Adopting a Kitten!!!! Help with name...

[geewhiz]

I am adopting a beautiful black and white kitten tomorrow (or rather the kitten has adopted me...he comes to me, lays peacefully in my arms and has licked my hair). He is male (duh).

I am having problems thinking of a name. I don't want anything like Hercules or Spartacus (my mom's ideas). Also nothing like smoochie poochie.

I have it down to: Bailey, Felix, Cody, Corben or Sniggles.

Anyone else have any ideas????:)

[Kalhoun]

Our new stray is black and white. We're calling him Domino. We also considered Oreo.

[Eve]

Gompers.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

Are you going to get him neutered? If not, Shub Niggurath, Beast with a Thousand Spawn, might be a good name. Otherwise, you could call him Nyarolathotep the Crawling Chaos.

Other good cat names:
Spatula (cuz it's fun to say)
The Gecko (see above)
Chiaroscuro (light/dark)

Daniel

[geewhiz]

oh yeah, I am getting him neutered. His first vet appointment is Friday and I will discuss it then with the vet.

Any more ideas....all these are good.

I can't call him Oreo as that is the name of my dearly departed cat of 13 and a half years. *Moment of silence for Oreo*

[Cheesesteak]

How about Knuckles? That way you can feel like a gangster whenever you call him. "Yo, Knuckles! Get over here, I gotta job for ya!" Rocco would be good too.

[Eve]

I like Knuckles and Rocco. Never make your pet names too pat.

[SJSB]

Benson, Marlboro, Smirnoff... these are all fine, upstanding names. Or there's Caligula...

[N. Sane]

Peeve (then you can refer to your Pet Peeve) :D
Dogfood (the name of my best friend's cat)
Rover

[MrTuffPaws]

"Dog Meat" is a good name for a cat. Also "Tire Tread", "Sack O' Hair", "Hairball Dispenser", "Fuzzy thing With Sharpe Parts", and "Spot" are all good cat names.

[Thrillhouse15]

(for the Simpsons fans out there)
I've been wanting to get two cats, a black one and a white one, and name them Lenny and Carl. And then to keep them straight I'll write Lenny = white on my hand.

I also thought it'd be cool to name my potential two cats after Mike's friends from Growing Pains, Eddie and Boner (preemtively vetoed by my girlfriend, by the way).

[geewhiz]

Thrillhouse15: Your girlfriend obviously has taste. How did she end up with you? (Just joking!!) Actually I saw the name Carl on kitten-names.com and considered it.

I was also thinking about Sneegles...after that ugly thing in LOTR. (Gollum takes him over)

What about DogKiller? MrTuffPaws...do you not like cats? Hairball dispenser...phew!

Eve...Gompers is in the running. It sounds so cute!

[Eve]

Originally posted by geewhiz
Eve...Gompers is in the running. It sounds so cute!

Doesn't it just? The first time I read about Samuel Gompers, all I could think was, "What a great pet name! Here, Gompers! Here, boy!"

Constance Bennett had two dogs named "Get Off the Rug!" and "You, Too!"

[danceswithcats]

Since he's black and white, that essentially makes him 1 and 0. Call him Biney for binary.

[bughunter]

I usually give new kittens and puppies a "temporary" name (usually just initials), and then wait and observe them a while to decide a permanent name that fits their personality and demeanor...

Thus my cat's name is Boojum, from Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark. An imaginary, invisible, extremely dangerous monster is a wonderful namesake for a monster of a black cat with a very aggressive attitude. (Before I settled on a name, his temporary moniker was "BC" for "Bad Cat.")

My cocker spaniel pup was named Jericho because his barking was so loud it could bring the walls down. (Before that, he was "TF" for "Tinkle Fairy," i.e., the tinkle fairy visited us again last nite... this time on the drapes.)

[Ol'Gaffer]

I always name pets after a character in a book that I am reading at the time of acquisition (of course the two little Gaffers have christened our newest cat "Butthead," apparently from a literary souce of which I am unfamiliar). So, are you reading anything right now?

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

I've read that cats respond best to short names with hard consonants -- Spike, Fido, Killer are all good cat names. If you want the cat to have a chance in hell of coming when you call, may want to keep this in mind.

I read this only after naming my two cats Sasha and Polyphony, unfortunately.

Daniel

[geewhiz]

I never thought of Jericho. That is an ultra cool name. (It is now in the running)

As for me reading anything right now. Only a book on the history of home economics. (I am getting a degree in family and consumer science education. I want to get my masters and PhDs in either consumer behavior or family resource management with an emphasis on comsumer decision making).

I will think of books that I have read in the past and see if that jogs any ideas.

[geewhiz]

I never thought of Jericho. That is an ultra cool name. (It is now in the running)

As for me reading anything right now. Only a book on the history of home economics. (I am getting a degree in family and consumer science education. I want to get my masters and PhDs in either consumer behavior or family resource management with an emphasis on comsumer decision making).

I will think of books that I have read in the past and see if that jogs any ideas.

[Q.N. Jones]

Originally posted by Eve
Doesn't it just? The first time I read about Samuel Gompers, all I could think was, "What a great pet name! Here, Gompers! Here, boy!"

Constance Bennett had two dogs named "Get Off the Rug!" and "You, Too!"

You and Dave Barry--he's got a bit about wanting a great big dog he could name Gompers. I thought you got it from him, at first, but I guess it's just intrinsically a great name for a pet.

I suggest Snoopy.

[Eve]

Originally posted by Q.N. Jones
You and Dave Barry--he's got a bit about wanting a great big dog he could name Gompers.

Get out! Really? Hmmm, maybe I can sue him . . . Did he say anything about Chauncey DePew?

[Hanna]

Originally posted by geewhiz
I was also thinking about Sneegles...after that ugly thing in LOTR. (Gollum takes him over)


Actually, the LotR character is called Smeagol, not Sneegles, but I personally think Sneegles is a cute name.

Post pictures of the kitten - you might get some great responses if people can see it, plus I love kitten pics.

[c_carol]

I was also thinking about Sneegles...after that ugly thing in LOTR I think you're thinking of Smeagol.

If you like, you can use the name of my ex-cat, Eric. He was named after a Monty Python sketch.

[Governor Quinn]

How about W. Thatcher Longstreth?

[jackelope]

I suggest Meatbag.

Domino is also good, since it's an ultra-cool Roy Orbison song.

[bughunter]

My favorite pet name from a movie is Algonquin, from the movie version of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

She inherited the dog, and its name... and shortened the name to just Gonk.

[FilmGeek]

c_carol... do you have a cat license?

Is it written in crayon?

[buttonjockey308]

If you're the least bit esoteric, maybe Zero would be a good name.

I've heard of cats named; Joey, Purr, Ida, Eldon, Dorothy and Skink.

Of course you cannot forget, Bast, (or anubis, to be slightly anachronistic).

Please, whatever you do, avoid "Mr." anything.

Although, Mr. Purr-esident made me laugh so hard i almost threw up (i was drunk, wasn't my fault)

[Mariemarie]

Darryl. Johnny. Bruce. Butch. James.
Dude. The Dude. Duder. El Duderino.

[zoog]

Well, first of all, they're cats, so it doesn't really matter much what you call them. They respond to you only when they damned well feel like it. Cats don't have owners, they have staff.

I adopted a couple of kittens at the pound about 11 years ago, they still live with me. One was a noisy little guy, mostly white with a little black, and a black face. I'd just seen a re-release of the Orson Welles version of Othello a week before, and I loved the idea of calling this white guy with a black face Othello...

So I named the female that I adopted at the same time Desdemona. It just made sense.

After a few weeks, I realized that I named them all wrong, I probably should have gone with "Get Down Off The Counter" and "Knock That Shit Off".

[percypercy]

Originally posted by danceswithcats
Since he's black and white, that essentially makes him 1 and 0. Call him Biney for binary.

Okay, stay with me here. If he's black and white, and hence 1 and 0, then he's base 10. So I say Dexter. Does that make any sense to anyone else?
-Lil

[Magiver]

I named my first cat based on the circumstances of how I got her. I found her as a kitten along a railroad track so I named her Hobbs (modified from the word Hobo). The second kitten got stuck with the name Calvin. It helps to have 2 cats because they entertain each other.

As for suggestions, you could focus on something black & white: Oreo, Domino, Ansel Adams, etc... You could also use something like Piano but translate it into a different lanquage.

Let your imagination run wild.

[!ceQueen]

Catty!

[DreadCthulhu]

Y'golonac!

[Paranoid Randroid]

I've always named my cats ... well, real names. For some reason I just don't care for obviously silly names, even though I'm an obviously silly guy. The names I've given to cats are Catherine, Eleanor, Sophia, and Murray. The cat I've got but didn't name is Anastasia, but the dog I didn't name is Princess Wigglebutt - and I feel like a moron calling her. heh.

[DeVena]

Wait... You're getting a boy kitty on Christmas Eve??? You gotta name him Nick!

Or wonderful counselor, almighty god, the everlasting father, the prince of peace (sorry - I'm listening to Handel's Messiah. Got a little carried away there.)


OOOOoo or be really cutesy and call him Santa Paws!



Oh yeah you're right. Nick sounds good.

[Eve]

Oh, no—name him Jesus Christ, if youre getting him on Christmas Eve! Just think what fun it will be, calling him!

"Jesus Christ—stop scratching the chair!"

"Jesus Christ—why don't you eat your cat food?!"

"Hon, Jesus Christ puked on the rug again!"

[Abdominal Snowman]

I vote for Ivan, Atilla, or possibly... Genghis. Or just Khan. Your choice.

Or, in keeping with what has been suggested above, get more cats and name them all Eric. A menagerie of Erics.

[Abdominal Snowman]

I should point out that my own cat is name Alice. Which I had nothing to do with. I got her from a class mate who adopted her and then found out he was very allergic, and by the time I got her, she wouldn't respond to anything else.

Not that she actually responds to her name, either.

[RandMcnally]

My friend named her cat "Demetre Fizzlebottoms III, Esq"

He is also called "Mentecor"

I like "Ivan von Cattious"

[Dung Beetle]

Nyarolathotep the Crawling Chaos Damn, I wish I'd thought of that.

[Anamorphic]

Not that I would want to name my cat this, but how about using this current sequential thread title as a suggestion:

"Adopting a Kitten!!!! Help with name..."
"What about Ayn Rand?"

[DeVena]

Originally posted by Abdominal Snowman
Or just Khan.

I like this! And Eve's "Jesus Christ". I have a cat named Stella, and every time she's hiding or had inflicted evil upon the house, I get to do my Marlon Brando impression. "STELLLAHHHH!" (Ripping the wife beater undershirt is optional.)

It would be great for you to release your inner Shatner when kitty is bad. "KHAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"

"Jezus CHRIST" works well here too.

I have a friend who has named his dog Dammit using this rationalization. :D

[Munch]

I also like Khan.

I usually try to name pets after characters in my favorite movies. Nathan, Jr. from Raising Arizona was an excellent name. Other suggestions from RA:

H.I.
Gale
Eville
Glen
Leonard Smalls (or just Smalls)
Randall "Tex" Cobb (he played Smalls)

Big Lebowski names:
Dude
Walter
Jesus (nobody fucks with the Jesus)
Marty
Donny
Brandt

[geewhiz]

Thanks for all the name ideas. The kitten I wanted was adopted by someone else. Some woman came in and adopted it for her mother for Christmas (why do people do this? You don't adopt pets for other people as a surprise....that is a stupid action and shows no regard for the pet! I will probably be on the Pit board about this soon)

I am so depressed right now and it is Christmas Eve. I think I am going to hold off on adopting a kitten for now.

[Eve]

Ohhhh, nooooo!

That is very sad. But there are other kitties out there who need you just as much.

[Dung Beetle]

I think you could use a kitten right now to cheer you up. And now you can think of more funny things to name him, like Second Choice, or Substitute.

[ArrMatey!]

Or Pablo. I hear that's a good name...

[DeVena]

Gimme your mailing address and I'll mail you Stella.


OK no, but go to a shelter and adopt a kitty - they'll have tons.

[Breezy]

NO, NO, NO!

Adopt another. If you go back to look at them, there will be another who catches your eye!!!

[geewhiz]

DeVena...thanks for offering Stella but I don't think she would like being packed in a box and mailed to me.


There are two other sweet cute adorable kittens at the pet place. One is a black male and the other is a grey tabby male. The black male rolled over in my arms so I could rub his tummy. If either one is there in an hour I will pick one up. Black is first choice and grey is second.

[Dung Beetle]

Yay! Thanks, geewhiz!

[Hanna]

One of my biggest regrets is not adopting both kittens when I adopted my Boo. His sister was there, and my apartment had a one-pet rule, but I really wished I had gotten both. Is there any reason you can't take both? Kittens will be a lot happier and less destructive if you get two. Of course, vet bills double but many vets give a multi-pet discount.

[ArrMatey!]

Kitties!


We, of course, demand pictures. :D

[Ol'Gaffer]

How about General Sterling Price, as once owned by Rooster Cogburn?

You could call him The General, although then he/she/it might be confused with the basketball coach Bobby Knight, BUT... if the cat turns out to be an ornery little sh*t then it would be entirely appropriate.

[geewhiz]

I am the proud new mamma of a beautiful bouncing 7 week old baby male kitten. He is the black one (I would have taken them both but the other had already been adopted).


Bailey is currently under my bed because I am an idiot and dropped the door from the carrier on his head and he is scared. So I put a couple of treats at the base of my bed with a couple of toys. But he is just hiding under there... :(

Him hiding under my bed is normal right? I haven't had a cat in so long.

(Pictures will be coming soon)

[Hanna]

Hiding under the bed is perfectly normal. He'll come out when he is ready, congrats on the new baby!

[geewhiz]

Well I went and got him from the bedroom and put him into his litter box. I was showing him where it is just in case nature calls. He lets me pick him up and carry him so I have put him in the living room with me. He has fallen off the couch once and is now behind the couch (no biggie, there is lots of room between it and the wall) and he is meowing until he sees me and then it seems to be ok. He is grooming himself. He kneads the couch or my shirt when I pet him too. I think that is a good sign.

For now he is behind the couch...I think I am going to let him stay there for awhile unless he starts to meow that he wants out.

Any ideas on what I can do next?

[Eve]

Flinging cat toys around maniacally might be a good plan.

[geewhiz]

Eve..he began hissing at me just a bit. I don't know if I am moving too fast or what. He is resting behind the couch which makes me think he really is THAT tired and maybe just a bit irritable. But if he doesn't see me for a little while, he will start to meow (and the meow is so pathetic) and then stops when he sees me. I think I might have a co dependent cat!

[skeptic_ev]

Eh, he's just a little guy. Hissing is normal. But it's a good idea not to let him get the impression that all he has to do is hiss and you'll leave him alone. Our female kitten, Pepsi, did that when we first got her. (She was feral.) I picked her up every time. After a while she began to realize that 1) hissing is counterproductive, and 2) people are not evil predators (she's still working on that one, though).

[geewhiz]

He has warmed up nicely and has spent alot of this evening resting and sleeping. He was a little demon this morning. Such a sweet little boy.

The hissing and meowing has calmed down too.