Help me name my adopted cat
Sharon P. (SLPETERS), USA Today pet columnist
I learned the importance of giving my pet the right name when I was 7. My grandparents bought me a puppy from a box in a parking lot, a border collie we were told, a tiny little black-and-white fur ball. I quickly decided to call him “Tippy” for the white tip on his tail. Soon it became obvious that this was a name that bordered on ludicrous. Tippy grew into a 90-pound behemoth. “What’s your dog’s name?” people would ask as this massive creature lumbered forward. “Tippy” I would squeak. And they’d roar with laugher over the 5-pound dog name attached to a moose-sized canine.
Eventually I began telling people his name was Tippecanoe, a word that rose from a history book like a life raft to save me from further ridicule. And later I added ”Crowned Warrior” for reasons unclear. Other people had dogs named Queenie and Buffy. I had one with the ginned-up, much-altered name Tippecanoe Crowned Warrior.
However humiliated Tippy might have been about all that, he escorted me loyally through childhood and died an old dog when I was in college.
Just before college graduation in the 70s, I became besotted with an Irish Setter puppy. I managed to come up with the cash to buy him, then lapsed into naming paralysis since he was a purebred, and I’d have to register his name. His mother had the appropriately Irish and witty name KErin Go Braugh, so the bar was pretty high. And the hideous naming error of my youth was still fresh in my mind. I decided after several days that Shaughnessy was a fine and fitting Irish name, but believed he needed a surname since I’d never really heard of a purebred with just one name. One day in class when I was thinking about his great comedic style, it arrived: Shaughnessy Shenanigan. I registered it proudly. It’s worth noting that the second part of the name was never referred to again in his life, which was just short of 16 happy years.
Next, living in Kentucky, I adopted a chocolate lab (probably a mix) puppy from the shelter. Bold, irrepressible, potent, he quickly established himself as a force of nature that sauntered rather that walked. He didn’t get a name for eight weeks. And before the right name arrived, I had to take him for an emergency visit to the vet. As I slammed into the parking lot with an ailing puppy, I realized they’d ask his name and I’d have to say he didn’t have one. How bad does that look? You’ve had a dog for a month and you haven’t named him? So, I thought, he’s brown. I’ll tell them his name is Sawyer. Sawyer Brown. Popular country group at the time. Get it? And this being Kentucky, everyone at the vet clinic was charmed. But Sawyer wasn’t really his right name. I knew it and the dog knew it. Weeks later it finally came to me. Buck. Short, direct, no-nonsense. Kinda country. Perfect for a Kentucky-born trouble-maker that lived all of his 12 years at full throttle.
Then along came my mixed-breed rescue, a sensitive sort who arrived four years ago as an overwrought 18-month-old pup with the name Josiah. I hated it and so did he. Whenever I said Josiah he’d look up fearfully, like he was going to get hit or yelled at. He’d obviously come from a place where his name was roared before he was punished. His new name, Jasper, arrived out of the blue one morning, quite easily. It’s a tender name, perfect for an uncommonly perceptive guy that has now become a registered therapy dog.
Soon another dog moved in: A big old brown malamute/German shepherd mix that the shelter named Gunter when he was brought in as a stray. Really, that was a worse fit than Tippy. Gunter sounds sharp, rigid. This is a goofy-looking, aw-shucks kind of dog, gentle and pacifistic in nature. He became Rufus that very day. It is, perhaps, the most ideal of ideal names. Complete strangers declare “He totally looks like a Rufus.”
Gus the Cat was quick, too. He’d had an unpronounceable name when abandoned at the vet with a broken leg. Gus seemed right for a solid, even-tempered friend of all creatures. I still like the name Gus. He prefers Cat.
Now comes LilyBean, a delicate, short-haired, athletic girl with a tiny meow and affectionate nature. I’ve got total brain barrier. Nothing seems just right. It’s been nearly a month, and I’m not even close. Living in Colorado, I appreciate names like Aspen and Alpine, and Blizzard, but I haven’t found the right one. I had a moment when she seemed quite British to me, and I began thinking in that direction, but no luck. And old-fashioned names like Minerva and Calpernia are appealing, because she’s a little retro in ways I can’t precisely describe, but nothing’s clicked. And I also love the idea of finding a name from a different language that has feline-personality significance. But, really, I’ll consider anything.
And, for the record, I really do understand that this isn’t a matter of huge significance. It’s a cat’s name. And if it takes six more months before a good one plops into my head, big deal. Still, you know how it is!
So if something occurs to you, please share.
-----------------------------------------
FROM ZOOTOO:
Each entrant may submit 1 name for Sharon L. Peters' new cat. Entry will be limited to individuals who are 13 years or older. Sharon will pick the three best cat names suggested on this journal entry. If more than one user suggests the same winning name, the user who suggested it first will be selected. The three (3) winners will be awarded by Zootoo a Flip Video Camera made by PureDigital with an ARV $149.99. Entries may be submitted beginning on January 13, 2009 from 8PM EST through 12PM EST on January 19, 2009. The winners will be selected on January 19, 2009 and notified within 48 hours of selection.
Read Sharon's column onwww.usatoday.com
I learned the importance of giving my pet the right name when I was 7. My grandparents bought me a puppy from a box in a parking lot, a border collie we were told, a tiny little black-and-white fur ball. I quickly decided to call him “Tippy” for the white tip on his tail. Soon it became obvious that this was a name that bordered on ludicrous. Tippy grew into a 90-pound behemoth. “What’s your dog’s name?” people would ask as this massive creature lumbered forward. “Tippy” I would squeak. And they’d roar with laugher over the 5-pound dog name attached to a moose-sized canine.
Eventually I began telling people his name was Tippecanoe, a word that rose from a history book like a life raft to save me from further ridicule. And later I added ”Crowned Warrior” for reasons unclear. Other people had dogs named Queenie and Buffy. I had one with the ginned-up, much-altered name Tippecanoe Crowned Warrior.
However humiliated Tippy might have been about all that, he escorted me loyally through childhood and died an old dog when I was in college.
Just before college graduation in the 70s, I became besotted with an Irish Setter puppy. I managed to come up with the cash to buy him, then lapsed into naming paralysis since he was a purebred, and I’d have to register his name. His mother had the appropriately Irish and witty name KErin Go Braugh, so the bar was pretty high. And the hideous naming error of my youth was still fresh in my mind. I decided after several days that Shaughnessy was a fine and fitting Irish name, but believed he needed a surname since I’d never really heard of a purebred with just one name. One day in class when I was thinking about his great comedic style, it arrived: Shaughnessy Shenanigan. I registered it proudly. It’s worth noting that the second part of the name was never referred to again in his life, which was just short of 16 happy years.
Next, living in Kentucky, I adopted a chocolate lab (probably a mix) puppy from the shelter. Bold, irrepressible, potent, he quickly established himself as a force of nature that sauntered rather that walked. He didn’t get a name for eight weeks. And before the right name arrived, I had to take him for an emergency visit to the vet. As I slammed into the parking lot with an ailing puppy, I realized they’d ask his name and I’d have to say he didn’t have one. How bad does that look? You’ve had a dog for a month and you haven’t named him? So, I thought, he’s brown. I’ll tell them his name is Sawyer. Sawyer Brown. Popular country group at the time. Get it? And this being Kentucky, everyone at the vet clinic was charmed. But Sawyer wasn’t really his right name. I knew it and the dog knew it. Weeks later it finally came to me. Buck. Short, direct, no-nonsense. Kinda country. Perfect for a Kentucky-born trouble-maker that lived all of his 12 years at full throttle.
Then along came my mixed-breed rescue, a sensitive sort who arrived four years ago as an overwrought 18-month-old pup with the name Josiah. I hated it and so did he. Whenever I said Josiah he’d look up fearfully, like he was going to get hit or yelled at. He’d obviously come from a place where his name was roared before he was punished. His new name, Jasper, arrived out of the blue one morning, quite easily. It’s a tender name, perfect for an uncommonly perceptive guy that has now become a registered therapy dog.
Soon another dog moved in: A big old brown malamute/German shepherd mix that the shelter named Gunter when he was brought in as a stray. Really, that was a worse fit than Tippy. Gunter sounds sharp, rigid. This is a goofy-looking, aw-shucks kind of dog, gentle and pacifistic in nature. He became Rufus that very day. It is, perhaps, the most ideal of ideal names. Complete strangers declare “He totally looks like a Rufus.”
Gus the Cat was quick, too. He’d had an unpronounceable name when abandoned at the vet with a broken leg. Gus seemed right for a solid, even-tempered friend of all creatures. I still like the name Gus. He prefers Cat.
Now comes LilyBean, a delicate, short-haired, athletic girl with a tiny meow and affectionate nature. I’ve got total brain barrier. Nothing seems just right. It’s been nearly a month, and I’m not even close. Living in Colorado, I appreciate names like Aspen and Alpine, and Blizzard, but I haven’t found the right one. I had a moment when she seemed quite British to me, and I began thinking in that direction, but no luck. And old-fashioned names like Minerva and Calpernia are appealing, because she’s a little retro in ways I can’t precisely describe, but nothing’s clicked. And I also love the idea of finding a name from a different language that has feline-personality significance. But, really, I’ll consider anything.
And, for the record, I really do understand that this isn’t a matter of huge significance. It’s a cat’s name. And if it takes six more months before a good one plops into my head, big deal. Still, you know how it is!
So if something occurs to you, please share.
-----------------------------------------
FROM ZOOTOO:
Each entrant may submit 1 name for Sharon L. Peters' new cat. Entry will be limited to individuals who are 13 years or older. Sharon will pick the three best cat names suggested on this journal entry. If more than one user suggests the same winning name, the user who suggested it first will be selected. The three (3) winners will be awarded by Zootoo a Flip Video Camera made by PureDigital with an ARV $149.99. Entries may be submitted beginning on January 13, 2009 from 8PM EST through 12PM EST on January 19, 2009. The winners will be selected on January 19, 2009 and notified within 48 hours of selection.
Read Sharon's column onwww.usatoday.com

8 months ago
8 months ago
Natalie Femino
8 months ago
8 months ago
8 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Right, Dozer Holyfield (rip)
Nadine
9 months ago
Nadine
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Good luck!
9 months ago
9 months ago
LilyBean, my new Christmas cat, has a new name!
Some 2,993 people offered up 3,411 naming possibilities at a contest hosted by zootoo.com, the online community of animal lovers.
MIXING MEOWS: New cat rocks the old cat's cradle
I had thought it would be pretty simple to sort through whatever popped up and settle on three possibilities. But there were many great ideas — some Rocky Mountain-inspired names to match our location, some different-language possibilities that fit with her looks or circumstances, some European names since I said she seems a little old-fashioned and a bit British, and some lovely wordplays.
I eventually narrowed the field to 40, perched her on my desk (this, as you might imagine, did not go smoothly) and tried each one out on her.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Christmas | Greek
Some, it became clear, were not for her.
Forthwith, the top three:
• Grisabella. Get it? Grey (in French) and pretty. It was presented with a "z" instead of an "s," but I'm taking poetic license. The continental ring matches her personality, and I love the wordplay.
• Tallulah Grace. Tally for short. This graceful, old-fashioned name fits her look and spirit, and announces her very independent edge .
• Kalika. It's "rosebud" in Greek, fitting because she's so delicate. My research shows it also means "eternal" and "pilgrim" in various other languages, also appropriate descriptors. The nickname "Kali" also has a great ring to it, and it means protectress and beautiful, depending on the language.
We'll take another week or so with these three to see which one sticks.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Pam from Georgia
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
–adjective
1. having no equal; peerless.
–noun
2. a person or thing having no equal.
3. a small pellet of colored sugar for decorating candy, cake, and cookies.
4. bite-sized piece of chocolate covered with this sugar.
9 months ago
Alexandria but "Lexie" for short.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
GO-GO BOOTS !!
BEST WISHES,
Jane & Buster (my boy)
9 months ago
9 months ago
I like the name Nia (NYE-uh). In African, it means "purpose".
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
One of my cats is named Isabell. Two kids brought this little kitten they had found in front of our house and asked if it was mine. I explained it wasn't but I would take care of it. My wife had been watching a news program on TV. Just as I brought the kitten into the house, the news reporter stated Hurricane Isabel had made landfall in North Carolina. My wife turned to me as said "Her name is Isabel".
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Venus, godess of love (affectionate) and the athlete
sawyer (sawyer brown)
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Laura Ludlow
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
I think that TREELO would be a great name for her. She is beautiful. We have 5 rescue cats and we had lots of fun picking out names for them.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Hannah,Chickarooni,Chistosa(pronounced Chee-stoh-sa,which is spanish for funny or foolish)Chelsea,Serenity,Grace,Dayzee(prononuced as daisy).
Thats all the names I could think of right now.Hope any of them help.Good luck with your new little baby
Thanks for taking the time to read all of the names(if you did) :D
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Hope this helps! By the way, I think she looks beautiful! :o)
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Tried to narrow it down to my absolute favorites!! It's still pretty long, hope you like them :)
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
CAMILLA
Gender: Feminine
Usage: English, Italian, Scandinavian, Finnish, Ancient Roman, Roman Mythology
Pronounced: kə-MIL-ə (English), kah-MEEL-ah (Italian) [key]
Feminine form of CAMILLUS. This was the name of a legendary warrior maiden of the Volsci, as told by Virgil in the 'Aeneid'. It was popularized in the English-speaking world by Fanny Burney's novel 'Camilla' (1796).
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Flora or Patty or Beulah
Good luck at finding the perfect name for such a beautiful cat..
A. Long, Henderson KY
9 months ago
pawla
9 months ago
How about Mia Feral?
Claudia
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Janja is my choice. And there is something about Juniper and Bella that I like for her as well. It is difficult to choose the best name without being able to see her move and get a better feel for who she is. Good luck!
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Thanks Jamie
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
I ALSO LIKE "MARGARET"
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
We had two Maine Coons. Our little girl, who left us after 14 years, was a classic brown tabby. Her Breeder had an unwritten request that all kittens from her cattery have the word "coon" in their name. She came to us with the name "Pine Coon" because, as a kitten, her tail looked like a pine tree! However, after setting our Labrador Retriever straight and putting our poor, old short-haired, domestic in her place, we renamed this spicy little character "Chili Coon Carne" – a much better fit. Her brother, still with us, is a black & white tuxedo, alpha male, Maine Coon. The cattery kept all the kittens in a barn and when I went to visit, this little tank came charging through all the kittens, literally pushing them over. He climbed up the bale of hay where I sat, climbed up my back, stared in my face and announced that he was our new kitten. We named him Kubla Koon.
Many years of love to your wonderful furry family.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Love for all of you:)
9 months ago
Our kitty was named Patas. In Spanish that means paws. All four paws were white booties. He was a great friend, slept with the dogs, children carried him around for hours, he greeted every house guest with a pat and even had his own rocking chair with bed in the living room.
Pata's beginning was rough like your little ones. He had huge ticks in both ears and had internal parasites. The ticks were removed and one session of wormer made him as good as new.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
ARISTOKAT
9 months ago
"A good name is more desirable than great riches..." Proverbs 22:1
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
How about Spaulding Oxpecker? Spaulding like the pink ball. LilyBean has bounced back for a second chance at love and a good life, with you. Oxpecker, for the African birds that have a symbiotic relationship with the oxen. They sit on their backs and pick off the ticks and other insects. We all hope that you will enjoy a symbiotic relationship with your new friend, minus the ticks, of course.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
How about the name Pixel? A great name for today's digitized world!
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Linda
9 months ago
Good luck with your new kitty.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
I agree that an animal needs to have a special name that is meaningful to who they are. Blessings to you as you find the perfect name!
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Kellie Case, VP/Treasurer, Board of Directors,
Teller County Regional Animal Shelter (TCRAS)
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
grandma1210jc@att.net
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
I say........ pick Rosie as your kitty's name.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
like a papa cat to all my others, always giving them cuddles and kisses. Hope this
helps out.
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
She looks like Freesia McGee to me!!!
;)
9 months ago
her very much and she had some beautiful kittens too.
9 months ago
Anyway, 1 kip = 1000lbs
The amount of affection and love that will be shared between the two of you, if a measurable thing, would have to be measured in kips.
its also a very energetic, yet cute name, in my opinion.
Good luck!
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
If you don't think this name fits then I would agree with Sedna that Gracie would fit with Gus like Mickey & Minnie Mouse.
I have a gorgeous gray/white tuxedo (Phoebe) just like Lilybean with the pinkest nose, white boots, fur like mink and talks to me all the time. She is the joy of my life and I wish you best of luck in your decision. :)
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
From Kerry
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
-Damarpi
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
Congratulations to all of you!
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago
9 months ago