# Help name our new cat **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226 "2011-08-26T21:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/41 "2011-08-27T11:57:55Z")
What a great smile he has! I spent a good part of my childhood living in Turkey and an orange cat we had was named after a local orange soda named Fruko. Since then, family tradition is that any orange cat any of us owns is named Fruko. I see an orange cat, I can’t think of any other name for it. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/42 "2011-08-27T11:58:48Z")
Wasn’t the old one named Fluffernutter? How about Fluffernutter II? ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/43 "2011-08-27T13:12:49Z")
That cat is clearly a Admiral Mango Fuzzypants McSkittersons. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/44 "2011-08-27T13:48:06Z")
Whatever. You’ll end up calling it “Shithead” anyway. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/45 "2011-08-27T14:49:53Z")
He’s Beautiful… (and I think Lefty fits!) ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/46 "2011-08-27T14:56:24Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Fido. There should be a cat named Fido. There also should be a dog named Fido, because there isn’t one. Have you ever met one? **QtM** , that cat is such a Wowbagger! Dibs on the name if you can’t convince **Mrs. QtM**. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/47 "2011-08-27T15:02:42Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’ve always held to the principle that there’s no point in giving a name to anything that isn’t going to respond to it. Which is why all of that cats I’ve had have been named “the cat”. My cats come when they’re called, unless I’m planning to medicate them or take them to the vet. And yes, they KNOW. And clearly that’s a Sunshine kitty. He’s got such a grin on his face. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/48 "2011-08-27T15:37:09Z")
What about keeping a name that relates to his old name of Sandy? I vote for Silica Quartz. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/49 "2011-08-27T18:33:20Z")
Now that I’ve seen him, I change my vote to Wowbagger. If you get tired of him, I’ll take him. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/50 "2011-08-27T19:54:20Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Gerald > Capital H > Musker > Banjo > Calypso > Durian > Kumara > Bandersnatch > Squirl > Jasper > Ampersand > Machu Picchu > Saskatoon > Zyzzyx Nope, too long. Since he has no eyes, I vote you name him Amblyopsicat. Or Boris Yeltsin. Edit: But Wowbagger, while far from perfect, is a far superior name to the woeful Genghis Khat. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/51 "2011-08-27T22:12:51Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Jasper I got an orange and white kitten about a month ago and that’s what we named him! ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/52 "2011-08-27T22:24:53Z")
I have long wanted to name a cat Baxter. But my current cat is a girl and all black and it doesn’t really fit, plus she was given to me with another name. But I think it fits that cat. Failing that, Genghis is the best of the 3 options presented. ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/53 "2011-08-27T22:33:50Z")
Aw he’s got freckles on his nose. My late great ginger Alex had freckles. Can ya mail him to me please? Edited to add that Alex had a brother called Sol (they were both Sun cats) and that would be a great name for yours. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/54 "2011-08-28T01:40:02Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Fido. There should be a cat named Fido. Spelled Phydeaux. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/55 "2011-08-28T03:38:20Z")
With all those stripes, perhaps you should name him “Spot”. With that smile, the name Whome would work too. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/56 "2011-08-28T11:19:19Z")
Just don’t name him John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. That’s my name. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/57 "2011-08-28T14:19:53Z")
He’s still not had an official name change, but based on discussion here and elsewhere, Genghis Khat is losing favor, and Wowbagger is gaining. We’ll see… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/58 "2011-08-28T14:31:11Z")
Single names are easier for a cat to learn, and the shorter the better. Spot. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/59 "2011-08-28T14:56:40Z")
“Tibby” Case closed. Over-and-out. It’s a wrap. …Alright, in the spirit of fighting ignorance, I’ll elaborate… For starters, and I sincerely hope this doesn’t come across as being offensive in any way to anyone in particular, but each and every name proposed up to this point has been incredibly bad, just terribly awful. But, be that as it may, I have no desire for Tibby to win by default; it will win on its abundant merit. Tibby, a name which congers up feelings of strength and majesty, is the only sane choice for naming a cat—any cat, really, be it housecat, alley cat, feral cat, hep-cat, lion, tiger, cheetah, ocelot, leopard, jaguar, or even hyena (being phylogenetically close to felines and all). I inherited my mother’s conventions concerning animals and she, being British, has always regarded the naming of pets as a duty of prime importance. Giving pets silly or cutesy names was never an option for mom; she labored long and hard to affix our pets with no-nonsense, respectable names. This tradition predates my birth. From the maternity ward I was brought into a home that included twin dachshunds named _Sookie_ and _Pookie_, a guinea pig named Frederick and an orange, tailless Manx cat, bearing the moniker, Tibby 1st. Let me tell you, he was the cat’s whiskers. That Tibby started the ball of yarn rolling, so to speak; unraveling over time into a succession of Tibbies reaching Tibby 5th. There were a couple of Libbies along the way who cohabitated with Tibbies (having two Tibbies at the same time would be catastrophic). There were, of course, lines of Tibbys going back in time to our ancestral past, but the numbering system resets for each family offshoot. This system continues on as new braches bud off from the family tree and new Tibby lines begin again and again ad infinitum. So, as should be apparent, in choosing the name Tibby for your cat, you tap into a long and regal procession of, dare I say, aristocatic felines. Consider that my family’s gift to yours. Just follow the rules and start with Tibby 1st and don’t skip any numbers from that point on. As if that weren’t enough, there is another convincing reason to name your cat Tibby. As you know, cats require a lot of nicknames for a variety of circumstances and situations they stumble into. Well, sir, “Tibby” is chock full of sanctioned variations that cover all bases: informal: “Tib”; formal : “Mr. Tibbs”; professional: Dr. Tibbs; Sporty: Tibbster; Italian: Tibberto; Spanish; “Senior Tibberino”; German: “Herr Tibbler”; playfull: Tibby-dibby-doo; affectionate: Tibbly-wibbly-woo…the list goes on and on. And, as a bonus, stressing either syllable is acceptable and pleasing to the ear: TIBBy/tibbY. Hmm, I just clicked on the photo of your cat and I must say, I kind of wish I clicked on it before investing this much effort. Again, I mean no offence to anyone and your cat certainly looks like nice, comfortable sort of feline. But, with that rather befuddled looking smirk on his face, I’m just not certain he can pull off being a Tibby (he sort of looks like the court jester to the throne of an authentic Tibby, if you know what I mean). But, you know what, I made the offer and I’m not reneging…Tibby is yours for the taking. **Qadgop** , this leaves you with but one question to contemplate; tis a noble question which may make your mind feel though it’s suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. What question, you ask? _Tibby or not Tibby, that is the question!_ ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226/60 "2011-08-28T16:54:32Z")
I voted for Genghis Khat. I’ve had two cats with the names of tyrant rulers, Vladimir and Attila. Among Doper cats Genghis would fit right in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-name-our-new-cat/594226.md?page=4)