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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

MIL names her cat after our son

261 replies

JKT007 · 01/05/2022 02:05

Am I being unreasonable thinking it's very odd that my MIL named her kitten the same name as our son, her grandson?

OP posts:
Original poster
JKT007 · 01/05/2022 08:24

Hes only 1 year old. So yeah, it will possibly be a bit confusing

OP posts:
StooOrangeyForCrows · 01/05/2022 08:25

If you are going to call your DS Piewacket what did you expect?😆

Diverseopinions · 01/05/2022 08:26

This is probably reading too much into it, but could she be prompted by the arrival of a gorgeous little baby to want something to cuddle whenever she wants it, too? I think it's weird, being older and sensible, getting a kitten, with all the entailed responsibility and litter training. I mean, it does just complicate things a bit, when little one visits, as she has to make sure he doesn't play with the cat litter or get scratched.

She's not, is she, saying: " You don't let me hold him enough, so I've taken June and Pat's advice, and got my own little bundle of gorgeousness.....and called him Milo, to top it".

It's going to be weird when your son visits, and plays with his namesake.....so is she envisaging him often coming to her ( on his own even)?.

Indicatrice · 01/05/2022 08:27

hellrabbitishere · 01/05/2022 07:25

i must be more chilled out than most as for the life of me i cant see why this is a big deal . its sweet shes named her kitten after her grandson , im just not getting why its thought odd or strange ,and i definately cant understand why she should have talked to you first about it . you dont own the name . shes a grown woman she surely doesnt have to talk to you for permission if its ok to name her kitten neil as thats what her grandson is called.

i mean so what if she has ? it says a lot about peoples mentality really that so many of the comments on here are negative about this , getting a life and finding other shit to worry about spring to mind

Yeah, you sound really chilled Hmm

SuspiciousScully · 01/05/2022 08:27

Of course it's weird!

But, as much as it's odd, it's not actually harmful and was probably meant affectionately. If this is the biggest issue you have with your MIL, I think I'd smile and shake my head at the quirkiness but stay quiet.

dottiedodah · 01/05/2022 08:33

I think its quite sweet. Really no big deal .DM had a friend with a Spaniel named Daniel! named after her nephew I think . Maybe DM just likes the idea .My friend named her son the same as my DS .Felt flattered at the time (2 year gap)

MarvellousMay · 01/05/2022 08:37

Yeah it’s odd. There are thousands of names out there. Pick another.

Ddot · 01/05/2022 08:37

🥺🤣🤯🤬🤐

30mph · 01/05/2022 08:37

Just ask her why she chose that specific name!

Whooshaagh · 01/05/2022 08:38

Why not just ask mil why she has done this because I for one would be intrigued.

Its like people who call dc Robert Roberts.
All the names in the world and they cba to choose one that's different.

Ddot · 01/05/2022 08:39

Trying to get a rise out of you, dont bite. Bat S C

Muffinsorcrumpets · 01/05/2022 08:39

Is there any chance it was a sort of typo when she announced the name on Facebook?

I accidentally call my DC by their sibling's name quite often. Sometimes I even absentmindedly use the dog's name when calling them...could she have done something like that and it's all just a mistake?

LoveSpringDaffs · 01/05/2022 08:41

@JKT007

its entirely batshit!!

If you can live with it, then 'meh' she's the one that looks daft. If you really hate it, get DH to say to her 'All the names in the world and you want to call your cat Fred. Seriously?'

id be seriously worried some of her marbles were starting to become displaced.

Holly60 · 01/05/2022 08:43

If she has named the kitten AFTER your DS - I think that's sweet. A tribute to her GS.

If she just picked the same name for no particular reason it is a bit odd.

But you probably just need to ask 'MIL why have you called kitten X?'

autumnboys · 01/05/2022 08:45

My in laws give their pets human names, but then there is a lot of hilarity from them if someone they know ‘names their baby after one of our dogs’ I view it as one of their harmless quirks - I’m pretty sure they only say it to one another. However we steered clear of the names of all their previous pets and to be honest I wouldn’t like it if they named a future pet after a grandchild.

BrightOrangeOrange · 01/05/2022 08:46

It is weird.

kimfox · 01/05/2022 08:49

My BIL named his dog the same name as our son (his nephew). So fucking odd. If his kids didn't have awful names I would have returned the favour.😉

Original poster
JKT007 · 01/05/2022 08:51

Why would I make her feel bad? There is absolutely no way that I would treat her with the disrespect you are insinuating. She is my very much loved MIL. Asking on the internet if I'm being unreasonable to think it's odd is gaining some other peoples perspective on the situation

OP posts:
PamelaD00ve · 01/05/2022 08:52

It is definitely odd. I can only assume she really, really adores your son so much that she wants a proxy that she can cuddle and pet all day long.

Interested to know what your OH thinks?

drspouse · 01/05/2022 08:54

Meh, we didn't name our cat but he has a very common boy's name and we know at least 3 of them.

AllIgotforitwascankles · 01/05/2022 08:56

Sure are a lot of fun people on here. Reason why MIL named the cat that is obvious - she loves baby grandson and named the cat after him. Perhaps harmless eccentricity but so what? The boy will not be confused lol, he’ll probably enjoy it.

I wish I could divide my life into people who wouldn’t get uptight about pets named after people and those who do (who I presume also have neurotic blowups or hold grudges over other perceived family issues).

Time2ChangeName · 01/05/2022 08:56

I think it’s lovely, my brother’s dog was named after my son and I have a friend who’s cat is called Sammy and their daughter is Samantha. Another friend named their daughter with the same name as our daughter as they liked it so much. I take it as a compliment plus no one has rights on a name. I think you’re really making something out of nothing.

AllIgotforitwascankles · 01/05/2022 08:59

@JKT007

You don’t seriously believe this is somehow going to be troubling for your boy or confusing do you? It won’t, if anything he will enjoy it. It’s really quite simple, tell him the cat has the same name as him, what’s confusing about that?

really this is more about you over thinking and reading something into what is quite harmless and many people would simply chuckle at. Maybe MIL isn’t quite so uptight?

Rosebel · 01/05/2022 09:02

My brother and SIL called their son the same name as our family dog. If that wasn't weird enough they gave their second son the same middle name as our family cat!

LowlandLucky · 01/05/2022 09:03

Buy yourself a Bearded Dragon and name it after her.

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