"What's your cat's name?" - The Embarrassing Time I Was Called by "My Own Name" at the Vet

Because veterinary hospitals can be a bit tense, I think it's easy to make mistakes. In my case, when I go to a vet for the first time, I always give my own name when I should be giving my cat's name, which confuses the staff. (I'm really sorry about that...)

I confused the receptionist by saying, "Not the cat's name..."

Going to a new veterinary hospital is difficult for me because I don't understand the system and I tend to be anxious. Perhaps because I strongly want to "be seen smoothly without causing too much trouble," I often end up overdoing it.

I especially mess up when telling the receptionist my name. About eight years ago, when I visited A Veterinary Hospital in the next town, the receptionist asked, "What's your name?" I replied, "I'm Kotaro" (my cat's name), and an awkward silence fell as she said, "...Oh, not the cat's name, but the owner's."

I absolutely never wanted to freeze the atmosphere like that again. With that in mind, when I went to B Veterinary Hospital next, I confidently gave my own name at the reception, having learned my lesson. I must have even had an unnecessarily smug look on my face.

Then, after a suspicious silence, I was told, "Understood," and waited in the waiting room for my turn. B Veterinary Hospital, a community-based clinic, did not have a medical questionnaire; detailed symptoms were explained in the examination room.

On this day, Kotaro, who was only a few months old, wouldn't stop vomiting, so we came in for a check-up. I was so worried and eager for our turn to come so he could feel better as soon as possible.

Blushing when "Yuka-chan" was called in the vet waiting room

What changed my somewhat tense mood was what the veterinary nurse said. The nurse came out of the examination room and loudly called out my name, "Furukawa Yuka-chan!"

Other patients were called in by their pets' names, like "Choco-chan" or "Leo-kun," so I blushed. "It's me... but no! That's not right!" I squirmed internally.

When I entered the examination room, the vet knocked me out with the words, "What a human-like name!" I knew I couldn't keep being called by my own name, and it was too embarrassing, so I honestly confessed, "Actually, I gave my own name at the reception..."

Then, the veterinarian and nurse burst out laughing, saying, "Oh, that's why!" As I heard their laughter, I cowered, thinking, "I'm really sorry..."

From this experience, I learned that "it's best to ask at reception whether they want my name or my cat's name." ...And yet, last year, when I visited a university hospital, I made a similar mistake again.

The university hospital even had a "two-step verification" for names.

I went to the university hospital because my cat, Jiji, had a tumor-like growth, and we needed to find out what it was. To be honest, it was my first time at a university hospital. The unfamiliar experience made my anxiety max out. Additionally, Jiji's condition wasn't good, so I was incredibly tense.

C University Hospital, which operates on an appointment-only system, has drawings of animal-like creatures on the building, but the interior has a crisp atmosphere. I always get nervous when going to such "formal places."

That's why I forgot. When asked for my name at reception, I forgot to confirm whether it was for me or my cat... When the receptionist asked, "What's your name?", I naturally gave my own name, and then I realized, "Oh! I messed up!"

The receptionist told me with a straight face, "No, we need the name of the pet you brought," and I reflected, thinking, "Of course..."

But it was a good thing. They noticed it sounded like a human name. If my name had been called out loudly over the university hospital's announcement system, I would have been too embarrassed to stay there.

Afterward, Jiji underwent various tests. I left the hospital for about an hour or two to kill time nearby.

The receptionist had told me beforehand, "Please let us know when you return," so when I came back to the hospital after passing the time, I said, "I'm back." Then, the receptionist said, "Please tell me your name for confirmation." I confidently shouted, "I'm Jiji!" giving my cat's name in a booming voice.

Because I had failed by giving my own name at the initial reception, I thought, "It must be correct to give my cat's name here." It felt like taking a test where I knew the answer.

However, the next moment, the receptionist said, "No, the owner's name, please..." which was completely unexpected. I had no idea which name to give. Someone please tell me when, at what timing, and whose name I should be giving...

By the way, Jiji had more tests after that, so I left the hospital for another hour.

When I returned to the hospital, the receptionist again asked for my name, so I thought, "I won't get it wrong this time," and loudly stated my own name.

Then, to my surprise, they asked, "And the pet's name?" like it was a quiz show... It was a day where I learned that there's even a two-step verification system for names.

To all the hospital staff I've interacted with, I'm truly sorry for messing up with the names. (Bows deeply) And to any hospital staff I may interact with in the future: if someone appears who, for some reason, gives their own name when you ask for the pet's name, it will probably be me, so I apologize in advance. I'm sorry for the trouble!