Yet another cat naming question...
November 9, 2013 3:22 PM   Subscribe

My roommate and I have just adopted this cat, an 8 year old male, and are hoping to get ideas on what to rename him. He's currently known as Fantik (apparently this means candy wrapper in Russian), and comes from a previous household where they couldn't keep him because of allergies.

He's a Maine Coon mix, and is sweet and silly. He's huge, as in really muscular and long, but has the funniest tiny meow/trill. So far, he's been adapting well to our home and our other cat George.

We kind of like people names for our cats, and so far, have been thinking of Frederic and Franklin as options. But they don't quite fit this cat. And really, any names you suggest don't have to start with F. Besides, I don't think the cat cares what he's called.

So, I'm looking forward to what the hivemind can come with. I'm excited to see all of your answers! Thanks in advance!
posted by MelanieL to Pets & Animals (42 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
He looks very handsome and sorta hippy. Arlo maybe?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 3:24 PM on November 9, 2013


Lester? Clarence? Although I do like Frederic....
posted by easily confused at 3:26 PM on November 9, 2013


Best answer: Congratulations on your new kitty, Maine coons are wonderful cats!

I actually quite like Fantik, but if he's goofy, maybe Fargo? Fabian? Faisal? Jimmy Fallon? Faustus (not silly, but certainly cat-appropriate)? Federico? Finnegan?
posted by WidgetAlley at 3:27 PM on November 9, 2013


He looks very handsome and sorta hippy. Arlo maybe?

In the same spirit: Woody.

Awwww. Congratulations!
posted by MonkeyToes at 3:34 PM on November 9, 2013


Feodor.
posted by jaguar at 3:36 PM on November 9, 2013


The first picture makes him look like he has a big nose...he's the color of tweed...he's got a refined little mew...so I keep trying to go with names inspired by Stephen Fry. But there ain't much:

Jeeves
Stephen
Fry (which could also be a FUTURAMA tie in)
Melchett

Alas, the rest of Fry's filmography has names that'd suck for a cat. But that guy just looks like Stephen Fry in cat form somehow.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:47 PM on November 9, 2013


big cat with a tiny little trill?

Tyson.
posted by srboisvert at 3:48 PM on November 9, 2013 [6 favorites]


Francis or Fergus. Although I'm also partial to Fred.
posted by eponym at 3:48 PM on November 9, 2013


Floyd, because he's a pretty boy! (After a shelter cat I wanted very badly, but was unable to adopt.)

Seriously, that face. You are lucky people.
posted by caryatid at 3:49 PM on November 9, 2013


Looks like a Wally to me. :D
posted by Glinn at 3:50 PM on November 9, 2013


There's always Felix.
posted by mlle valentine at 3:56 PM on November 9, 2013


Albert, for Einstein. It's in the hair.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:13 PM on November 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


All previous answers are incorrect. This cat's name is Winston.
posted by dmd at 4:15 PM on November 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


Because both Arlo and Woody have come up ... Guthrie.

What a cutie!
posted by bunderful at 4:19 PM on November 9, 2013


Gandalf the Grey.
posted by annsunny at 4:20 PM on November 9, 2013


That's an Oscar right there. Good find.
posted by Naberius at 4:25 PM on November 9, 2013


Another vote for Oscar.

Alternately, Mr. Arnicae suggests Murray.
posted by arnicae at 4:34 PM on November 9, 2013


Congrats! That first picture especially is yummy. The big eyes are making me think of Puss in Boots from Shrek, so I'm offering Antonio.
posted by billiebee at 4:34 PM on November 9, 2013


He looks Fantoosh to me (which is Scots for fancy/showy, as well as being fun to say).
posted by penguin pie at 4:43 PM on November 9, 2013


do eight y.o. cats experience confusion when their name is suddenly changed? in addressing a cat, aren't the two purposes of a name 1) to get it to come to you when you want, and 2) to get it to jump off something it shouldn't be on, like your kitchen counter? would either of these purposes be advanced if you suddenly started calling it something completely different, and how fast is the learning curve in an older kitty brain?

i got my last cat at the same age from a woman who wanted to be "freer to travel"; she was madeline for her first eight years, and for her next six years after that. my new kitty, about five months now, is a solid black margie, also with a tiny squeaky trill, but a strong purr.

love maine coons. fantik is a perfectly cromulent name, i suppose you could call it fanny.
posted by bruce at 4:49 PM on November 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


He told me his name is Harvey.
posted by bluesky78987 at 5:05 PM on November 9, 2013


Here is a list of Maine Place Names for your Maine Coon. I like Kittery, Eustis, Palermo and Wayne.
posted by Ostara at 5:28 PM on November 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


do eight y.o. cats experience confusion when their name is suddenly changed?

We got Max at age 5.5. In his other life, his name was "Fatty". He has adjusted to Max with seeming equanimity and certainly realizes this is his name (he looks up when we call him by name rather than using our other cat's name).
posted by arnicae at 5:32 PM on November 9, 2013


FIELD MARSHAL TRILBETSKOY.
posted by herrdoktor at 6:06 PM on November 9, 2013 [2 favorites]


Clive. Or Nigel.
posted by That's Numberwang! at 6:08 PM on November 9, 2013


Congratulations on your new cat. Maine Coons are fantastic -- they're smart, they're funny, they're very friendly and sociable. You've got yourself a good pal there.

I think his name is Bennett.
posted by stennieville at 6:21 PM on November 9, 2013


There's a very pronounced M on his forehead, so I'm certain that's the first letter of his name. You might have yourselves a Maxwell.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:38 PM on November 9, 2013


What a handsome guy! He looks like a wizard, so "Gandalf" is the obvious choice. Or "Merlin."

But I'm also getting the super chill vibe. How about "Marley" (as in Bob)
posted by St. Peepsburg at 6:41 PM on November 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


disagree with tanizaki's suggestion, we must consider the possibility of dyslexic people reading that.
posted by bruce at 6:48 PM on November 9, 2013 [1 favorite]


Oliver
Gunner
Paddywagon
Pywacket - meaning explained by the Kabalarin Society
posted by JujuB at 7:00 PM on November 9, 2013


Very handsome! He looks like a Simon to me.
posted by dtp at 9:03 PM on November 9, 2013


My split second reaction said 'Melon'
posted by greta simone at 10:06 PM on November 9, 2013


Merle
posted by dbiedny at 11:44 PM on November 9, 2013


The baleful look he has in that first picture makes me want to call him Eeyore and snuggle with him every minute of every day.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 11:57 PM on November 9, 2013


He's adorable! I want to irritate him so much with a bunch of head kisses.

I actually like Fantik, but how about:

Sasha
Kolya
Kostya
Misha
posted by rue72 at 12:34 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


Mogwai. He has an 'M' on his head. And he is a moggie. And Mogwai are cool.
posted by Decani at 4:35 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


His name is probably Murphy.

Be sure to brush that lovely long hair every day!
posted by brina at 7:33 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]


I was the love slave of a Maine Coon for seven years. As big as their bodies are, they're no match for the size of their personalities.

He looks like a Frankie to me.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:43 AM on November 10, 2013


I heard "Melchior" in my head.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 1:05 PM on November 10, 2013


Another vote for Fergus. I also think he looks like a Manus or Abelard.
posted by bayleaf at 4:08 PM on November 10, 2013


Response by poster: Thanks for your answers, everyone!

We've decided on Finnegan finally. We really enjoyed reading through your ideas, and had a hard time deciding on just the right name for our new cat. He's settling in so well -- it's only been a week and he's making himself right at home already, with lots of purrs and cuddles.
posted by MelanieL at 9:05 PM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]


Yay! He is such a cutie-pie. I think I speak for everyone when I say, please give him many scritchies with love from Mefi.
posted by WidgetAlley at 1:04 PM on November 12, 2013


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