Over the course of Garfield's forty-six-year history, Jim Davis' titular cat has had several adventures, both at home and outside of it, with his owner, Jon Arbuckle. Like most pets, Garfield makes trips to the vet. He has a general aversion to the necessity, making for some interesting interactions before or after his check-ups and procedures.
The veterinarian's office is one of the key locations in Garfield comics, particularly since it is where Jon's girlfriend, Liz, works. It is also where they met, though it took a while for her to warm up to the awkward cat owner. Although the vet's office has fallen out of popularity in recent years as a location, its influence is undeniable and its presence makes for some of Garfield's best moments, even if it's a context location causing humor instead of a locale present each humorous panel involving it.
11 Garfield's Off-Panel Trip to the Vet Has Disastrous Results - For the Vet
Publication Date: October 20, 1978
Even though the veterinarian's office is not present within the panel, its influence is very present in this comic strip. During his trip to the vet, Garfield unleashed his fury, resulting in his doctor needing to get stitches. Initially, Jon's roommate, Lyman - Odie's original owner - believes the iconic cat is the one who required stitches, when the reality is that Garfield left a decent amount of damage on his medical professional.
Jon may not be prepared to hit Garfield, but some of their acquaintances aren't nearly so hesitant and considerate given how the cat has treated them.
This is one of Garfield's earlier vet visits, making it particularly important to show his relationship with the location. This panel, though it features Garfield off-panel and doesn't include the office, sets the stage for the feline's lifelong hatred of going to the vet. It's just the start of humorous vet antics yet to come, providing the perfect tone for Jon's struggle to get Garfield to readily go to his appointments.
10 Garfield Terrifies His Way Into the Veterinarian's Office
Publication Date: October 29, 1978
Garfield isn't known for being a high-energy cat. In fact, he's quite the opposite, having a hearty appetite and a love for sleeping in. However, his werecat transformation sees him at one of his most active points, capable of scaring himself into a faint. Garfield is far from terrifying, making this strip particularly interesting and its twist extra funny. Staying in character is integral to the feline remaining healthy and avoiding unexpected surprises that require a trip to the vet.
This is one of Garfield's lesser-known designs, making it a fun twist. It gives the lazy, lasagna-loving cat a humorous twist and a more ferocious appearance that isn't very fitting for his broader character. This makes it stand out all the more and makes his self-awareness moment even funnier. It's especially noteworthy since being knocked out means he went to the vet without a struggle and the vet was able to escape unscathed as well.
9 The Veterinary Clinic Makes Its Garfield Debut Brilliantly
Publication Date: September 17, 1978
Garfield has hated going to the vet since the beginning, with his avoidance methods starting strong. Trying to escape and paw his way out of a visit, the grand reveal of the clinic at the end is the cherry on top highlighting his hatred for the vet. Showcasing Garfield's intuition, fear, and hesitation brilliantly, this strip sums up Jon and his cat's relationship perfectly. Wanting to take care of his cat, Garfield's owner does all the right things, but a cat's distaste for the vet runs deep and always has him poised to run away. The titular feline may be lazy, but he'll run when the need arises.
Garfield isn't known for being a high-energy cat. In fact, he's quite the opposite, having a hearty appetite and a love for sleeping in.
8 Garfield's Reflexes Prove Less Than Stellar
Publication Date: February 12, 1987
While at the vet for amnesia, Garfield's run through tests by Liz, Jon's eventual girlfriend. She tests his reflexes, which are delayed by a whole panel. Where typically a rapid response would be desirable, Garfield is so well-known by his owner and medical professional, that they gauge his delay as normal. It's important to know what's normal for a species, but also what's normal for individuals. Garfield's a special case and everyone around him is aware of it.
Although his delayed reflexes could be generally concerning, he's so distinct and memorable that the people who care for him know exactly what to expect. Garfield may not be the healthiest cat in the world or be at the top of his pedigree, but he's very loved and perceived as special despite his shortcomings.
7 Jon Arbuckle Gets His Own Fear at the Vet
Publication Date: July 27, 1979
Although Liz and Jon would eventually go on to be in a relationship together, their early years of getting to know each other were rather rocky. Garfield's owner hasn't always been the luckiest when it comes to matters of the heart, and he often had a tendency to come on strong, leading to this exchange. Spaying and neutering is a common practice at the vet, making Liz's dig at Jon particularly hilarious as she has a not-so-subtle way of telling him to calm down and back off with his advances.
This early courtship becomes funnier over time since they are very happy together now. Jon could've given up at this point, but he's known for his perseverance in the wake of rejection. His persistence allowed him to break through this early hiccup and develop a meaningful relationship with Liz.
6 Jon Drags Garfield to the Vet Aimlessly
Publication Date: July 23, 1979
After meeting Liz, Jon is completely smitten, causing him to try to find excuses to go to the vet. Instead of maintaining a regular schedule of visits, this action shows how crazy Garfield's owner is becoming over his interest in her. Already, Garfield has established that he hates going to the vet, but Jon is willingly putting himself in danger of his cat hurting him or running away. He is also putting others in harm's way potentially, given that the feline has been known to leave his vet with wounds requiring stitches.
5 Garfield Thwarts Another Vet Visit - With Violence
Publication Date: February 6, 1984
Jon has frequently used the honesty method with Garfield, letting the cat know when he's going to the vet. However, Garfield's reactions have ranged from running to scratching to throwing television sets, as he does in this strip. The usual methods of avoiding the vet are not enough to stop Jon, resulting in the feline turning ferocious. The strip carries on the next day with Jon promising to find a way to get Garfield to the vet, but were this to carry on another route, the cat could've gotten out of his doctor's visit by forcing Jon to attend one of his own in the emergency room.
4 Garfield Has Made Enemies That Would Assist in Vet Visits
Publication Date: February 13, 1987
During his bout with amnesia, Garfield's taken to the vet, where Liz suggests hitting him on the head to jog his memory with some trauma. Offended by the idea of bonking his cat's head, Jon expresses distaste towards the idea and anyone who'd be interested in doing that. Unfortunately, the mailman's had enough run-ins with Garfield to find the idea appealing.
The long-running feud between the two goes back to the late 70s, making this a potentially awaited opportunity to take advantage of. Jon may not be prepared to hit Garfield, but some of their acquaintances aren't nearly so hesitant and considerate given how the cat has treated them. This particular vet visit pays off several of the cat's humorous run-ins with the mailman and makes the postal worker look especially eager to help treat Garfield's current problem.
3 Garfield Values Honesty, But Not the Veterinarian
Publication Date: July 1, 1988
In a shift from Jon's tricks and deceptive means of getting Garfield to the vet, he takes a more direct approach. While it doesn't take place at the vet's office, it highlights the lengths the humorous feline will go to when it comes to trying to avoid the vet. It also encapsulates Jon's struggle to communicate and care for his pet, highlighting their strained dynamic as pet and pet owner.
Honesty may be the best policy, but it isn't a guarantee of Garfield's compliance, since the cat wants to avoid the veterinarian's office as much as he can. Garfield loves to eat, but in this strip, he is willing to sacrifice a meal to avoid a visit. There isn't much that can make the feline toss away his food, but this exchange makes for a top-tier rejection.
2 Garfield Makes Pet Care a Potential Downside
Publication Date: February 11, 1987
Following a bout of amnesia, Liz suggests a course of action that will remedy issues with Garfield's memory and condition. However, the treatment seems like a downside from many angles, particularly from Jon's perspective. The cat's bad traits have been absent, making him much more agreeable than normal. In many ways, amnesia turns Garfield into the perfect pet. However, Jon will always take care of his cat, no matter the disadvantage he's at, but this instance still showcases a "grass could be greener" opportunity.
In many ways, this would take away all of the key aspects of Garfield that make him so iconic. The cat has been popular for decades, in part because he's lazy, disagreeable, a secret softy, and a nuisance to Jon and Odie. Acknowledging his bad traits here, highlights the wonderful opportunity presented to Jon, but it'd be a terrible decision for Garfield's loving fans.
Garfield is the central character in Jim Davis's comic strip, which officially began in 1978 under the same name. Garfield is an orange tabby cat with a love of lasagna and a disdain for Mondays. He tends to torment his owner and dog while trying to secure more food - and quiet.
Custom image by Samantha King
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