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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Can you change an adopted pets name?

40 replies

IRegretNothing · 14/12/2016 14:17

We're looking at adopting two male cats from the Blue Cross. They're black and white domestic short hairs and gorgeous! I know it sounds shallow but I'm not keen on their given names.
They're one yr old, would it be ok to rename them? One is currently Nettle (entirely black with beautiful eyes) and the other is Doc (black with white paws and chest and whiskers). I don't mind the name Doc but Nettle just doesn't seem like a nice choice for a cat.

OP posts:

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CMOTDibbler · 14/12/2016 14:18

Of course! All of our cats have had their names changed, and one of our dogs

MsMims · 14/12/2016 14:18

Absolutely. They'll soon learn a new name Use it frequently, and every time you call them for food.

SoupDragon · 14/12/2016 14:19

Of course you can. Cats don't give a damn really :o

MrsBertMacklin · 14/12/2016 14:19

Yes, BertCat had her name changed, took about a fortnight for her to respond to it.

SoupDragon · 14/12/2016 14:20

Actually, only the dog responds to the cat's name because he thinks that, when I say it, the cat is trying to eat his dinner or do something else the dog needs to stop him doing! The cat ignores me.

strawberrypenguin · 14/12/2016 14:20

Yep change away! Our cat was apparently called Tiger when we adopted her, we changed her name and it's never been a problem.
My parents also rename their rescue cats (they've had a couple) they never seem to mind!

Herhighness · 14/12/2016 14:21

Oh yes you can, they won't mind. A friend of mine adopted a dog named Tinsel, as you can imagine the name had to be changed in a nanosecond.
Good luck.

Lancelottie · 14/12/2016 14:24

Cats scoff at names anyway.

Ours has a new name that doesn't in any way resemble her rescue name. She ignores both equally.

If you do want to stay close-ish to the old name, may I recommend Neville?

PurpleMcPants · 14/12/2016 14:27

Yes of course you can. I've had two adopted cats and happened to keep both of their names - one because she'd been in rescue for such a long time she already knew it as her name and another because it suited her perfectly. But I'd have no compunction about changing another one's name.

Fruitcocktail6 · 14/12/2016 14:29

Yea, they had crap names

Original poster

IRegretNothing · 14/12/2016 15:06

Ah good to see a unanimous response! Thanks all, I mean I can see the logic behind the names as they go together but the name Nettle is just not very nice. I've been trawling the rehoming centres for a good six months now and I think they must run out of new names because some of the names are just, why?!
Ooh Lancelottie Neville is a cute name will keep it in mind. I have three dc so will be taking suggestions from them all and have to filter out a few wacky suggestions I'm sure. I've learned from the last time when we got a goldfish and I promised ds (he's 12 now but was 3 then) he could name it entirely himself. We had a goldfish named....Hairy?!
I think we're going to judge the personalities and see what comes to mind.
Thanks all for the help, will post photos when settled! Never know, we might need your help with names!

OP posts:

Weedsnseeds1 · 14/12/2016 15:27

They don't care what you call them I changed mine. Just remember to tell Blue Cross when you pick them up so they can change the name with the microchip company, or phone them later to change yourself if you haven't decided on names when you pick them up. I rather like Nettle to be honest, but would change Doc to Thistle!!!

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 14/12/2016 15:29

To be honest, all the cats I have ever had have been too daft to recognise their own name anyway. IME they respond to food noises your voice way more than actual words.

cozietoesie · 14/12/2016 16:48

I have changed pets' names before. I wouldn't change a boat's name but animals are different in some way. (Don't ask me why! )

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 14/12/2016 16:51

Bad luck to change a boat's name innit?

Fluffycloudland77 · 14/12/2016 20:23

Our cat was on his 2nd name when we got him. I think he recognises it.

GRW · 14/12/2016 20:43

My parents adopted a cat who had been named Lemon by the rescue centre. They changed it to Sooty.

bloodymincepiez · 14/12/2016 20:46

We adopted cats called Ronnie and reggie and individually I found them cute names but I really didn't want cats named after gangsters! They became Hugo and Harry :)

TheWayYouLookTonight · 14/12/2016 20:51

Yep, you can register them at the vet under whatever name you like then have to get them to change it when the vet points out that your new girl kitten has little furry balls plus if mine is anything to go by, cats really don't respond to their name, they respond to likelihood of getting a kitty treat!

Janey50 · 22/12/2016 19:09

Absolutely! We took a cat from a neighbour who was moving and couldn't take the cat with her. This cat was SO not a Rosie (jet black all over) that we re-named her Shadow.

orangeyellowgreen · 22/12/2016 20:54

There should be a law against calling your cat Sooty or Fluffy or Smokey.
Cool cats now are Reggie or Joyce or Dave. Aim for something which horrifies your elderly neighbours.

Kniternator · 22/12/2016 21:03

Our cat was one when we adopted him, he adapted fine and comes to his name when he is called. He was Archie and we changed it to Neville.

Original poster

IRegretNothing · 25/01/2017 23:28

Hi all, i just realised I never came back and told you what we named our boys (in case you're interested!)
Our big black and white boy is now Kit, forerly known as Doc.
Our smaller, all black (except for a tiny smidge of white) boy is Leo.
They've settled in so well, we all love them to bits and they're properly soppy for us too!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 25/01/2017 23:32

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 25/01/2017 23:43

Good names which they can learn to ignore. Ours answer to each other's names as well as their own if they think there is something in it for them. How did we get to 25 posts without photos?

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