My Cat BoBo is has been a important part of our family for 17 years. He's 17 which is the human equivalent of 85 in cat years. You have to handle him gently and softly because of his age. BoBo had developed an ear infection so I called around and found The Cat Doctor-and I wish I never did! I really wanted to like The Cat Doctor... They had lots of propaganda about how they care about animals so I thought it would be no big deal to treat BoBo's ear infection. I was given prices over the phone for the ear infection by Faryn Kapala, listed as a veterinary technician. Suddenly Dr. Drew Johnson came over the phone in a rushed manner and said I would need an appointment. I made one for 3:30 and he said to show up a half hour early to fill in paperwork. I showed up with my agitated cat on time... was put into a TINY room where I waited for 2 hours as my poor old cat paced the room in a panic and in pain from his ear...! Finally Dr. Karen Lovelace, listed as a veterinarian, came into the room. I made it clear I was there for his ear infection but before Karen even treated his ear, she began insisting I LEAVE MY CAT OVERNIGHT FOR A TEETH CLEANING in the morning where they would "sedate him"... I was shocked that she seemed more interested in running up charges than actually helping his current problem; the ear infection. Having previous sales experience I saw through her sales pitch and I said "Why on Earth are you up-selling me expensive overnight room, board and teeth cleaning when I am here for an ear infection. Shouldn't you, as a vet doctor, treat the ear first, before we worry about a tooth cleaning? And WHY would I leave BoBo overnight when he is in such ear pain? If I brought him for a cleaning I would just bring him in the morning and pick him up in a couple hours-why on Earth would I leave my family pet in pain in a strange place for a meager tooth cleaning? (BTW: SO THEY COULD CHARGE ME FOR OVERNIGHT BOARD!) Please let's just fix his ear!" (Clearly this Vet office is only interested in selling expensive unneeded services!) Unable to sell me on the extras, she left the room for another half hour! At this time my poor cat BoBo is freaking out being in this tiny room and pacing in pain. They still would NOT treat his painful ear! Finally Dr. Karen Lovelace comes back into the room SAYING ONE SHOT WOULD FIX MY CAT! Great! One shot and he's cured? (Later I found out this was untrue! This treatment would NOT have helped BoBo! He needed ear drops instead. She is a terrible vet giving WRONG treatments! But at this time I thought the ONE shot would cure him.) and she had with her a list of charges that were TRIPLE what they told me on the phone including a ridiculous charge of $42. for just looking at a slide under the microscope! Surprised that the prices were NOT what they told me on they phone I then asked if she could ask the person in charge for at least a discount... She "Sure, no problem" and left the room and closed the door. SUDDENLY-THE DOOR SWINGS OPEN AND A FURIOUS DR. Drew Johnson, veterinary technician, with red eyes bulging and spit flying, SCREAMS AT ME "IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR SERVICES GET OUT!! GET OUT!! GET OUT!!" Meanwhile-my poor sick cat GETS SCARED at his yelling, and goes running past Drew Johnson, into the lobby and running through the offices. To my horror- Drew Johnson, supposed veterinary technician, chased my cat around the offices, grabbed him forcefully and shoved him into the carrier. I could NOT believe what I just saw! A vet treating a sick cat in a forceful mean way! I was just shocked! I showed a roll of $300 cash I had brought to pay and said, "I never said I wasn't going to pay, I simply was asking for a discount!" He continued to scream at me "Get Out!" despite a shocked waiting room of The Cat Doctor's next victims. I will never forget the look on their faces as Drew Johnson, continued his screaming! I spent all afternoon at this awful MEAN ANTI-CAT place in a tiny waiting room and instead of caring about my cat it was clear they ONLY CARED ABOUT MONEY. Now I had taken time off work, been SCREAMED AT and totally humiliated in front of everybody in the lobby and WORSE my cat was STILL in agonizing pain and not treated. In UTTER frustration I called THE CAT DOCTOR'S head office in Thousand Oaks and mentioned how I was treated (and how BoBo was NOT treated), and how I was going to report them to the Vet Board. William at the Thousand Oaks office seemed nice as he begged me not to file a report and write this review. I must be a sucker for "sweet talk" because I want to believe vets actually care about the animals. The truth is most vets just want money from our turmoil and suffering. He suggested I come to the main office the next day and they would "Comp" the charges for treatment. Despite having made an appointment elsewhere, the next day I showed up at the CAT DOCTOR's Thousand Oaks office. Here BoBo was seen by Dr. Darcie Heyes, CEO and veterinarian who said that the ONE SHOT that her other doctor was going to administer, Karen Lovelace, WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED!! She gave me ear drops instead. This took maybe 5 minutes to finally treat poor BoBo. The Ventura office did not care if BoBo suffered another day. As I was leaving the office they gave me a bill for $65. I mentioned that William had promised to "comp" BoBo... but since William was "surprise" not there... I just gave up and paid anyway. BoBo ear is fine now but I went through hell to get treatment for him. This is not a new problem. I called and took a poll of all my friend's and they say most Vets in Ventura consistently charge for unnecessary procedures and cause more suffering so they can improve their bottom line. If anyone knows a good, HONEST Vet in Ventura that doesn't charge an arm and a leg please post it and let us know! Folks-don't blindly let some strange vet take YOUR precious family member on a horror ride just so they can charge you and arm and a leg. QUESTION the treatment! Question your doctor! and WRITE REVIEWS! Reviews are vital so we as consumers and pet owners can help out each other and put crooked thieves like THE CAT DOCTOR-Ventura out of business! Thanks you for your time reading this.