NYC woman takes cat to Heart of Chelsea vet for routine checkup. Her cat leaves unable to walk. Now she’s demanding answers: ‘Unforgivable’

Pet parents usually want what's best for their pet pals. Taking them to the vet for checkups to ensure they're healthy is one of them.

What should've been a normal routine for her cat at the Heart of Chelsea turned into a nightmare for one woman after allegedly noticing something suspiciously wrong with her feline friend.

“Never bring your pet to the Heart of Chelsea vet in New York City ever,” NYC TikTok creator India (@official_unhinged_queen) warns right off the bat in a clip posted on Oct. 13. “I had the most unforgivable experience there this week, and I will most likely be taking legal action because of how bad it was.”

Then, she recalls the incident to more than 413,000 viewers.

What happened at Heart of Chelsea?

She took her four-year-old British Shorthair female cat, Percy, for her annual checkup at the vet. At first, the scans came back as healthy, which should be a relief. However, that all changed once the vets took Percy to the back.

“They brought her back 15 minutes later. She is covered in urine, soaking wet. They plop her in my lap, and she is crying,” the content creator remembers. “The nurse practitioner turns to me and says, ‘She was very difficult.'”

But she knew something was suspiciously wrong, considering this was against Percy's gentle nature.

The straw that broke the camel's back

After dropping $1,000 on the visit, it was time to go home. Once India took Percy out of her carrier, she instantly started limping. As proof, she revealed the video of her British Shorthair limping on her hind legs.

“I've never seen anything like this before,” she says. “I jump in the car, I bring her back to the vet. They rush her to the back, thinking it's some emergency.”

Subsequently, she was informed her cat was in stable condition, not knowing why she was limping, but she had an inkling of the reason behind it.

“I knew they were lying to me. I knew they had hurt her in the back and they were too scared to tell me about it,” she theorized. “I also knew they were going to come up with some pretty sh— excuse tomorrow.”

Lo and behold, the next day rolled around, and she allegedly received a phone call from the vet contradicting what was originally said.

“The doctor herself calls and she's really nervous,” the content creator recounts. “Apparently, blood work came back and explained why Percy was behaving this way.” 

What was the ‘culprit?' 

“She has ‘acute arthritis,' and she had the first flare-up of her life with absolutely no catalyst the day I brought her into the vet,” India says, unconvinced.

Next, she relayed the information from the vet on how the diagnosis came to be: “'The catalyst perhaps could be the fact that when they brought her into the back, they had to pull her legs a little bit further out than maybe was comfortable for her.'”

But it got worse. “Then, she tries to sell me arthritis shots. Monthly arthritis shots. She tries to get me to buy a package of them,” she says.

Skeptical, she headed to another vet clinic for a second opinion. What she uncovered confirmed her thoughts.

“They tell me that her left has been twisted and popped out of its socket,” she reveals. “Hurting my cat and then lying about it puts it in the animal abuse category 100%. So, if you're in New York and you're looking for a vet, please do everything in your power to avoid that one.”

‘My blood is BOILING for you'

In the comments section, many viewers were fuming about how the vet treated India's cat.

“Omggg popped out of socket?! Poor kitty, must have been so painful. Hope you win your case because that is insane! I always pass by that vet and will not be going there ever,” one viewer commented.

“This is absolutely horrific. I hope you really do take legal action and they pay for their horrific treatment of your baby,” a second stated.

“My blood is BOILING for you. They should be very afraid of you, bc i'd set that place on fire if it were me. Your poor baby,” a third remarked.

In addition, alleged vet workers backed up India's claim. 

“Vet here. I've never heard of acute arthritis, and it's certainly not something you can diagnose on bloodwork. Most clinics have cameras in the back. I'd try to get a copy of what happened. Sorry this happened. She looks like a beautiful, squishy girl,” one commenter recommended.

“How could you need that much pressure on a cat to restrain it! I am also a tech. That's crazy! Doing bloodwork is not the end of the world. They don't need to force the animal cause sedation is an option or different people,” another said.

Any update on the vet situation?

In a follow-up video, India explained she didn't know if she would take legal action against Heart of Chelsea vet because of the difficult, emotional position she was in at the time. However, the vet contacted her, seemingly attempting to rectify the problem.

“They've called me multiple times. The director has called me as well, and they're trying to fix it, based on the voicemails,” she said. “They offered [to have me] come in and look at the video of that day when Percy was in.”

In the content creator's mind, this wouldn't solve the problem. “That's why I haven't reached out to them cause I'm just trying to figure out how to move forward from here,” she said.  “I think it's gonna take me a little more time to figure out what the next best step is, because suing is a really big deal and I'm really concerned about getting caught up in all that.”

How about Percy?

Unfortunately, Percy was still unable to walk properly.

“She is stable. She's still limping,” India shared in the most recent update. “We've covered every hard surface she likes to sit on with a really fluffy blanket that she's been enjoying.”

On the bright side, the content creator was doing what she can to make her fur baby's life more comfortable. “We've been massaging, we've been pampering, we've been brushing, we've been feeding squeezes, and we've been cuddling her nonstop,” she listed. “Her appetite is still there.”

What did Heart of Chelsea say?

A company representative shared a statement via email:

“We are aware of the social media posts and appreciate the individual's concerns, as we place patient comfort and client service first. Practically all our staff are trained in fear-free pet handling, and all are committed to delivering the highest standard of patient care. We monitor patient visits and procedures through video, and, after thorough review, we are confident that staff provided the highest level of patient care in this instance. In addition, we requested that the client come in to review the video of her pet's visit with one of our veterinarians. We have tried contacting her numerous times but have not heard back.”

@jencoffey

What can she do?

India could sue for malpractice if she wants to, but it would be a difficult case because pet parents would need proof the veterinarian or techs caused the pet's injury. Enjuris suggests collecting evidence, such as photos, medical records, and writing down conversations she had with the vet or staff members. Moreover, she could also review the footage of the visit. If she decides not to go this route, she can file a complaint with the New York State Education Department.

Subplot reached out to India via Instagram and TikTok direct message.

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