Can you rename a cat?

[tracilicious]

Last night after work I decided to stop by Savers (it's like Goodwill) to see if they had any cheap turntables to replace my broken one. No luck on the turntables, but there's a Petco right next door, so I figured I might as well pick up some fish food so that the trip wasn't entirely a waste. (Ok, so I've also really been wanting a turtle and thought I would check their prices. Don't tell Michael! :p )

On my way back to the reptiles, I passed the row of cats up for adoption. In the top left cage was the biggest Maine Coon cat I've ever seen. The size of two cats, and the attitude of three, easily. I pet him for a minute, said hello to the other cats, looked for a turtle (there were none) and found myself back in front of his cage a few minutes later. There are several reasons why getting a cat is maybe not the smartest thing to do right now, the main ones being small children and a dog with a very strong chase instinct. She isn't vicious, but she views cats as big toys. This cat, though, I knew could hold it's own. I thought with enough time and patience the two could eventually live peacefully. Couldn't hurt to ask, right? (As I walked away to ask, the kitty stuck his big paw out after me.)

I asked the fish guy, who was very fond of Snickers, when they did the adoptions. He said the rescue guy should be down soon to close up the cats (whatever that means), but he would find out for sure. While he was checking I called Michael, who was pretty anti cat getting. But the guy came back and said that he called the rescue guy and he was heading right down. I couldn't just leave then..it would be rude!

We spent the next 15 minutes petting and playing with Snickers. I would rub his head and he would roll over so I could rub his belly. He would chase my fingers and paw them, but he kept his claws in (a good sign for kid friendliness!). By the time the guy showed up, I couldn't go home without him.

So we are now the proud family of a giganto cat named Snickers! :D He is over 25 pounds!!! We're going to introduce him and the dogs very slowly. They haven't met yet, as we want them to get used to each others scents. We'll probably do the intros tomorrow, but it will be at least a week before we trust them alone together. It will be a hassle, but worth it, I think.

I really don't like the name Snickers, but it's been his name for two years (he came from a very messy divorce). Is it mean to change it? I'll post pics as soon as I can figure out how to email them from my phone (our digicam broke).

Hooray for kitties! It's been two long years waiting for the right one. :cool:

[tracilicious]

Oh, also, the kids are getting along wonderfully with him. When he gets sick of them he just moves to higher ground. And I forgot the fish food.

[Not Afraid]

Since all my cats have at least 10 names, I see no problem in changing the cat's name. Was Snickers the original name? Does he respond to his name? (Some cats do.)

I LOVELVOELOVE Maine Coons. Great cats with usually wonderful personalities. Just introduce him to the dogs slowly and carefully.

I want pics, of course.

[BarTopDancer]

KITTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!

Give him two names. Snickers [your name]. You can probably slowly start calling him the other name. But I am of the belief that kitties know their name.

My big kitty is Chewie Springer (he chewed and he jumped). He goes by Springer now even though he is way to big to spring. Every once in awhile he get's his full name used when he's being very very bad.

[Alex]

Call him whatever you want. The cat won't know the difference.

Though it should be reiterated that left to my own I'd not name my pets (Lani named ours after a few weeks - it changed many times in that period - and I was still find just calling it "cat").

[Kevy Baby]

That's a tough one - renaming a pet. When we did a cat-swap with the MIL (each of us had a cat that didn't get along with the others), we kept the name of the one we received, even though we weren't too fond of "Allie" (named after Allie McBeal - MIL also has a cat named Billie - the love interest of the Allie McBeal character). However, she renamed the one we gave her, though she (the cat) will forever be known to us as Bindi.

We just believe that names are part of the identity. When chosing names for our animals, we go with what feels right - whatever resonates with the spirit of the animal.

Try to live with the name for a few days. If it doesn't feel right, then by all means change it. But if after a while you realize that "hey, that works", then stick with Snickers.

And I forgot the fish food.Been there, done that ;)

[€uroMeinke]

Yeah, Like Lisa said, all our cats have at least 10 names - sometimes they choose the one's they like best - like they chose you ;)

Congrats and pictures please

[DreadPirateRoberts]

When a boat is renamed, there is a ceremony (http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm) that is followed. Basically it's alot of encantations and pouring of champagne. It couldn't hurt. :)

[Not Afraid]

Scoundrel named himself. He knows his name. He just doesn't listen when he's in trouble (which is often).
Charles was Charlie first but somehow became Charles. He knows his name.
Jack was not named by me. I called him Pumpkin before he was mine but Jack just fits his personality better
Buster was the hardest to name but he responds to Buster IF you whisper it over and over.
Dexter thinks his name is either Pookie or Cute. He sometimes thinks it is also Turkey.
Aleister - well, he's got kitten ADD and who knows what he listens to. His other names are Monster, Monstro, Mr. Plume, Little Guy, Skittle Toes and whatever comes to mind.

Did you have a name in mind fo Snickers?

[Kevy Baby]

But how do you know if the cat likes champagne?

[alphabassettgrrl]

Congrats on your new addition! As far as renaming a pet, we've done that once. Our first dog was Marge who came named. Next was Ottis, who also came with his name and he knows it. Next was Penelope, who was a junkyard dog and nobody knew her name. The people at Basset Rescue were calling her Patty but that really didn't seem to fit her. So P was renamed. She didn't seem to mind and responds to her name.

I'm of the opinion that cats have their own names and may not care what we call them. Sometimes they deign to respond to us. Your new baby sounds adorable! I'd live with his name for a day or two and see how it goes. If it's not right then see what seems more right.

[Gn2Dlnd]

My cat had been named, by the crackheads who abandoned her, Smokey. I didn't care for the connotation, so I renamed her Sophie. I assumed that if she responded to Smokey, Sophie had enough of the same sound to be ok. And it was. Go for a name with the same hard consonants and number of syllables as Snickers and you shouldn't have any problems. Stinker, Crackers, Snicket, Wicker, Flicker, Tracker, Cricket, Mickey, Pancake.

I like Pancake.

[CoasterMatt]

Our kitty Johnny used to be named Perry.
He still likes hard liquor and unfiltered cigarettes, but he responds to his newer name on occasion.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Munchkin gets a new name seemingly every day.

[Strangler Lewis]

We renamed both our cats because we didn't like their pound names. We had the breeder change our dog's name from Max to Moxie during "training" because there's a boy on our street named Max. Zelda rabbit kept her shelter name, because it seemed apt.

[Tref]

I suppose you can try, but the taxonomy of it may be a bit tricky -- they have been called cats for quite some time now.

[Morrigoon]

Shouldn't be any problem renaming. It'll probably only take a few days to catch on to the new name. Hell, when my mom was adopted (back in the 40's), they made parents change KIDS' names (yes, the first name too). So I think a cat can handle it, inasmuch as they give a damn what you call them, as long as you feed them and change their litter.

Remember, cats don't have owners... they have staff.

How about Mongo?

[Strangler Lewis]

Indeed, Gerald Ford was born Leslie King.

[JWBear]

Remember, cats don't have owners... they have staff.

LOL!

[tracilicious]

Well, Indi is pretty adamant against a name change, so I guess that's out anyways. Although, he calls him nippers, knickers, sneakers, snippers, etc., so I guess any of those are ok. :p If he was a girl, I'd call him Miss Norris.

We put the dogs out tonight to bring him down to show my sister, and Snickers and Karma saw each other through the glass door. Snickers looked angry and Karma looked intrigued, but neither looked vicious, so I think there is hope.

Today when we got home from the zoo, I looked all over my room and bathroom and couldn't find Snickers anywhere. I finally found him curled up by the toilet in between the wall and the trash can. Nutty cat. Earlier he found a nice spot to sleep on my closet shelf. I've missed cats.

Still working on the pics!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Today when we got home from the zoo, I looked all over my room and bathroom and couldn't find Snickers anywhere. I finally found him curled up by the toilet in between the wall and the trash can. Nutty cat. Our bunny loves that spot and seeks it out whenever we leave the bathroom door open. Munchkin loves the cold, even on cold nights. Too much fuzz! I'd figure a big cat probably produces a lot of heat as well.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Today when we got home from the zoo, I looked all over my room and bathroom and couldn't find Snickers anywhere. I finally found him curled up by the toilet in between the wall and the trash can.

My cat sits there when she can get in my bathroom. She doesn't do it in the front bathroom, only in mine.

[RStar]

But how do you know if the cat likes champagne?
If he licks it off himself! At least mine did!! :eek: :D ;)

I'm with Alex. If you tell a cat:

"Come here Snickers, it's time for dinner!"

The cat wil hear:

"Bla bla bla, bla bla bla bla!"

They respond more to tone and body language than anything and will get use to any name you call it. It's also probably much easier when a new family uses a new name than the same people who were calling it one thing for two years and then changed it.

I put my cats out into the enclosed patio every night. I announce "Out" in a loud demanding voice. The cats get up and go directly out onto the patio, or to the door if it is closed and wait to go out. I bet that if I did the same thing only saying "In", I'd get the same reaction. And some nights they know it's time and will just go out withought me saying anything.

The point is, the pet is for your enjoyment. Name it what you want. I don't think it will be tramatized or anything by the change.

[Kevy Baby]

Indeed, Gerald Ford was born Leslie King.John Wayne was born Marion Morrison

[Tref]

John Wayne was born Marion Morrison

How did he do that?

[Kevy Baby]

How did he do that?Quantum physics

[Morrigoon]

We put the dogs out tonight to bring him down to show my sister, and Snickers and Karma saw each other through the glass door. Snickers looked angry and Karma looked intrigued, but neither looked vicious, so I think there is hope.

OMG... your dog's name is Karma? I have the PERFECT name for your cat: Dogma!

[Snowflake]

I renamed both of mine, but they were very young and probably had no clue they had been named in the first place. Tango does respond to her name, but she also responds to brat cat and follows me when I call her. So I tend to think in many instances it is the tone of my voice rather than what I'm saying. Like that old Far Side cartoon, "What you say and what dogs (cats) hear" "Stop that bad Ginger!" "Blah blah blah Ginger"

Congrats on the new addition to the family!

[Drince88]

I had two Maine Coons - I got them when they were 10 - they lived to almost 20 and 21. They tend to be fairly healthy/long lived breeds, so don't be surprised!

My current cat (Jaxie, in my avatar) came to me at 7 or 8 - and I'm thankful for the shorter hair (though I think he has more hair follicles then the other two!)

I didn't rename any of them, though.

[lashbear]

I think he should be called "Algernon Bimo MCG Trevor Jolimont Thurston Howell the Third".

[tracilicious]

Hee, I'll keep that in mind lashie. :p

Still working up to introducing him to the dogs. We're going to get out our big dog crate and crate one dog at a time while the others are outside and let the cat loose. That way we can watch for any posturing or aggression and let them get used to each other safely. When they all seem unimpressed with each other we'll do the face to face. This could be a long process...

[Alex]

I'm sure it isn't recommended by modern pet advisors but whenever we added a new animal in just got thrown into the mix and eventually a new order was worked out.

We never had a dog that didn't end up dominated by whatever cats lived around the house.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Introducing my cat to the dogs went more smoothly than I expected. They chased her, she ran, and she took a few experimental swipes at dog noses. Six years later (now) she's playing with the dog like another dog. The cat chased the dog down the hallway yesterday and she bites the dog's ears, not to mention sleeping on the dog's pillow with her.

May your introductions go smoothly.

[RStar]

I'm sure it isn't recommended by modern pet advisors but whenever we added a new animal in just got thrown into the mix and eventually a new order was worked out.Even the opposum and squirl? ;)

[alphabassettgrrl]

Oooh, I want a possum for a pet! I think they're illegal though so I may have to settle for a skunk. Haven't heard anything about squirrels as pets.

[tracilicious]

I'm sure it isn't recommended by modern pet advisors but whenever we added a new animal in just got thrown into the mix and eventually a new order was worked out.

We never had a dog that didn't end up dominated by whatever cats lived around the house.

Well, we didn't do this on purpose, but it happened anyways. We let the cat be in the same room as the Sheltie and the Sheltie was pretty scared of Snickers. Then later this evening Indi opened the door to the cats room and he bolted out into the room where Karma (the dane that I was concerned about) was. Turns out, Karma was pretty scared of Snickers too. They are looking at each other right now. At least they won't eat each other.

[RStar]

Oooh, I want a possum for a pet! I think they're illegal though so I may have to settle for a skunk. Haven't heard anything about squirrels as pets.
I had a pair of Racoons as pets, a male and female named Rocky and Roxanne. I always wanted a chipmunk as a pet.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I had a pair of Racoons as pets, a male and female named Rocky and Roxanne. I always wanted a chipmunk as a pet.

Ooooh, raccoons are so cute! Those little hands, and that mask!

[CoasterMatt]

I want a new duck...

[Gemini Cricket]

I'm thinking you can rename a cat. I mean a couple of Lisa's cats have several names and seem to respond to all of them and the ones she adopted must have had other names before meeting Lisa...

[wendybeth]

All I know is, when I call 'Samwise', Boris doesn't come running. Neither does Haggis, or any of our dogs. Truthfully, Sam doesn't come running either, but he does give me a disdainful glare, so I know he knows I'm talking to him.




Boy, is he gonna be pissed when I take down the tree tomorrow.:rolleyes:

[Prudence]

Boris knows when I'm talking about him. He also knows when I'm talking about Sasha, which annoys him, because I should be talking about him. Sasha is about as sharp as a bag of wet mice, so she just hears the blah blah blah ginger. Her name you could easily change. Boris - maybe not. He's had that name for his whole life, since I named him before he was born and his first set of caretakers always called him that for me.

[RStar]

Oh, and I tried it yesterday! When I was putting out the cats, rather than "OUT!", and demanded "IN!" and they still went out! It's not what you say, necessarily, it's how you say it.....

[€uroMeinke]

Oh, and I tried it yesterday! When I was putting out the cats, rather than "OUT!", and demanded "IN!" and they still went out! It's not what you say, necessarily, it's how you say it.....

In which case, they follow a tonal language - perhaps we should be speaking Chinese to our cats?

[CoasterMatt]

Cat Stevens changed his name, so I suppose that settles it :)

[Kevy Baby]

I want a new duck...Didn't Huey Lewis do a song about that?

I'm thinking you can rename a cat. I mean a couple of Lisa's cats have several names and seem to respond to all of them and the ones she adopted must have had other names before meeting Lisa...I'm thinking it doesn't matter if you rename a cat. They will ignore you regardless of what yoiu call them.

[Kevy Baby]

Cat Stevens changed his name, so I suppose that settles it :)Damn: I can't mojo you for this and it definitely deserves it!

[Jughead P. Jones]

We did...kind of. And, I can thank my niece for his name change.

Okay...here's the story. Our cat came prowling around our back porch one crisp day in November 1998. He essentially adopted us, and years later, he's still with us.

After trying to come up with a name, we settled on the highly original "Tom". And, when we introduced my niece (who was 2 years old at the time) to him, she kept calling him "Ol' Thum". The reason why is that she knocked out her front teeth a couple of weeks earlier in a playground accident, and until her permanents came in, she talked with a lisp.

The name stuck, and Tom became "Ol' Thum".