# Help me name a kitten and choose a cat tree and toys **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 31, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875 "2022-07-31T17:29:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/21 "2022-08-02T00:10:33Z")
Gary. I suggest this every time someone asks for a pet name, but nobody has ever called a pet Gary. ---
**Author:** ![motu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/motu/32/259_2.png) [@motu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motu)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/22 "2022-08-02T23:51:05Z")
Giteap, Grows Into Those Ears And Paws Or Gitpae, or Teap ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2022, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/23 "2022-08-03T01:24:28Z")
"Eartha Kitt"y ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2022, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/24 "2022-08-04T14:31:55Z")
Mike. I dunno, I look at those pics and i just get Mike. Not Michael or Mickey or Michel. Mike Muldoon, Destroyer of Toes, Hunter Elder Gods and Flies. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/25 "2022-08-18T10:18:17Z")
So, what did the kitten’s name turn out to be? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/26 "2022-08-18T10:28:47Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Are you sure you haven’t taken someone’s pet? > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Did you advertise him, and check the area the next few days for ads and posters? You never did answer these questions. I can’t help feeling that somewhere there’s a little girl crying about her missing kitty. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/27 "2022-08-21T21:31:25Z")
I don’t know yet. I’m waiting until he’s spent a month with the other cats to see more of his personality and then choose a name. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/28 "2022-08-21T21:34:36Z")
I checked out the area for posters. Nothing. If I advertise him, how to I tell the difference between someone telling the truth or lying? If it does turn out to be someone’s cat, I have no sympathy for someone who would let a 3-month-old kitten outdoors close to a busy road. Pit me if you want. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/29 "2022-08-22T02:28:29Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > If I advertise him, how to I tell the difference between someone telling the truth or lying? Leave something notable about his appearance out of the description. Aim the camera so that, say, the rear paws aren’t visible and ask them which paw is white. Not a guarantee as they might guess it’s a trick question and guess the right answer, but combining the unlikelihood that that would happen with the unlikelihood that anybody’s going to call up and claim he’s their kitten when he isn’t should give you pretty good chances. > [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > If it does turn out to be someone’s cat, I have no sympathy for someone who would let a 3-month-old kitten outdoors close to a busy road. Cats can escape against the intentions of their humans. As you checked and found no posters in the area, however, that’s a good start. I’d have put a couple up myself, though; and called local vets/animal control to see if anyone’s been looking for him. ---
**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/30 "2022-08-22T02:46:25Z")
For unusual names, how about Izantefsi or Boewobtawnt or Scranarexin? Yehtgeisht is another nice name, as is Yazithixen. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/31 "2022-08-22T04:20:07Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > As you checked and found no posters in the area, however, that’s a good start. I’d have put a couple up myself, though; and called local vets/animal control to see if anyone’s been looking for him. Have the cat scanned for a chip, too. But Shirley somebody’s already suggested this. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/32 "2022-08-22T04:33:35Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Leave something notable about his appearance out of the description. Why give a description at all? It makes sense if you are putting up a poster about a _lost_ cat, but why would a poster about a _found_ cat need any description at all? If someone who has really lost their cat sees a sign saying nothing more than “found cat” and a contact number, they will surely contact you, and will be able to describe him fully. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/33 "2022-08-22T14:53:16Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Why give a description at all? It makes sense if you are putting up a poster about a _lost_ cat, but why would a poster about a _found_ cat need any description at all? When I’ve done this, I’ve been thinking about not holding out false hope to people who are looking for, say, a black and white cat when I’ve found, say, a yellow tabby; and also about reducing the number of unnecessary calls/emails to deal with from my end. I got a couple of calls as it was from people clearly looking for a different yellow cat. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/34 "2022-08-22T15:00:54Z")
Well, I guess it depends on how large an area you plan to put up the posters. But a kitten is unlikely to go far - I wouldn’t think there’s any need to cover more than a few streets. In this situation, I think you only want _want_ to find a prior owner if they care enough that they have scoured the area at least carefully enough to notice your signs. It would be different if the kitten didn’t have a great new home, if it were at risk of being euthanized if a prior owner couldn’t be found. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/35 "2022-08-22T15:15:22Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > a kitten is unlikely to go far I never found out where a couple of mine originally came from. One was a young tomcat, who may well have travelled much further on his own than a young kitten could. But I discovered that the other, who was a bit too young for that explanation, loved to climb into cars and trucks. He might have been dumped on purpose; but he may well have gotten into the wrong car and been either put out upon discovery or gotten out without having been discovered; possibly tens or hundreds of miles from where he started. And I have a friend who’s a truck driver who once found a kitten clinging inside the wheel well of his truck. He’s a person who notices cats; he recognized the kitten and returned it – riding inside the cab! – to the farm it had come from; but there are a lot of people who would just leave a kitten wherever they noticed it. Of course, if yours had travelled a really long distance, there’s no way to tell where to put the posters or the ads. I just placed ads and/or posters for all the nearest towns, and called animal control in this and the next county over (I’m fairly close to a county line). If you’re in a city, that’s a different situation; but there’s probably something that covers most of the city, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/36 "2022-08-29T14:43:07Z")
Has the kitten told you his name yet? Got more pictures? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875/37 "2022-10-25T19:14:29Z")
I will post more pictures, thanks for reminding me. I think I’ll go with Thales. He’s not integrating that well. Gamma will groom him but is afraid of him because he plays too rough and will sometimes growl when he approaches. Chan will also growl and hiss sometimes. They’re not being aggressive but preemptively telling him to lay off because he’s too hyper for them when he plays. Soa will stare at him, seems to fear him but she responds by charging him, starting to a physical fight with him. Since he’s 5 months old, he has no chance and he’s afraid of her now. They still get along well enough to be close to each other when feeding. I expect they’ll get along better when he calms down although I don’t know if Soa will keep charging him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-a-kitten-and-choose-a-cat-tree-and-toys/968875.md?page=1)