Name this cat please!

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

I've taken in a cat who has been living in a box on a doorstep for at least a few months. I wasn't too concerned when it was warmer but have been making enquiries since the cold weather and it has become clear that she has inadequate care and nowhere else to go.

Neighbours say she was left behind when previous owners moved, and she has definitely been spending all night every night outside in a plastic cat carrier with a coat partially over it. So, i snuck up and shut her in the box while she was asleep, and now she's in my kitchen!

Taking her to the vets next week for defleaing, deworming and general checkup, and of course if she turns out to have a microchip then things might go differently, but I'll probably keep her if she doesn't and I need a name ready in that case to register her at the vets.

She is (at least in comparison to my last cat) brick shithouse shaped, has been witnessed killing rats, and wants massive physical rofl cuddles and fuss every time she sees me. This is every hour now she's in my kitchen, she's not bored yet.

Am considering Katniss since my DSD is obsessed with The Hunger Games, all other suggestions much appreciated please!

[AhhhHereItGoes]

Awww 🐱 beautiful.

Pandora? A positive coming out of the box connotation.

[TheLongRider]

She's pretty big for a girl, have you checked for jingle bells?

I did have a large girl tabby who was the terror of the neighbourhood dogs. She was pushing 6kg of pure pugilistic moggy.

Katniss is a great name.

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

She's using the litter tray like a star. I've ordered one which isn't cracked in the bottom from sitting out in the garden all summer.

Saw her eating a few mouthfuls of litter, what's that all about?

[Veronicat]

I think she could be Veronicat 😺

[CardinalSin]

Katniss is perfect, and well done for giving her a home. I'm sure you will be very glad you did.

[ThinkOfAWittyNameLater]

Gloria, in homage to "I will survive" and acknowledging her glorious coat.

She's lovely

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

I don't think we know each other well enough for me to get a good look under her back legs. I think she has boobs though - do male cats have boobs? Will try to post a photo from a relevant angle so you can help me figure it out for sure, I don't have vast experience.

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

Seriously fingers crossed for not pregnant though, bloody hell.

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

pushing 6kg of pure pugilistic moggy"

[bluecatgreencat]

Hedgehog. Hedgie for short.

[Lucybethol]

This is so lovely of you. She looks happy with you. 😍 What a lucky kitty! Katniss is a good name for a survivor.

[moredoll]

Saw her eating a few mouthfuls of litter, what's that all about?
Pregnant women used to eat coal.
Seriously though if she's pregnant her nipples will be darker and larger than usual and her abdomen will be swollen and pear shaped. Make sure she has a warm dark safe place just in case.
The litter eating could be a sign of anaemia or a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

After a lot of tries (and a good game of chase the magnetic fridge letters around the floor) these are the best cat bum shots i can get for now. Girl or boy?

[Justonedayatatime11]

Girl

[ScreamingValenta]

I would say that's a girl - boys either have testicles or a couple of empty flaps where their testicles used to be, which I can't see.

*disclaimer - been wrong before!

[mimibunz]

She’s so beautiful, OP!

[bionicnemonic]

Our boy has no flaps!!
Boy cats often have sort of big cheeks, a broader face, like a rounded area under the eyes...your kitty doesn’t look so much like that

[MrsMartinRohde]

She's beautiful.

Katniss is perfect

I had a cat who looked just like her - she was also a bit of a bruiser in her younger years - and we called her Betty.

[moredoll]

I think she's a girl but I've been wrong before too.

[Lucybethol]

If I remember correctly 😬 Male bum and bits are about an inch apart and female bits are closer together if that makes sense.

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

I guess the vet will tell me for sure and I already have a boy cat name waiting to be used, so it sounds like it's still worth me deciding on a girl name for now.

After loads of excellent suggestions (thank you!) I'm still basically torn between Ethel and Katniss. Ethel maybe not a harsh enough sound to shout in a Stop Eating That Important Document kind of voice?

[SoupDragon]

I think girl although I am certainly no expert.

I would be slightly concerned about pregnancy - if the previous owners are the sort to just leave her behind, would they have had her spayed? I hope she's not.

Katniss seems appropriate given she's been foraging for herself. I don't think anEthel would have fared so well.

[EatsFartsAndLeaves]

"I don't think an Ethel would have fared so well"

I dunno, Ethel (Haslam) chaired Ilford WSPU, vandalised a pillar box and broke her MPs window, she was pretty tough! purplewhiteandgreen.com/life-of-ethel-haslam/

[SoupDragon]

Yeah, but she wasn't living in a box killing rats with one swipe of a super-sized paw...

[Mentounasc]

She's gorgeous. But I do think there's a chance she is a he. Our neutered lad looks like that from the rear. And the puffy cheeks only develop in boys if they're not neutered as kittens. Boy cats certainly have nipples too - that surprised the heck out of me. Only a vet will be able to say for sure, I think.

As to the name, hmm, would you prefer to call 'Ethel' or 'Katniss' in the evenings to get him or her inside?