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

Original poster

Naming cats

65 replies

JustCuriousASHP · 13/12/2023 15:40

We've had our current two cats for a number of years, they are littermate brothers. We have tried a number of names over the years but none have "stuck" so they've been referred to by their colours, Ginger and Tabby. However we have just rehomed a six month kitten who is also ginger, so that's not going to work any more. I was considering the matter over the weekend and as I dozed off to sleep the names Mike, Pete and Dave came to me and I thought, "Yes, ordinary bloke names, perfect!"

I mentioned this to DS1 who laughed and asked, "Who's Pete?" I replied that they were just random names and he pointed out that actually the other two names belong to my brothers in law! (In my defence, they use the full versions.) So back to the drawing board, but my brain is just farting. Any ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
JustCuriousASHP · 14/12/2023 00:20

Yes, he did, given to him at eight weeks, but his previous owner agreed he's grown out of it. He's about 6 months now.

OP posts:
Pozz · 14/12/2023 00:47

There was a beautiful black cat that lived down the road from me years ago and he used to come and sit in our kitchen. He was a darling and full of character. His name was Floyd. 😻

SparklingLime · 14/12/2023 02:17

Caspianberg · 13/12/2023 16:43

Cats can recognise their names though if you use two symbol but different sounds from each name

Ie Robert, Bobbie, Alfred. As cat hears the last sound basically ie ert, ie, ed

So cats can't ever hear the first syllable of a word? This would explain a lot of misunderstandings...

mathanxiety · 14/12/2023 02:20

Clive
Jim
Sid

caringcarer · 14/12/2023 03:01

Surely if you've been calling the older 2 Ginger and Tabby then that's their names now. They will know their names. You just need a name for new ginger cat. Marmalade?

Purrrrrdy · 14/12/2023 03:53

We have a couple with bloke names:
Rory
George
Teddy
Harley
Seamus
Jimmy
Dara
Henry

Caspianberg · 14/12/2023 05:08

@SparklingLime apparently so. Our current cat ends with y and his sister was a at end which did give a more distinctive difference when you call from the garden ie Percy and Nora

Original poster
JustCuriousASHP · 14/12/2023 10:49

caringcarer · 14/12/2023 03:01

Surely if you've been calling the older 2 Ginger and Tabby then that's their names now. They will know their names. You just need a name for new ginger cat. Marmalade?

We haven't so much been calling them Ginger and Tabby as referring to them as "the ginger one" and "the tabby one", so they're not really named. They have no awareness of this, and don't respond anyway (other than to the pspsps noises we all make to attract the attention of cats.)

OP posts:
Original poster
JustCuriousASHP · 14/12/2023 10:51

Purrrrrdy · 14/12/2023 03:53

We have a couple with bloke names:
Rory
George
Teddy
Harley
Seamus
Jimmy
Dara
Henry

I guess this is the problem with using "people" names - that list includes two nephews, a late cat, and an ex boyfriend! 😂

OP posts:
Treesinmygarden · 14/12/2023 15:14

I saw a cat called Nigel somewhere. I thought that was brilliant!

Original poster
JustCuriousASHP · 14/12/2023 15:39

My sister's ex was named Nigel.

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/12/2023 18:38

furtivetussling · 14/12/2023 00:04

Did the new rescue not have a name?

I'm out of practice at cat naming, the last eight of mine (four current) have all been either rescues or fosters and had names already!

All our animals have been rescues , some with names , some not depending on where they came from.
We always change it , they are starting a new life and have a new name to set them on their way .

There's a black kitten in rescue called Shane , he would be called McGowan if he came to live with me (but the Resident Cats would veto this nonsense about kittens )

WrittenInBlue · 14/12/2023 19:48

Forgetting the single syllable, what about Clive, Brian and Derek.

SomeoneYouLoved · 14/12/2023 19:51

Rusty
Pumpkin
Travis
Eddie
Trevor

furtivetussling · 15/12/2023 11:15

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/12/2023 18:38

All our animals have been rescues , some with names , some not depending on where they came from.
We always change it , they are starting a new life and have a new name to set them on their way .

There's a black kitten in rescue called Shane , he would be called McGowan if he came to live with me (but the Resident Cats would veto this nonsense about kittens )

Show quote history

Yes, I think if they have been renamed by the rescue shelter or are still a kitten, then changing names is fine. I wouldn't change the existing name of an adult cat though. It's their name!

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