Renaming cats

[Swoopy]

We are rehoming an older kitten- she is 4 months old and the lady who has her cannot cope with her plus her (the woman's) young children. (No issues with the kitten, just too much going on.)

We are keen to give her a new name as her current name is the same as my DD's. Just wondered if this is likely to cause any issues- my instinct is not but just thought I'd check whether anyone has done this and whether there's anything to be aware of.

Thank you

[Orangeandnavy]

No. Rename away. They respond to a tone of voice but I have never known a cat know their name. They get all sorts anyway. My last was Bingo, bongo , Bon Bon, boo boo whatever 😄

[MolkosTeenageAngst]

Not really going to matter as cats respond to pitch and intonation more than the actual words/ sounds. I would probably try and choose something that had similar syllables and end sound though if possible, eg: Rosie to Misty.

[Floopani]

Rename! I agree with PP, we have George, Georgie, Georgeous, Porgie, Lumpy. He doesn't care as long as the tone of voice indicates food might be provided.

[Bellyblueboy]

congratulations and can we see a picture please😊.

she is young enough to rename. I have just realised I call my cat her name when I call for her but also call her all sorts of silly nicknames and she responds to them all.

I know you didn’t ask - but cat tunnels are an excellent toy for new kitted. Mine still loves to run through them and she is nearly 5! They are also good hiding places when the new kitten feels a bit overwhelmed.

[DarkDarkTimeOfLife]

No issues.
I rehomed an 8 month old and renamed her. She soon recognised her name.

[TheShellBeach]

I always rename mine. Even the elderly ones.

[GoodVibesHere]

Go ahead and rename, cats don't care. Plus she is still really young at 4 months.

[fluffycloudalert]

At 4 months old, the kitten won't have learned her own name yet especially, as you say, the family has too much else going on to devote much time to her.

Is the cat microchipped yet? If so, then that will be registered in the current name.

[Francisflute]

It's fine, mine are adopted as adults and seem to respond to a range of nicknames all the same if the tone is right

[SnowdaySewday]

The cat doesn’t understand its name as a label of its identity in the way a human does. If it chooses to respond when you say the word you have designated to be its name, it is because whatever you are offering at that moment (food, toy, attention) is attractive enough to it to persuade it to stop what it is doing and come to you on that occasion - or because it sees allowing you a little win is beneficial to its plan for achieving world domination.

The cat will also will develop several “names” (some vocal, some gestures) for you and will use them as it trains you to do its bidding.


Make sure it is neutered (and not already pregnant) or you'll be looking for several new names.

[Gingernaut]

they do know their names, but really don't care

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cats-may-recognize-their-own-names-it-doesnt-mean-they-care-180971892/

[Swoopy]

Thanks all- I will stop worrying!

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

@Orangeandnavy

No. Rename away. They respond to a tone of voice but I have never known a cat know their name. They get all sorts anyway. My last was Bingo, bongo , Bon Bon, boo boo whatever 😄

Hehe. This is my experience, too.

My cat was originally called Mr Darcy, his 2nd owners re named him Blue, and when we rehomed him, we reverted to Mr Darcy, but he gets:

Mr Darcy
Darcy
Darcy Farcy
Arsey Darcy
Fido Dido
Barn Owl

and occasionally, when he's doing my head in, he gets called 'Shithead' (in a loving tone)

Typo

[MumChp]

We adopted a cat from a shelter. Didn't know his name so-we gave him one and after a few months he responded to it. He was an adult cat.

[AnnaMagnani]

While I teach my cats their names, what they actually know is the high pitched tone of voice and association with food.

One of them is vaguely interested in his name, the other is interested but opening the fridge door is more effective.

And anyway cats have loads of names. One of mine is Julie. She is never called Julie. Her names are:
Jools
Julie Bobbins
Julie Bobs
J-Bob
The Bobster
Mrs Bobs

No-one knows when she had the Bobbins added.

[Fitzbillie]

Go ahead! Your cat will be happy to ignore any name 😂

The more scientifically correct answer is as PPs have said, cats respond to intonation rather than a specific name and only because it indicates they might get something they want. You might as well call him/her “dinner” and be done with it 😂

Anyway, this is what happens when you teach a cat to communicate: 😂

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xZW2RVY0sWs

[Snozzlemaid]

We adopted a nine month old that was called Spider, none of us liked that so changed it.
Had no problem at all.
They soon get used to it.

[Toddlerteaplease]

You might decide that her name really suits her though. 🤣 might cause confusion in future though! I wanted to rename my new cat Pickle because my other cat is called Cheddar. But actually she is definitely a Penelope!

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

Our cat was three when we adopted her from a family direct - quite similar to you OP but in their case the cat was stressed by a noisy toddler and they had a new baby on the way. We changed her name to something that had similar sounds but that we liked better - along the lines of Charlie to Marnie. She also gets called Pops, Poppet, Bob-cat, Bobbin, and Bobs, but she definitely knows her actual name!

[Shouldbedoing]

The only name that brings my cats running, is Dreamies!

[Doyouthinktheyknow]

I wish I’d renamed my cat but she was 4 years when we got her and it felt a bigger deal because of her age.

Her name is Angel but she is called baby girl, bubba, shitbag, fluffball, floofbag as well as Angel and she does come for me so it’s definitely tone of voice rather than name😻🤣