Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

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

Original poster

Can I change 18 month olds’ names?

26 replies

Mallowmarshmallow · 02/05/2019 13:59

My husband appears to have reserved two 18 month old sisters today at the cats protection place.

Disclaimer: I am not a cat expert...

Can I change their names or will they not know I’m taking to them....?! Confused

OP posts:
BertrandRussell · 02/05/2019 14:02

They are cats. They will know you’re talking to them but completely ignore you.

thecatneuterer · 02/05/2019 14:04

They won't know their names anyway. They may know you're talking to them because of your tone of voice, but not because of what you say. Call them whatever you like. It won't make any difference.

Tavannach · 02/05/2019 14:05

They are cats. They will know you’re talking to them but completely ignore you.

^ Totally.

Toddlerteaplease · 02/05/2019 14:29

I adopted mine at 5 and decided not to change their names as they would know them. Wasn't keen on one of the names. Turns out that it was the rescue that had named them, as the evil kitten farm owner didn't give them names. My heart broke for them. They do respond to their names though.

Toddlerteaplease · 02/05/2019 14:29

Research has recently shown that cars do know their names but chose to ignore it.

sleepstealer · 02/05/2019 14:32

We got our cat when he was 9/10 months old and changed his name. He responds to it fine x

mabelmylove · 02/05/2019 14:35

I rescued a cat this week and changed her name. She doesn’t respond to either the new name or old one so I’m not sure it mattersGrin

SalitaeDiscesa · 02/05/2019 14:37

We changed our rescue cat's name. She was about 10. She knew the new name and came running to it within about 3 weeks 😁

claragolightly · 02/05/2019 16:01

I changed one of mine's names, as she had a boys name! They were also 18 months old when we adopted them.

loveonthewall · 02/05/2019 16:05

They will respond to the scent of raw chicken or the shake of a dreamies bag

Original poster
Mallowmarshmallow · 02/05/2019 17:32

Message received loud and clear. I’ll change the names to something I like then prepare to be ignored...!

OP posts:
GarthFunkel · 02/05/2019 18:26

My neighbours used to have a huge massive fighting tom cat called .... Lucy. They didn't change his name when they found out he was a male kitten because they didn't think he would answer to a new name after 6 months. He lived to about 20, missing various bits of his ears, eyes and tail because he'd fight anything that looked at him funny - or laughed at him being called Lucy, I presume.

EachandEveryone · 02/05/2019 20:45

Aw. Post photos when are you picking them up?

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 02/05/2019 21:19

Our cat was three when we adopted her, direct from another family who had had her since she was a kitten. We changed her name to something quite similar-sounding, same first few letters, but nicer. We called her by her new name every single time we spoke to her, and by the time we started letting her out she responded to it, and actually always comes in when we shout. She is very smart though, I have trained her to sit like a dog!

Wolfiefan · 02/05/2019 21:22

We changed names. But tried to keep part of it a similar sound if that makes sense.
He appears to have reserved? Was this not a family decision? It should be.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 02/05/2019 22:14

That’s exactly what we did, wolfie, along the lines of Mickey to Millie. (Not actual name, but like that in terms of the first syllable and ending in around the same sound.)

mistermagpie · 02/05/2019 22:26

I changed my cats name after adopting her when she was there. She was called Gypsy and I just didn't feel ok shouting a potentially offensive slur down the garden! She didn't seem to mind and responds to her new name fine.

mistermagpie · 02/05/2019 22:27

Three not there!

MrsCatE · 03/05/2019 00:39

Pictures or we can't possibly comment.

Chocmallows · 03/05/2019 00:41

I liked my cat's rescue centre name so kept it no she has never responded to it

Original poster
Mallowmarshmallow · 03/05/2019 21:06

I've only seen the photo on the blurb so far....

Tbf, my massive, northern husband shouting 'precious' out of the house might be worth not changing the names...!

Can I change 18 month olds’ names?
OP posts:
MinkyWinky · 03/05/2019 21:15

We changed the name of one of our rescue cats ( the rescue gave both of ours their names when they were rescued at 3 and 4). Both of them learned them really quickly. They do come when you call them (initially because it was linked to food but now when they feel like it!)

BertrandRussell · 04/05/2019 07:47

The trick is never to use the special “dinner time!” voice for anything but their names. That way you can maintain your fantasy that they know and respond to their names.....Grin

JenniferJareau · 04/05/2019 07:50

Tbf, my massive, northern husband shouting 'precious' out of the house might be worth not changing the names...!

😂

JenniferJareau · 04/05/2019 07:52

I have two, one will often come when he is called (he is daft as a brush mind you) my other cat will come when she is called when she feels like it, so that is almost never!

However say 'Dreamies' and they are at my side within seconds.