Cats love nicknames | The Way of Cats

How Many Nicknames?

by WereBear on Oct.16, 2008, under names

How many nicknames does our cat have? The human tendency towards nicknames is especially prominent with cats, who respond so much to our voices. Cats will recognize any number of variations on their name, or even something we use as a fond description.

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RJ has accumulated an impressive number. Within a few hours, his official name of Reverend Jim was shortened to RJ, and for the first week, reflecting his police history, he was “The Fugitive.” We referred to him as “Tiny Guy,” until he grew out of it, and into “Fluffy Muffin” and “Munchkin.” He is “Monster Paws” for his big feet, and “Mr. Serious” evolved into “Mr. Happy Tail” as he became more secure.

When we talk to Mr. Bond about him, he is “Little Buddy,” and now that he’s found his voice, we call him “Trill Boy” after the distinctive Maine Coon voice he’s using more and more. He knows all of them, just as James Bond not only responds to “Mr. Bond” and “Jamesy,” which are direct variations on his name, but also “Bundle of Boy,” “The Supervisor,” and “Ming,” which is what he says to call me.

Puffy is “Dim of the Yard,” since we are Monty Python fans, and also “Puffernickel,” “Smokus Pokus,” because he disappears so easily, and “Wumpit,” because he is one. T. S. Eliot wrote a famous poem, The Naming of Cats, which mentions only the three most important names. Cats can accommodate far more.

I once fell into conversation with a woman who confided that her current cat, after several years, was still not affectionate or interested in spending time with the family. After some questions, it turned out they had gotten this cat because she looked so much like their beloved cat who had just died. Of course, the new cat was not the old cat, and it seemed to me that the family was not interested in embracing the real cat. I asked, “What did you name her?”

“Kitty,” the woman said, and had the grace to blush. “I guess she knows we didn’t care enough to give her a real name.”

“Well, that is how you felt, and that is how she responded. No mystery there. Think of a name that celebrates her, and then she’ll respond, and you’ll respond, and you can stop feeling guilty.”

“I do feel guilty that we don’t like her as much as the old cat.”

“She can only be herself,” I said. “But you owe her a chance.”

I don’t know how the situation worked out. But not bothering to come up with a special name communicates a lack of interest, and also a lack of recognition of the uniqueness of each individual, whether human or feline. Abundant nicknames is one of those things the thoughtful cat person will provide, along with the food and water.

Because cats love all their names.

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2 comments for this entry:

Bill the Splut
October 17th, 2008 on 12:15 am
Is this a thread where we can talk about our cat’s nicknames? I sure hope so, because here I go!

Her full name–and what name is full without a middle one?–is Kill Kill Kamushka Young, with Young being my last name. Hey, she is my kid, right? She may think her name is either Killsy or Honey, as she hears those most. Before the diet food, she was called Pumpkin, and after it, Peanut, as that was how she was shaped (at first rather round when seen from above, then with a definite peanut-shape and a waist after). Scooter Pie was an early name, as she scooted around the house as a kitten. She was also known then as Underfootnik, as she always was. And she’s always been Small White, as she is small and all white.

Byron Bigfoot Young has many names based on his enormous polydactyl feet, such as Footie Boy and Thumb Guy. He has many more based on his behavior, like Monkey Man, Naughty Head and Monster Man. Also Buster, because…I dunno. It suits him.

Every cat needs a rapper name! Byron’s is Toemaster B, and Killsy’s Ghostface Kill Killah.

They both, however, immediately respond to the name “FOOD!”

I think that I probably have dozens of other names for them. Hey, other readers! What nicknames do you give your cats?
Rachel
October 17th, 2008 on 10:03 am
Ah, the boyfriend and I are so prolific with the names — regular names and nicknames alike!

Our first-born baby is Chester P. Hands La Rue, because SHE loves to lay on Boyfriend’s chest, plus she used to stumble into her own cat business as a kitten. Nicknames are Chest, Cheebs, Cheebo, Chester the Molester (she loves to manipulate things with her paws), Sexy Girl (when she lies down with both feet straight back), and Tubbs (cuz’ she’s getting kind of chunky).

Our second-born is Heir Radio Heinrick Two-Stroke Coop, because he is a loud-mouthed, self-important Siamese who would purr after “two-strokes” as a kitten. “Coop” is after Agent Cooper from the old TV show Twin Peaks. His main name is Hank, for short. Known aliases include: Hankie, Hankie Pie, My Little Cream Puff, and Mister Meezer.

Our most recently adopted kitty is Elliott Tyrus Kikyo — after Elliott Smith (kitty has permanent “sad eyes”), Ty Cobb, and another little kitty at the pound that we would have adopted if we hadn’t met Elliott (I still get sad wondering what happened to Kikyo, but we just didn’t have the room for 4 cats). Elliott’s nicknames are: Elbow, Bo-bo, The El, My Little Coffee Cake, Cookie, Bucky, and Big-Big Tom-Tom (he is a large tomcat).

Yikes, I didn’t know this would become a dissertation, but I guess cat people love nicknames, too