"He's my doctor now?!" My cat can't hide his frustration with the vet he dislikes at the animal hospital.

My beloved cat, Gigi, was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, a rare condition in cats. Since the end of 2024, when a tumor rupture caused sudden hypothermia and put her life at risk, our trips to the veterinary clinic have become much more frequent.

Clinic visits are inevitably tense experiences. Amidst that, what brings a smile to my face is the interaction between our male vet, who desperately wants to show Gigi some affection, and Gigi, who simply cannot accept that a doctor she dislikes has become her primary physician.

The first person my friendly cat ever disliked: her "family vet"

The three cats living in our home are extroverts who will go all out to entertain sudden guests. In fact, they show a level of affection to visitors that they’ve never shown me. They know exactly how to win human hearts.

That’s why, when I hear stories from other owners whose cats vanish the moment someone comes over for an interview, only to be sweet to their owners later, I get incredibly jealous. I have a feeling that even if the world turned upside down, or if Churu treats started raining from the sky, my cats would still keep loving guests more than me.

My cat trying her hardest to look sharp because my sister's family came over is just adorable. pic.twitter.com/PDxueZMT1i

— Yua | Writer🖊 (@yunc24291) March 31, 2024

My cat-loving cats are all over the vets and nurses at the animal clinic, too. As if to say, "Nice to meet you," they rub their bodies against their arms and bury their faces in their clothes—even when I’m standing right there.

Having watched them for years, I assumed they didn't have a single person they disliked. But then one day, there was a strange shift in my tortoiseshell cat Gigi’s behavior. For some reason, she began acting cold only toward her primary vet, Dr. C (a male veterinarian).

I wrote about the details in a previous article, but it seems Gigi didn't quite take to the unique compliment Dr. C gave her the first time they met: "This one really stands out from other cats!" Ever since that day, she has held a grudge, showing him a prickly attitude that she never shows to any other vet.

For example, when Dr. C appears to trim her nails, she lets out unique warning cries like “Hoo!” or “Ngyaaaa!” and looks sullen after we get home. By the way, when a female vet trims her nails, she just flattens her ears a little.

I thought maybe she was just afraid of male vets, but when the clinic director (also a man) trimmed her nails, she didn’t threaten him at all and just let him do it.

Dr. C, by the way, is actually her current primary doctor. He saved Gigi’s life with proper testing and treatment during her sudden health crisis over the New Year, and he has been monitoring her tumor ever since.

Touching the "cat love" of the doctor my cat dislikes...

When Gigi’s condition suddenly deteriorated over the New Year and Dr. C told me, "I don't know if she’ll make it through the night," I couldn't help but cry openly in the exam room. A thirty-year-old adult unable to stop crying even after leaving the clinic must look pretty pathetic to onlookers.

But Dr. C is kind. During her hospitalization, he kept me updated on her condition and supported me through my anxiety. He really is a good person. While Gigi was hospitalized, my phone received several surprise calls from the clinic.

Me: (Oh, a call from the vet... did something happen to Gigi?)

Dr. C: "Hello? Do you have any preferred dates for Gigi’s examination at the university hospital?"

Me: "(Oh, it’s just about the university hospital... thank goodness!) I don't have a preference, so please make it as soon as possible."

Exchanges like that...

Me: (The clinic called twice...! Did Gigi’s condition change suddenly?)

Dr. C: "Gigi ate some Churu! Let’s decide on the next steps when you come to visit today!"

Me: "Churu... T-thank goodness!!"

Relieved by moments like these, my bond with Dr. C grew stronger and stronger.

Perhaps he was trying to convey through his tone that it wasn't "anything serious," but Dr. C made sure to use a noticeably brighter voice whenever he called.

During my visits, he also showed concern by saying, "I'm sorry for calling at such a confusing time," which made my trust in him skyrocket. I felt from the bottom of my heart how glad I was to be a patient at this clinic.

A cat who still can't forgive the doctor who saved her

Gigi, on the other hand, seems to dislike him more every time she sees his face. Whenever she’s taken out of her carrier in the exam room and sees Dr. C, she buries her face into the clothing of the nurse holding her, refusing to let him into her field of vision.

When Dr. C touches her, she acts as if to say, "If that's how you want to be, I can play that game too!" and pretends to bite him with a fierce attitude.

Even so, Dr. C remains unfazed. "Your whiskers are all curled up," he says with a smile as he touches them. On days like that, Gigi goes home with a grumpy face and stays in full-on angry mode...

However, I do occasionally see moments where I think Gigi is feeling some gratitude in her own way. The moment that moved me the most was when I saw her licking Churu treats off of Dr. C’s finger.

She had been hospitalized because she wouldn't eat after her hemangiosarcoma surgery. During a visit, Dr. C showed me how to feed her, saying, "She’s started eating if I put the Churu on my hand."

Seeing Gigi licking the finger of the doctor she disliked as she fought to live was deeply moving. Perhaps, as our treatment journey continues, there might be a big change in Gigi's feelings toward Dr. C.

Along with the progress of her illness, I'm just as interested in the bond between these two. I hope a bright future awaits them both.