Can I change a cat's name?

[squashyhat]

I'm collecting my rescue cat next week. He's a beautiful 4 year old silver tabby - with a ridiculous name. I can't think of anything which sounds the same and would be less embarassing for both of us when I call him in. Can I change it altogether or would that give him an identity crisis?

We changed our cat's name as soon as we got her. She'd had two similar but ridiculous names, neither of which she responded to. She learnt her new name almost immediately and responds to it even when we're talking about her and not to her.

My cats are never referred to by the names we gave them as kittens! They get called a whole host of things - mainly "oi" or "little smell".

We changed our 13 year old adopted cat's name because it was the same as mine! She had no problems adapting, came when called etc.

We changed our rescue cats name. He was called Pablo but he didn't seem to like it so we now call him Bogey but it's probably the tone of voice we use because he also responds to stinky boy, murder, stupid cat and a variety of other names.
His official name at the vets is Pablo Bogart though 😳

We had one who refused to change name, current boy was on his second name when he came to us. We called him a naughty name and he has done his best to live up to it.

He is, of course, mummy's bestest baby boy.

Our cat was a rescue called Prince. He is now The Cat Formerly Named As Prince

I'm afraid mine are: my little baby princess. Or gorgeous baby girl.

A cat who comes when called? Our rescue Persian had to be renamed - was found on the streets (kicked out.) our first cat had a multi syllable Russian name (Siberian Forest). In one ear and out the other.

CantCat used to be called 'fluffy'... even battersea thought that was unoriginal and changed it before we got him!

We got a rescue from a local vet a few months ago - his official name was so stupid that the vet nurses had already given him a much more appropriate name and we stuck with that.

I got mine from a rescue when he was 18 months- I changed his name before I even got him home and he has lived up to his new name ever since 😹

I got my cat at 6 weeks after she was found in local pub and no owner came forward. She is ginger and white ball of fluff called Honeycomb.

She recognises her name as in the early days when i was trying to get her to, everytime i said it if she looked at me i responded by giving a treat so she soon picked up and listened out for the word like echo dot listens out for Alexa

The other evening i was calling her in from the front door as it was pouring rain and she was up a tree across the road, neighbour had a bit of a laugh when she heard me shout "last chance or you are staying out", she was in the house in less than 10 seconds, wiping her paws on the mat as they were wet

So in short, yes can change cats name

My cat was called Dizzy Lizzie by the rescue centre (I mean call her that and she's bound to ignore you frankly). She is now called Spooks, which she at least responds to/glares at me and then ignores me (unlike Lizzie). She does, however, also respond to a random variety of things, including if I slightly injure myself and say "ow". I don't know why she meows when I say that but she always does!

Change it.

I'm another one who thought my cat knew it's name. Cat seemed to be v clever and also know all its nicknames as well. Soon I realised it was responding to the tone of voice.

Here he is! Mittens seems to have stuck (he has got some lovely white ones on his front paws). He was very nervous when we first got him but is already vocal when it's feeding time ♥️

Oh he’s a gotgous lad. I like his name!

My cat answers to his name and looks at you when you call him!

Mine knows his name, garden, nigh nighs, spiders & no.

Lovely cat OP, gorgeous big stripes💕

How gorgeous! He reminds me of Bagpuss! It's the face as well as the stripes.

I would say our cat does know its name, it always answers and when someone else said its name in conversation she started meowing and blinking at them.

But she also wouldn't care if you changed her name as long as there's food and cuddles. I love the name Mittens though.

My cat will also have little conversations - if we say ah ah, she says it back (she makes that noise instead of meow) but if DH tries she gives him a are you completely mad look, you can't speak cat at all?

Oh, he"s a pretty boy

Mittens is a cutie!

We changed our cat’s name to something which sounded phonetically very similar, but nowhere near as daft, as soon as we got her. She was three, and it worked out fine. She responds to her name, and also seems to know “bye bye” (when she refuses to come in from the garden), “dinner”, “bedtime”, and “NO” (when she ventures onto the kitchen counters). Seeing her clambering over the back wall then galloping in after being called - she tends to go one garden back and one on either side, but no further - is a source of constant joy to me.