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! )

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! 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.

[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.

Originally Posted by tracilicious

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 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?