How did you pick your cat or dog's vet?

Just trying to get some info on how you made this decision...my 12-year-old cat and his special care is what is keeping me where I am at now, but once he is gone, so are me and my other two cats (not that I anticipate this happening soon, but in reality he could have acute kidney or heart issues occur at any time for all we know).
Anyway, I dated my cat's vet in 2001 and have watched him evolve into very unlikeable (but still attractive, which is annoying) narcissist. I will probably go to another vet at one of his other hospitals he does not frequent often (he owns 4, for god's sake)...but was wanting some advice in case I decide to try and find some way out of his "vet monopoly." It's hard though since I know some of the other vets and believe they provide good care.
I tried looking at ratings online for other hospitals and they were all over the board...too confusing.
Thanks.

SortaFairytale, do you have friends with cats? Why not ask them for a recommendation?

Not that live in the town where I do...the one that did at one point had a horrible experience with hers. That is partly why I don't trust other vets. I think they are kinda like Ts, ha. Very good or very not!

Are there any breeders in your area? You could ask what vet they use.

You make a good point about vets and Ts. It's as much about the relationship as it is what they know.

Could you check out other vets in the area by taking one of your cats to them for routine stuff? It would give you a sense of what they are like under low stress circumstances.

I don't know of any breeders...but I do know the drug-sniffing law enforcement dogs in my area are taken to my current vet, so that helps me not at all. Sigh.

But your idea of a general physical at a new place is a good one. I would just have to figure out which cat to take. Only 1/3 of my cats EVER has a "low stress" visit to the vet...one being the unbalanced one on prozac and the other one is too scared (after 3 operations there). So I guess that leaves my calico. Anyway, thanks for your ideas!

I compiled a list of vets within a 10 mile radius, then called each office to see if the vet would be willing to do a free visit to let me "interview" them. I brought one of my dogs with me to each interview, and watched how the vet interacted with my dog. I had a list of questions that were important points for me, and we talked about those. I evaluated how the vet interacted with me as well. Then, I picked the vet that interacted best with both my dog and myself, and best answered the questions I had for them.

I adore the vet I have. My only issues with her are that she's always super busy and that she doesn't have a digital xray machine, so I have to go to a different vet clinic to have my puppy's hips and elbows xrayed for her health certifications.

Excellent suggestion BlessedRhiannon!

That is fantastic! I love that idea. Hopefully, my vet won't retire any time soon, but if he ever did.

Come to think of it, I have had to go to a few other hospitals over the years when our doctor was on vacation or after hours, and the other hospitals staff's demeanor along with the vet's personality and professionalism (or lack thereof) really made an impression.

In all these years, there is only one I would even remotely consider for "just in case".