# Help me name my new cat **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230 "2013-02-13T23:15:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/1 "2013-02-13T23:15:50Z")
She showed up on my front porch,freezing cold and very hungry.Someone had tried to remove the top half of her ears with rubberbands or something(one has fallen off and the other is most likely going to). She is in good health(now) and very loving.She has a brindle coat and sorta reminds me of a Hyena. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/2 "2013-02-14T00:49:35Z")
Hyena, hmm? How about “Thalia”, for the Muse of Comedy? 😃 (You know the rules. How do you expect any serious suggestions without pictures?) ---
**Author:** ![Magicicada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c67d28/32.png) [@Magicicada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magicicada)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/3 "2013-02-14T02:20:19Z")
If she was a he, Vincent. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/4 "2013-02-14T02:25:21Z")
The tops of the ears turning black/drying out/curling and falling off is from frostbite. Your kitty definitely got the short end being outside. Thanks for taking her in! As for a name, I couldn’t possibly think of one without a picture. I could also help you with what to call her coloring since cats don’t come in brindle! ---
**Author:** ![Magicicada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c67d28/32.png) [@Magicicada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magicicada)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/5 "2013-02-14T02:30:22Z")
I’m guessing brindle=tortoiseshell. (Black/orange, or, if dilute, grey/peach) (Being a cat person, I have more than once referred to a brindle bulldog as tortoiseshell.) ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/6 "2013-02-14T02:32:18Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > sorta reminds me of a Hyena. Laffer ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/7 "2013-02-14T02:33:00Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > The tops of the ears turning black/drying out/curling and falling off is from frostbite. Your kitty definitely got the short end being outside. Thanks for taking her in! > > As for a name, I couldn’t possibly think of one without a picture. I could also help you with what to call her coloring since cats don’t come in brindle! I thought it might have been frostbite but there where definite lines across both ears making me think it was intentional. [The Warrior Cats Life Wiki | Fandom](http://thewarriorcatslife.wikia.com/wiki/File:Cat_brindle.jpg) this isn’t her, but very close to what she looks like. ---
**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:** [February 14, 2013, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/8 "2013-02-14T02:52:30Z")
Very similar to a cat belonging to a friend of mine. That cat’s name is Tori (not sure of spelling). Tori lives with a pug with coloring similar to hers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/9 "2013-02-14T03:03:12Z")
Awww, thanks for taking her in. I’m sure she’s going to know soon she’s a lucky cat. I’d suggest “Lucky” as a name, but my vet said it’s almost too common, for cats and dogs, because of rescues like yours. I’m going to second Thalia, from upthread. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/10 "2013-02-14T03:21:57Z")
> [@MadTheSwine](#): > > I thought it might have been frostbite but there where definite lines across both ears making me think it was intentional. > > [The Warrior Cats Life Wiki | Fandom](http://thewarriorcatslife.wikia.com/wiki/File:Cat_brindle.jpg) this isn’t her, but very close to what she looks like. Of the frostbite cases I’ve seen, it’s been an even line across both ears. I think it makes them look like little bears when both ears are shortened like that. I can’t think of any ferals I’ve seen with frostbitten ears, and I’ve seen a lot of ferals! Which makes me conclude the ones who do get frostbite are lost or discarded housecats that really don’t know how to take care of themselves outside. It’s sad, but when you bring them in, you know you saved a life for sure. She’s a tortoiseshell, or tortie for short. They’re still considered calicos if there’s any white on them, even with the tortie pattern. I’ve heard those called - wait for it - calico torties. Anyway, tortie is the most common thing you’ll hear her coloring called - I’m sure there’s some Cat Fancy Association official something or other, but the vets and shelters try to keep things simple. And I’m coming up blank on ideas for names. Definitely NOT Lucky! Call us superstitious, but I don’t know anyone in the industry who would call their cat or dog that. It’s a sure way to guarantee something horrible will happen - perhaps it’s just because it’s so common, but I’ve seen way too many very unlucky Luckies! I do like “old lady” names for girl cats, like Mabel, Ethel, or Agnes. A good rule of thumb is to avoid any names you wouldn’t want to have called out loud in a busy waiting room. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/11 "2013-02-14T03:42:45Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Of the frostbite cases I’ve seen, it’s been an even line across both ears. I think it makes them look like little bears when both ears are shortened like that. Thanks for your input so far. Her ears were still intact and there were white lines straight across both her ears,about halfway down. Do you think that is frostbite or intentional? ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/12 "2013-02-14T04:27:17Z")
When it’s a distinct line, it’s a sign of severe frostbite and a sure sign everything above the line will turn black and fall off. I can’t think of anything else that would cause that, other than a hemostat of the type we use for feral ear-tipping, which regular people just aren’t going to have around the house and the pressure and pain of attaching would be impossible to do on anything but a totally sedated cat. It would have to be a clamp of some kind that an awake cat wouldn’t be able to shake off. So, without seeing her ears, I’m still thinking frostbite. I’ve seen it even worse, where pretty much the whole pinna is gone and what’s left is a crinkly mess, and less severe where the whole pinna is still there but crinkled around the edges (that, I’ve seen on a couple of ferals). [Here’s a decent series of pics of a cat’s frostbitten ears progress to falling off.](http://cats.wolseleygirl.com/tag/frostbitten-ears/) This is the halfway point I’m thinking your kitty may have. I have no opinion of the website, this was just a good set that showed up from googling. ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/13 "2013-02-14T04:46:44Z")
Ok,I believe it is frostbite based on your posts. Still need a name.Not fond of Thalia,just been calling her Baby so far. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/14 "2013-02-14T05:14:52Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > That cat’s name is Tori (not sure of spelling). I see what you did there. 🙂 Jennifer? (As in, “Nobody puts Baby in a corner!”). ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/15 "2013-02-14T06:13:01Z")
My brother has three tortie sister cats. He named then [Phoebe](http://oi47.tinypic.com/359zorl.jpg), [Pandora](http://oi45.tinypic.com/66hil1.jpg), and [Persephone](http://oi45.tinypic.com/o5qixu.jpg). They were all strays that I fostered. They had a brother but sadly he didn’t survive. They’re sweet girls. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/16 "2013-02-14T06:18:21Z")
Winter, Winnie for short. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/17 "2013-02-14T08:31:07Z")
Talvikissa. It’s Finnish for “Winter Cat”. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/18 "2013-02-14T08:42:43Z")
[Jadis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadis) Frostbite ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/19 "2013-02-14T08:45:00Z")
Shenzi. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2013, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230/20 "2013-02-14T11:16:05Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > [Jadis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadis) > > Frostbite Oh, I take back my vote for Thalia, I like this better. But since you are calling her Baby for now, well, my very first cat was named Baby. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-name-my-new-cat/650230.md?page=2)