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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Dh's parents have named new cat the name we were considering for child

33 replies

wildpoppy · 20/08/2012 08:47

Am 5 months pg and we are in the midst of name discussions hence my many threads here. Dh's parents told us yesterday they have got a new cat. Which came from cat's home with a cat name. But they have renamed it one of our frontrunners (without knowing - we don't discuss names with people).

Dh says we can use it anyway as it's just a cat. We go to their house about once a month. But I am a bit grrrr. What do you think?

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mickeylou · 22/08/2012 14:36

My DD has the same name as my mum's cat. The cat is ancient now and I named it myself when I was 15. I tried to find a name I liked as much for DD but just kept coming back to it. The poor cat seems to have lost its name now and nobody calls it anything but "cat" anymore.

Ps, My Manager at work has just bought a dog and given it the same name as my DS!

Bartusmaeus · 22/08/2012 13:34

Agree with frontpaw

Our new neighbour's little girl (aged 3) had the same name as our cat (aged 12). The little girl was thrilled to find out that our cat had the same name - she thought it was hysterical Grin

Frontpaw · 22/08/2012 13:29

Annabel is just not a cat name at all.

AndieMatrix · 22/08/2012 13:27

I know a woman who named her DS after her dead horse whom she lived dearly so I don't think your child sharing the cats name will be an issue. One or the other of them (or both) will end up with a pet name or nickname at some point anyway. I refer to my DS as monkey, I mostly use his actual name if he's been naughty and I call the dog "YOU!" as neither if them respond to whatever I call them anyway.lol

MrsRhettButler · 22/08/2012 12:48

Oh my dogs called anabella

pumpkinsweetie · 22/08/2012 12:43

I can't see a problem, there won't be much confusion as i assume cats live mostly outdoors and you only visit once a month anyway.
Nice name, more suited to a child than a cat imho

Original poster
wildpoppy · 22/08/2012 12:38

Don't know whether girl or boy

OP posts:
EightiesChick · 22/08/2012 09:46

They could change the name of the cat if you do decide to go with that name for your DC (presume you know whether girl or boy?) I would do nothing for now.

TheRetroOwl · 22/08/2012 09:39

My parents have done this with their dog. After I commented something like, "Oh well, guess we're not using that after all if we have boy," my mum thought about it for a while and then replied, "Yes, but it is a dog's name, isn't it?" Apparently so. We're steering clear of using it if our baby's a boy; it'll be too associated with the bloody dog.

firstbabyhelp · 22/08/2012 06:18

We have given our new DS the same name as my parent's last cat (who died a few years ago). I don't think it should matter if you like the name enough.

nenehooo · 22/08/2012 06:09

No advice really - would just just like to sympathise as my Mum once had a cat called our chosen boy's name - years ago and it died very young Sad but now our neighbours have named their dog said name with baby imminent! Still don't know if it will influence us when it comes to it - prob not as it's a family name, but can share your frustration!
At least in your case you can tell the in-laws and they'll prob do something about it - I can't do that with my neighbours!!!

theTramp · 20/08/2012 22:05

In my experience cats end up with new names after a while anyway. Swine for instance. And stop that. Or cuddles...

Original poster
wildpoppy · 20/08/2012 21:25

I don't feel able to tell them in case we don't use it, or have a bit. I think i'll just be grumpy and totally ignore the issue if we end up using it.

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goodygumdrops · 20/08/2012 21:12

Dont let it put you off. Its a lovely name and more suited to a person that a cat. i think i would tell them too.

Original poster
wildpoppy · 20/08/2012 20:55

Annabel

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VivaLeBeaver · 20/08/2012 20:44

I used to live with a family where the dog had the same name as me. One night at dinner the mum said "beaver has been very naughty today". Everyone looked at me shocked, I was like its your bloody dog not me!

Use the name if you like it.

goodygumdrops · 20/08/2012 20:41

Can we know the name?

MyNameIsSuz · 20/08/2012 20:37

I don't think it's a problem to keep the name - my uncle had a dog when I was little with the same name as me, but a differently shortened version of my name, and I never thought anything of it.

Also, we never ever call our cat by her actual name! If I'm talking to her she's pushkin, moo-moo, wow-wow, you get the picture. I assume this is normal...? In which case you should be fine!

messtins · 20/08/2012 20:15

Just tell them it's on your short list then. At the moment you are cross with them and they have no idea they have "pinched" one of your names. If you give them an opportunity to reconsider they'll probably choose something else for the cat.

Original poster
wildpoppy · 20/08/2012 20:01

But if I do that then we have to use the name. And it is one of three on our shortlist and we may have a boy anyway.

OP posts:
messtins · 20/08/2012 19:55

If they only named the cat today and it's a name you want to use, ask them to choose something else. They can then be very smug about having picked out a name for their grandchild and call the cat Fluffy. Unless the name you picked for your child was Fluffy, in which case YABU! The cat won't answer to anything unless it suits it at that particular moment anyway.

LynetteScavo · 20/08/2012 18:49

If you are 100% set on that name, tell them. They may change the cats name, they may not......

Original poster
wildpoppy · 20/08/2012 18:43

Thanks all. I am just a bit peed off. But won't stop us using it if we want to I guess.

OP posts:
changeforthebetter · 20/08/2012 09:50

Oh well, it's not exactly a big problem. Choose one of the others if it bothers you.

You don't have first dibs on a name once you've fixed on it. But well done for keeping schtum about names. There are a lot of people on this board who could learn from you Wink

RillaBlythe · 20/08/2012 09:45

Dp's parents discussed naming their cat something we liked (can't actually remember what it was now!). We weren't pregnant nor ttc but we said 'oh, we might use that for a baby!' so they called the cat Jasper instead. I would just say something.

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