"No Blending In with Other Cats Here": A Vet's Story About Falling for a Unique Tortoiseshell Cat ~The Unrequited Love Edition~

Every time I post about her on social media, people say my cat Gigi has "the perfect face" or "intense eyes"—she is truly one of a kind. Even at the vet, she always brings a smile to the faces of the veterinarians and animal nurses.

In this post, I’d like to share some unique remarks from Dr. C, a male veterinarian who has become captivated by Gigi's charm, and talk a little about their complex relationship.

The story of how Dr. C and Gigi met

Gigi has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where the heart muscle thickens and hinders the heart's function. Every two months, we go to the animal hospital to pick up her medication and get her claws trimmed.

She makes these "hooo" or "kyuwan kyuwan" sounds, so it’s become a daily routine for people in the waiting room to look at us and wonder, "What kind of animal did that person bring in?"

Fortunately, she’s currently showing no major symptoms. Since her condition is stable and the clinic is incredibly busy, we don’t request a specific vet to minimize our waiting time. (The vets share her medical records, and whenever a major decision is needed, they all gather for a quick consultation.)

Because of this, I often see vets who say "Nice to meet you" or "Long time no see," but recently we’ve seen Dr. C quite often. My guess is that Dr. C has fallen head over heels for Gigi.

We met Dr. C about a year ago. Usually, when a vet sees Gigi for the first time, they let out a gentle chuckle as they enter the exam room, but Dr. C went rigid the moment he walked in. He looked at Gigi on the exam table and was so stunned he couldn't even speak.

A sharp observation: "You definitely couldn't mistake her for any other cat"

Seeing that, I became incredibly anxious. "Maybe he can tell something is wrong just by looking at her face? Oh no... is there something wrong with Gigi?" My heart started pounding.

But then, Dr. C said something completely unexpected: "You definitely couldn't mistake her for any other cat!"

動物病院で先生たちから「特徴的な顔しとるね」「他の猫には紛れられんね」と言われ、解せぬ様子の猫。 pic.twitter.com/pGDwauBxXK

— ゆあ ｜ ライター🖊 (@yunc24291) November 25, 2023

Stunned but relieved that she was fine, my tension vanished, and since my brain wasn't really working, I just replied in a very casual, "Oh, for sure!"

Dr. C was too busy doting on Gigi to even react to what I said. "You're so cute. Heh..." he chuckled, and as he palpated her, he looked completely satisfied, saying, "Let me touch your tummy. Heh... you're so fluffy." Watching him, I started to wonder if his initial rigidity was just what it looks like when someone gets struck by love at first sight.

That day, we were there for a nail trim, but Gigi seemed displeased that she’d been told she couldn't be mistaken for another cat, and she went into full-on grumpy mode. She gets angry whenever anyone trims her nails, but she was more aggressive toward Dr. C than I’d ever seen her. We’ve lived together for over ten years, and that was the first time I heard her give a serious, genuine hiss.

The three of us managed to calm her down, and after showering her with compliments like, "You're so good! I've never seen such a well-behaved cat!" we finally finished. Until Gigi was safely back in her carrier, Dr. C kept watching her fluffy butt with a smile, saying how cute she was.

Dr. C's kind gestures, which completely fall on deaf ears with Gigi

A few months later, we went back to the clinic for another nail trim. I entered the exam room wondering which vet we’d get, and it was Dr. C again. The moment he saw Gigi on the table, he smiled and said, "Ah, it's her... (laughs)."

In contrast, Gigi went into escape mode. Even though she was happily purring while being petted by the nurse, every time she looked at Dr. C, she kept trying to jump off the exam table as if to say, "Oh... I remember this guy. I'm going home."

When Dr. C faced her, he laughed and petted her cheek fur, saying, "Heh... it’s funny how the fur on the sides of your face is all poofy." Gigi loves having her cheeks stroked, but for some reason, she didn't want him doing it and kept backing away.

We had to have three people calm her down for the nail trim again. She was in a super-grumpy mood, letting out intense hisses. I mean, you were totally silent when the director trimmed your nails! And at home, your hissing is more like a "unyaaaah." How much volume can you even produce...?

As I was thinking that while desperately trying to soothe her, Dr. C revealed a secret about Gigi even I didn't know: "You seem to hate having your left paw trimmed even more, don't you?" He encouraged her kindly, saying, "Let’s take a break and then try again," and gave her a little rest.

As an owner, I was moved by his thoughtfulness and thought, "How kind," but unfortunately, it didn't touch Gigi's heart. She kept giving him the serious "Hiss! Grrr!" that she saves only for him, and when it was all over, she retreated to her carrier, still furious.

Dr. C just watched her go with a laugh, keeping his eyes on her cute, fluffy butt until she was completely out of sight.

動物病院で、「顔の横の毛がボワッとしてて面白い」と笑われたことが解せない様子の猫。 pic.twitter.com/yhNK4W54CG

— ゆあ ｜ ライター🖊 (@yunc24291) September 3, 2024

Every time they meet, Dr. C stares at her and showers her with love, calling her "cute" and "truly one-of-a-kind." I hope the day comes soon when Gigi finally returns his love.