti-​biotics» like most other vests would do for a lot of things. She does not sell Science Diet food. She most of the time recommends homeopathic treatment, which is safe for your beloved animals’ health. Not only is she great at what she does, she is the first vet that one of my dogs feels comfortable with because she has a very gentle approach and talks to my dog with her happy voice. Going to a vet is not the most fun experience for a lot of animals, and I think that the staff at Seattle Natural Vet does what they can to make the experience more comfortable. With their help, my dogs are doing as great as they possibly can at their old age.
Everybody I recommended Dr. Kate to tells me that they are glad they took their pets there.
Like Kui S. said in her review, their hours are more limited than some other vets and it is not as easy to schedule in an appointment right away (they are certainly popular!), but as long as it is not an emergency (if it is, they will definitely try their best to get you in) this is a great place to take your dogs/​cats to as a long term vet. Over all, I am very happy with them and will continue to bring my dogs there.

Wow! So glad I checked in on Unilocal reviews for my favorite businesses. I have had nothing but excellent service from Dr. Kate and her staff since she opened her business. She is currently looking after the care and welfare of our two cats, including one who has always suffered from a recurring upper respiratory infection since we found him at PAWS.
Dr. Kate has always been informed, helpful and responsive to our kitty’s needs. She’s great with them in exams, practical and informed in her treatment, and has always responded quickly to any messages I’ve left on her message machine. We used to take our cats to another vet in the Ballard/​Phinney area that is highly reviewed on Unilocal,and became frustrated at the predictability of the recommendations given by that vet when we had any range of kitty sickness – namely, lots and lots of expensive diagnostic and specialized testing (hundreds and into the thousands of dollars) which they admitted would not be able to clearly show what the problem was.
Dr. Kate was able to diagnose our kitty’s URI, prescribe antibiotics, and put him on a treatment plan that keeps his immunities boosted and reduces the frequency of his sneezing/​stuffy nosed flare-​ups. She’s personable, responsible, and it’s obvious that she loves the animals that are in her care.
She’s also a single-​vet practice, and I’m sure that is what contributes to a 5-​day a week office hour schedule. I know I don’t want to work 7 days a week, so why should I expect her to? I also own a small business, and I know how much time is spent after-​hours on paperwork, filing, taxes, etc. There is a limit to the number of hours in a week, and I think she keeps good office hours that I can work within.

I was very surprised to read the review given by izzy w. Our experience has been quite the opposite. True, their hours are limited and it makes things a bit more challenging to get in to see Dr. Cate (in large part due to the popularity of her practice), but as long as you know what a vet’s hours are and you know where the nearest emergency facilities are located, you shouldn’t be too upset with your vet if your pet has an emergency.
We had been taking our dog to another vet’s office for the three years that we’ve had her, and they were fine until an emergency arose (after hours). Our dog’s condition had gone undiagnosed for some time at this 5-​star rated vet’s office. The emergency hospital doc ran a battery of tests and figured out what was killing our dog before sending us with our dog to our vet’s office first thing in the morning. They had our dog for 2 and ½ days before sending her home to us with barely a note on how to care for her or information about her condition. I conducted a great deal of research in the meantime (2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th opinions from other vets) and learned that the vet’ instructions were a surefire way to sicken our dog, exacerbate her condition, and cause her unnecessary pain, likely shortening her life. Fortunately we learned about Dr. Cate’s office after speaking with Grisha at Ahimsa Dog Training (that’s a well-​deserved plug!). We’ve been taking our dog to Dr. Cate for about 4 months now, and our pooch is without a doubt the healthiest that she has ever been.
I understand the value of a site like Unilocal,and I believe that it really is helpful. I only hope that those of you looking for a good vet for your pet take the time to research carefully. Unfortunately this is only the second review for their office, so it might be a little tricky to make a decision based on two contrasting opinions. Please don’t just sit on your duff and select a vet for your pet based on Unilocal reviews — get out there and ask those in the know. Ask the trainers, animal hospital vets, etc. I’m glad that we found Dr. Cate, I only wish for our dog (too much unnecessary suffering) that we had found her sooner.

My dog has three vets. One for emergencies and broken bones and stuck eyes and the like, a natural vet/​chiropractor to work on overall health naturally while trying a new approach to an injury that wasn’t responding well to conventional treatment, and an acupuncturist who is not only sticking my dog with needles, but providing some nice physical therapy and nutritional advice as well. In the end I make the decisions on what works best.
Dr. Kate is the second of the two. Her office made an immediate appointment for my old pug during the holidays. She was super sweet and didn’t run tests again just to spend my money. She just went to work. Now my dog has a whole herbal and vitamin regimen and a appointment for another spinal adjustment, while I have the peace of mind of knowing that I am doing everything I can to make my dog happy and healthy.
It’s just like when I go to the doctor, I always pick the one for the job and I can only hope I’m not misdiagnosed (don’t get me started).