The naming of cats is a serious matter
November 27, 2011 4:32 PM Subscribe
Help-me-name-my-cats filter! Two freshly adopted kitties need names. Details and mandatory pictures inside. (Bonus: videos!)
We adopted two cats from Chicago Animal Control yesterday.
Littlecat is four months old. He was brought in byheartless bastards his former owners along with his brother, who was adopted before we met him. Littlecat is chock full of energy, loves to explore, adores chasing things, climbs everything and gets into everywhere. He is very talkative and likes to cuddle in the short periods of time during which he is holding still.
Orangecat is an eight-month-old fella. He and Littlecat seem to have established yesterday that Orangecat is the boss. He's far more interested in watching Littlecat play and waiting for the right moment to pounce on him than in playing himself, though he can sometimes be tempted. He was brought to the shelter as a stray, and is much more timid & shy than Littlecat, but is incredibly affectionate. Every time I lay on the couch, he's there with me purring up a storm. He fractured his left foot's metatarsals at some point, and walks with a limp that may or may not ever go away.
For now we're calling them Mushu and Bailey to keep them from being doomed by their shelter names, Braxton and Tang, but those are not their real names. What are?
We adopted two cats from Chicago Animal Control yesterday.
Littlecat is four months old. He was brought in by
Orangecat is an eight-month-old fella. He and Littlecat seem to have established yesterday that Orangecat is the boss. He's far more interested in watching Littlecat play and waiting for the right moment to pounce on him than in playing himself, though he can sometimes be tempted. He was brought to the shelter as a stray, and is much more timid & shy than Littlecat, but is incredibly affectionate. Every time I lay on the couch, he's there with me purring up a storm. He fractured his left foot's metatarsals at some point, and walks with a limp that may or may not ever go away.
For now we're calling them Mushu and Bailey to keep them from being doomed by their shelter names, Braxton and Tang, but those are not their real names. What are?
I don't know why, but Orangecat? He looks like a George to me.
posted by easily confused at 4:45 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by easily confused at 4:45 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
When I saw pics of the little guy, "Sanchez" popped into my head. And for the orange guy, "Mouse".
posted by oceanview at 4:45 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by oceanview at 4:45 PM on November 27, 2011
Cabbage and Sprouts
The Right Reverend Erik Pendergast and Colonel Mortimer Turnbuckle
Strangeness and Charm
Vlad and Abraham
Ingolf and Einar
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:48 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Right Reverend Erik Pendergast and Colonel Mortimer Turnbuckle
Strangeness and Charm
Vlad and Abraham
Ingolf and Einar
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:48 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Also using the "popped into my head when I saw the picture" method - the little one is Sammy, orange one is Chester. I have no idea why.
posted by MexicanYenta at 4:54 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by MexicanYenta at 4:54 PM on November 27, 2011
Why not call them "Littlecat" and "Orangecat"?
posted by katypickle at 4:55 PM on November 27, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by katypickle at 4:55 PM on November 27, 2011 [5 favorites]
MexicanYenta: the first name that popped into my head when i saw the orange guy was "Chester" too! But I usually don't like human names for animals, so i gave it another roll.
Kitarra...i think you have a Chester on your hands.
posted by oceanview at 4:58 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Kitarra...i think you have a Chester on your hands.
posted by oceanview at 4:58 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Mu Shu is the name of the cat in my profile picture. Her middle name is Kitty. So obviously I support keeping Mu Shu. Have you thought about continuing with the Chinese food theme, like maybe Mu Shu and Sesame (for the orange one, maybe)? I have always felt that Chinese food names are appropriate for rescues. Keeps 'em humble.
Anyway, congratulations on the new additions to your family! May you have many happy years together!
posted by Maisie at 5:00 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Anyway, congratulations on the new additions to your family! May you have many happy years together!
posted by Maisie at 5:00 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fry and Laurie.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 5:00 PM on November 27, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by obiwanwasabi at 5:00 PM on November 27, 2011 [6 favorites]
Hacky Sack and Finn. I had a Hacky Sack that looked just like littlecat. The name suited him well.
posted by cairnoflore at 5:01 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by cairnoflore at 5:01 PM on November 27, 2011
Mercury (LittleCat) and Jupiter (OrangeCat)
Quentin (LittleCat) and Orson (OrangeCat); I just like the thought of Orson Welles pouncing on Quentin Tarantino...
JoeBuck (LittleCat) and Ratso (OrangeCat) - I think Ratso had a limp!
posted by Currer Belfry at 5:05 PM on November 27, 2011
Quentin (LittleCat) and Orson (OrangeCat); I just like the thought of Orson Welles pouncing on Quentin Tarantino...
JoeBuck (LittleCat) and Ratso (OrangeCat) - I think Ratso had a limp!
posted by Currer Belfry at 5:05 PM on November 27, 2011
Rutherford is an excellent cat name that I wanted to use if I had adopted a boy cat. You can have it free of charge.
posted by lollusc at 5:05 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by lollusc at 5:05 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
Bond (action cat!) and M (boss cat)
posted by rmd1023 at 5:06 PM on November 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 5:06 PM on November 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
As the human of cats named Bonnie and Clyde, and previously a dog/cat combo named Sundance and Cassidy, I'm partial to naming cats after criminals. So, how about:
Leopold and Loeb
Sundance and Cassidy
Frank and Jesse [James]
Nixon and Haldeman
Mickey and Mallory ["Natural Born Killers"]
Clarence and Alabama ["True Romance"]
Holmes and Watson [though the opposite of criminals]
posted by beagle at 5:07 PM on November 27, 2011
Leopold and Loeb
Sundance and Cassidy
Frank and Jesse [James]
Nixon and Haldeman
Mickey and Mallory ["Natural Born Killers"]
Clarence and Alabama ["True Romance"]
Holmes and Watson [though the opposite of criminals]
posted by beagle at 5:07 PM on November 27, 2011
In honor of Office Space, Chili (orange cat) and Flinger (active cat).
posted by yoga at 5:10 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by yoga at 5:10 PM on November 27, 2011
Looks like Thunder (everywhere all at once) and Lightning (waiting for the perfect strike) to me!
posted by BlooPen at 5:16 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by BlooPen at 5:16 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
I tend to think all orange cats should be named Oliver, for what it's worth. To keep the Dickens theme going, I guess that would make action cat Dodger.
posted by _cave at 5:18 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by _cave at 5:18 PM on November 27, 2011
When looking at Littlecat, the first name to jump to mind is Chi.
Orangecat looks like a Woody, or since he has the limp, Hinky.
posted by Nackt at 5:19 PM on November 27, 2011
Orangecat looks like a Woody, or since he has the limp, Hinky.
posted by Nackt at 5:19 PM on November 27, 2011
I like the previous idea of Holmes and Watson.
Buster and Cogsworth
Padfoot and Moony (Hey! The personalities sorta fit!)
Yay! Kitties!
posted by Emms at 5:31 PM on November 27, 2011
Buster and Cogsworth
Padfoot and Moony (Hey! The personalities sorta fit!)
Yay! Kitties!
posted by Emms at 5:31 PM on November 27, 2011
Orangecat looks like a former (late) cat of mine, who got called, variously:
- Pokeynose
- Chuckletrousers
- Spotticus Catticus
- Spot
posted by dbmcd at 5:46 PM on November 27, 2011
- Pokeynose
- Chuckletrousers
- Spotticus Catticus
- Spot
posted by dbmcd at 5:46 PM on November 27, 2011
Both are absolutely gorgeous. Littlecat looks so much like my favorite pet cat, Puck or Mr. Puck when he got older. Littlecat is not only the same dark black/gray tiger but also seems to have the same mischievous streak and twinkle in his eye.
So Puck and Oberon?
posted by kaybdc at 5:49 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
So Puck and Oberon?
posted by kaybdc at 5:49 PM on November 27, 2011 [1 favorite]
ADORABLE. Your god loves you for caring for these little guys!
Your kitties look almost just like our kitties when we brought them home, except our "Littlecat" is a girl, they are about the same age, and she's a tuxedo. Our Orangecat (also named "Orangecat" for a few days) was established as the dominant one, but I think both are aware by now that "Littlecat" is faster and smarter. She still pays Orangecat due respect, but I think they both know.
We named our Orangecat and Littlecat, Udu and Bouka, respectively, after indigenous handdrums. (Bouka is short for darbouka.)
So maybe draw cute names from things you enjoy. (For us there is an endless list of neat-named percussion instruments.)
Go ahead and try the names out for a while. Make sure you can cutify them ("Boukabearsies!") cuz you will want to. My mother is convinced cats prefer names with an "s" or and "z" in them.
Good luck!
posted by Jezebella at 6:25 PM on November 27, 2011
Your kitties look almost just like our kitties when we brought them home, except our "Littlecat" is a girl, they are about the same age, and she's a tuxedo. Our Orangecat (also named "Orangecat" for a few days) was established as the dominant one, but I think both are aware by now that "Littlecat" is faster and smarter. She still pays Orangecat due respect, but I think they both know.
We named our Orangecat and Littlecat, Udu and Bouka, respectively, after indigenous handdrums. (Bouka is short for darbouka.)
So maybe draw cute names from things you enjoy. (For us there is an endless list of neat-named percussion instruments.)
Go ahead and try the names out for a while. Make sure you can cutify them ("Boukabearsies!") cuz you will want to. My mother is convinced cats prefer names with an "s" or and "z" in them.
Good luck!
posted by Jezebella at 6:25 PM on November 27, 2011
From Ms. Vegetable: should you be a math dork, sine and cosine, tan and arctan, x and y, polar and euclid, etc.
Or not. I like Joey for the orange one.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 6:47 PM on November 27, 2011
Or not. I like Joey for the orange one.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 6:47 PM on November 27, 2011
For duo names:
Calvin and Hobbes
Laurel and Hardy
Orville and Wilbur
Ex Presidents:
Garfield
Franklin
Lincoln
Arthur
Hoover
Harding
Eisenhower
Kennedy
etc...
I also like old man names in general:
Leopold
Alfred
Oliver
Frederick
Eugene
Mortimer
Theodore
Henry
posted by erstwhile at 6:51 PM on November 27, 2011
Calvin and Hobbes
Laurel and Hardy
Orville and Wilbur
Ex Presidents:
Garfield
Franklin
Lincoln
Arthur
Hoover
Harding
Eisenhower
Kennedy
etc...
I also like old man names in general:
Leopold
Alfred
Oliver
Frederick
Eugene
Mortimer
Theodore
Henry
posted by erstwhile at 6:51 PM on November 27, 2011
I named my cat duo Sacco & Vanzetti. Cats are definitely anarchists, and these two in particular are guilty as hell.
posted by Hlewagast at 7:05 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by Hlewagast at 7:05 PM on November 27, 2011
Littlecat is either Littlecat or Weedle (like weeds which are everywhere) and Orangecat is either Orangecat, Lurk, or Lurker. Great cats.
posted by firstdrop at 7:17 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by firstdrop at 7:17 PM on November 27, 2011
For the past few months I have been saying that Mooshu and Egg Roll are the best names for a pair of cats, and now I see you're already calling one of them Mushu, so this seems like fate.
posted by enlarged to show texture at 7:19 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by enlarged to show texture at 7:19 PM on November 27, 2011
Trouble and Clementine. (Orangecat is a cat, and therefore will not be traumatized if he gets a girl's name.)
posted by elizeh at 7:38 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by elizeh at 7:38 PM on November 27, 2011
Littlecat is Turkey and Orangecat is Chicken
posted by Juicy Avenger at 8:01 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by Juicy Avenger at 8:01 PM on November 27, 2011
If nothing else, you've set a standard for images in pet-related posts. All who follow will struggle mightily to reach this height.
Little cat = Manny and orange cat = Floyd.
Why? They're cool names individually and together; Manny Pacquiao is an elite, extremely active boxer; and Floyd Mayweather is at least equally good in the ring, much more inclined to watch, wait and strike at the right moment. (And your friends will be amazed and astonished.)
posted by ambient2 at 8:16 PM on November 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
Little cat = Manny and orange cat = Floyd.
Why? They're cool names individually and together; Manny Pacquiao is an elite, extremely active boxer; and Floyd Mayweather is at least equally good in the ring, much more inclined to watch, wait and strike at the right moment. (And your friends will be amazed and astonished.)
posted by ambient2 at 8:16 PM on November 27, 2011 [2 favorites]
Little cat = Scamper (or scamp for short, if he stays lil (relatively speaking) shrimp scampi is cute)
Orange cat = Buster
posted by estronaut at 8:31 PM on November 27, 2011
Orange cat = Buster
posted by estronaut at 8:31 PM on November 27, 2011
Orangecat looks just like my sister's cat, who is named Archie.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:34 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by SisterHavana at 8:34 PM on November 27, 2011
Still thinking about a name for Littlecat but I like Tamerlane for Orangecat.
posted by atropos at 8:50 PM on November 27, 2011
posted by atropos at 8:50 PM on November 27, 2011
ralph and ed. harry and ron. anatole and gaston. mario and luigi. sheldon and leonard. rocko and heifer. dagget and norbert. jake and elwood. lenny and squiggy. (bf suggest larry and balki.) chuck and morgan. joey and dee dee.
posted by koroshiya at 12:16 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by koroshiya at 12:16 AM on November 28, 2011
For little cat, I like Kevin.
For orange cat I like Baker, as in Baker street or Sherlock!
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 12:23 AM on November 28, 2011
For orange cat I like Baker, as in Baker street or Sherlock!
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 12:23 AM on November 28, 2011
I agree that Orangecat should be Chester. Maybe Marshall for Littlecat.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 12:36 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by a humble nudibranch at 12:36 AM on November 28, 2011
Little monkey and Fox
posted by monocultured at 1:19 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by monocultured at 1:19 AM on November 28, 2011
Littlecat has a white horizontal stripe across his face?
posted by corvine at 9:48 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by corvine at 9:48 AM on November 28, 2011
A friend of ours named her 2 Bengals Biggs and Wedge, so there's another geek duo for you :)
posted by lonefrontranger at 10:30 AM on November 28, 2011
posted by lonefrontranger at 10:30 AM on November 28, 2011
Best answer: Thank you, everyone! So many great suggestions. I love Mefites.
Littlecat shall be known herewith as Mushu* Don Piano.**
Orangecat's daily name is now Ollie, short for Oliver, with other name(s) likely forthcoming as he makes them known.
My husband is a gem of a being for tolerating my quest for the perfect name, as are you all, and the cats in question who have each had about 50 names in the past 48 hours.
* Spelling up for contention but ultimately unimportant because our written word is but a feeble shadow of Cat
** Source
posted by kitarra at 2:09 PM on November 28, 2011
Littlecat shall be known herewith as Mushu* Don Piano.**
Orangecat's daily name is now Ollie, short for Oliver, with other name(s) likely forthcoming as he makes them known.
My husband is a gem of a being for tolerating my quest for the perfect name, as are you all, and the cats in question who have each had about 50 names in the past 48 hours.
* Spelling up for contention but ultimately unimportant because our written word is but a feeble shadow of Cat
** Source
posted by kitarra at 2:09 PM on November 28, 2011
kitarra, Mushu Don Piano is truly an inspired name. Well done!
posted by sweetkid at 6:57 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by sweetkid at 6:57 PM on November 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Their surnames should be McPurrpants.
Yes, this is obvious.
posted by sweetkid at 6:26 PM on December 1, 2011
Yes, this is obvious.
posted by sweetkid at 6:26 PM on December 1, 2011
I'm oh so belated, but I also know I already think of them as the "McPurrpants". Mushu and Ollie, c'mon you know them! It's Mushu, and Ollie. McPpurrpants. Oh yeah, I do know them, we all do.
posted by CarolineR at 11:33 PM on January 21, 2012
posted by CarolineR at 11:33 PM on January 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Thor and Anubis.
Niles and Percy.
Jack and Sawyer.
Simon and Fergus.
Charlie and Linus.
Jasper and Zephyr.
Puck and Bertram.
Scout and Kilgore Trout.
Jaques and Claudius.
Angus and Ferdinand.
Pretzel and Strudel.
Congratulations on your kitties!
posted by Ostara at 4:43 PM on November 27, 2011 [2 favorites]