Fourteen-year-old Murphy hisses and growls as Dr. Barb Rossi tries to draw blood from her leg to find out if the cat’s kidney failure has progressed.
Rossi has put a muzzle on her, and owner Peggy Vanco is holding her on a bed in her Glendale home. Vanco also has two other cats and a springer spaniel that got checkups.
“It’s just much more convenient for me, and I think the animals react better to have her come rather than going to a vet’s office, especially the cats,” Vanco said.
Rossi is part of a growing number of veterinarians who make house calls because of the low overhead costs and the freedom that comes with it.