I think we could all use another round of "Name That Cat"!

December 3, 2016 1:04 PM

A lovely new cat has joined my home, and I need help naming her!

I adopted this sweet girl today! She's a rescue kitty, about 4 years old, rather rotund, and is taking her time exploring her new home. According to the folks at the shelter, she's a real snuggler once she gets to know "her people". Her fur is incredibly soft, and her meows are very tiny and adorable.
Her shelter name was Ruthie, but I'm not convinced that's her real name. Suggestions, please!
I generally enjoy giving pets "people names", but other suggestions are welcome. Literary references are a bonus, but not required.

posted by bookmammal to Pets & Animals (46 answers total)

Mod note: Fixed link, a few comments deleted, carry on.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:19 PM on December 3, 2016

Fiona.
posted by deezil at 1:19 PM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Felicity. (Fiona is also good.)
posted by lazuli at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2016

Tabitha. Babs for short.
posted by Hermione Granger at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2016

Lisa
posted by wotsac at 1:21 PM on December 3, 2016

Isabella
posted by TORunner at 1:23 PM on December 3, 2016

She's looking skeptical. I'll say Cassandra.
posted by BostonTerrier at 1:28 PM on December 3, 2016 [7 favorites]

Betty.
posted by BlahLaLa at 1:34 PM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

I was thinking Sandra, so I'll add a vote to BostonTerrier's suggestion of Cassandra (more literary that way).
posted by bananacabana at 1:36 PM on December 3, 2016

She seems like a Diane, but I don't know why.
posted by jbenben at 1:36 PM on December 3, 2016 [2 favorites]

she looks like she'll hide stuff and has secrets. so Stash.
posted by speakeasy at 1:46 PM on December 3, 2016 [2 favorites]

Clementine
posted by ainsley at 1:46 PM on December 3, 2016 [2 favorites]

Linda.
posted by janey47 at 1:48 PM on December 3, 2016

Charlie.
posted by eponym at 1:51 PM on December 3, 2016

Abby
Clover
Pippi
Tiggy
Amy
posted by FirstMateKate at 1:54 PM on December 3, 2016

Esme
posted by fingersandtoes at 1:55 PM on December 3, 2016

Best answer: Phoebe! Sweet girl, good Phoebe.
posted by soakimbo at 2:09 PM on December 3, 2016

Anne, as in Anne of Green Gables, because she's an adoptee.
posted by bunderful at 2:10 PM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Norma or Millie.
posted by Medieval Maven at 2:12 PM on December 3, 2016

Petunia. Tuney for short.
posted by Sassyfras at 2:19 PM on December 3, 2016

She looks like a Regina to me!
posted by ukdanae at 2:31 PM on December 3, 2016

Nisana
posted by Altomentis at 2:38 PM on December 3, 2016

Zadie
posted by argonauta at 2:50 PM on December 3, 2016

Mary Vance
Gertrude
Gilda
posted by epj at 2:56 PM on December 3, 2016

Melody
Lulu
posted by janepanic at 3:24 PM on December 3, 2016

Baby Ruth, Ruthie, baby girl, sweetheart... how does she answer when you call? Does this work with your last name? Such a lovely sugar and pepper girl, such lovely tawny amber eyes. Happy larger family!
posted by TrishaU at 3:39 PM on December 3, 2016

She looks like a Penelope or Gertrude to me.

Arachne would be pretty neat too.
posted by Slinga at 3:42 PM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Miranda
posted by It'sANewDawn at 3:49 PM on December 3, 2016

Ok that cat is Mckayla Maroney with that sideways smirk going on. Link to appropriate pop culture reference from 4 years ago.
posted by Suffocating Kitty at 4:06 PM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Martha or Lucy
posted by AFABulous at 4:34 PM on December 3, 2016

Molly!
posted by heatherlogan at 6:10 PM on December 3, 2016

Juniper? Eliza? Moll? Flora? Lorelei?
posted by SA456 at 6:41 PM on December 3, 2016

Ethel
posted by lois1950 at 6:42 PM on December 3, 2016

I see Olive (Olivia?). Maybe Sonja or Darcy.

This is my favorite game!
posted by meemzi at 6:53 PM on December 3, 2016

Beatrice. Trixie when she's sassy.
posted by JuliaIglesias at 7:12 PM on December 3, 2016

Anastasia, Dulcinea, Winifred, Carlotta, Ginevra.

She's adorable, congratulations!
posted by bile and syntax at 8:02 PM on December 3, 2016

Garbo (as in Greta). Not sure why but that was immediately what came to me seeing the picture.
posted by rmless at 8:33 PM on December 3, 2016

Patches
posted by cotton dress sock at 9:23 PM on December 3, 2016

Mae
posted by hortense at 9:39 PM on December 3, 2016

Patience. Or Prunella.
posted by Frowner at 9:52 PM on December 3, 2016

Harriet!
posted by Tiny Bungalow at 10:03 PM on December 3, 2016

Mabel
posted by LilithSilver at 11:22 PM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

Jojo, short for Josephine!
posted by missmary6 at 11:37 PM on December 3, 2016

I like genderbending, so my suggestion is Wayne.
posted by spinifex23 at 11:59 PM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

She looks, to me, like she's wearing a hat.
Bonnet
Chapeau
Doc (because it looks like a surgical cap)
Frauline/Frau Doktor
Michelle (for the one who played Catwoman)
Shapka (hat in Russian)
Babushka
Derby (pronounced Darby)
posted by BoscosMom at 9:59 AM on December 4, 2016

Response by poster: THANK YOU ALL for these wonderful suggestions! I feel like I should mark everyone's answer as a favorite because I considered each one of them. Several were names I already had on my list--and one suggestion is actually my own first name, and another is my mom's first name!
I have finally decided that this little girl's name is PHOEBE. Thanks again--treats for all the pets, and for their people!
posted by bookmammal at 11:04 AM on December 4, 2016 [3 favorites]