Name My Cats
Help me rename my brother/sister tuxedo cats after their previous owner passed away
Hi I recently acquired brother and sister tuxedo cats after a friend of a friend passed away unexpectedly. They came named Thanos and Kang but their family couldn’t tell me which was which as those are both male marvel characters and said “we assume you’ll rename them bc it never made sense to any of us”. Their previous owner’s name was Mike so someone threw out Sully and Boo as a tribute to him but I’ve been trying them all out and they’re not sticking. I’d like to honor Mike in some way with the name but I’m also open to any other suggestions.
Update: To answer some of your questions. The cats are about 2 they’ve really only ever interacted with Mike as he lived alone and when visitors would come they would hide so no one has been able to identify his nicknames for them but I’m sure I will come up with my own with time. I’ve had them over a week now and they’ve adjusted better than I ever expected and are the snuggliest little things!
I’ve been trying Thanos and Kang their original names. As many of you suggested that the girl could be Kang which is what I’ve been rolling with but they don’t seem to react at all when I say their names. His family is insistent that I should not keep the names out of obligation and that they never thought the names suited as them. (They’re love bugs not villians) — I hadn’t even considered renaming them before they suggested this.
Other people have commented about bringing them to the vet to get microchipped. Unfortunately his family didn’t know what vet they went to but they will be going to my vet as soon as they’ve had a little more time to adjust to all this change. One roadblock I’m encountering is that I want to get pet insurance before going to the vet and I need to put a name on the policy and I’m a little worried that if I guessed wrong and the boy is actually Kang and the girl is Thanos I’m setting myself up for a lot of administrative confusion. Please let me know if I’m overthinking this! I honestly would not care about their names right now if I didn’t have to get this paperwork figured out soon.
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Ive always been a dog person, having cata is definetly different lol, specially with the name and calling things 🤣 i would call my bfs cat name and see my his ear twitch while he looks even more intenesely at... Air lmao
Cats know their names and others names too. My mom had 2 cats and a dog. My cousin, who was not an animal person could not believe that her cats knew their names and each others names too.
She would call each of their names and watch the one who she called look at her and the other 2 look at the one she called as if to say she's calling you, bro. My cousin would crack up in disbelief every time.
I have three cats. All three have a list of about 15 individual names we call them by. Just amalgamations of their actual names..like Peter goes by Mr pie, Peter pie, handsome man, ect. They will all individually react to when you say their name, as in they will look at you. They absolutely know their names, all 15 of them, but cats are not dogs. They will not come to you unless they want to. So they know their names but it's absolutely a what's in it for me situation.
I trained my cats to come to me when I called them. They definitely know their name. I came to realize that my cats could understand a lot more of things than what they were supposed to do. And I'm including my brain dead ones that didn't have two brain cells to rub together.
All my cats through the years were like this except one Scamp. When you called his name he came running and meowing to say hello pick me up now and give me turkey.
My brother and his wife haven't even called their son his name yet and he's 2. They don't regret naming him, he just is gonna end up being Mogley until he's 3 probably.
I always name pets and within a year they have three nicknames that are better. My cats name was Rue but ended up being called big piggie cuz she makes pig noises.
I don’t know if all cats know their names even as adults. We adopted my mom’s cat at around three years old and the shelter said his name had been Hoku since he was brought in as a kitten. He barely responded to it, got rechristened Herbie and figured out he was Herbie now within the hour (at least as far as he ever figures anything out, being an orange who is yet to have the brain cell). Plus there’s all the stray cats who get taken in as adults and renamed, they don’t seem to have issues. My sister’s cats were abandoned by their owners at around four and we have absolutely no clue what their names were, but they adapted to what she named them pretty much immediately. It’s more the tone than anything that cats recognize, maybe certain sounds if they’ve had a name for awhile, but I’ve never known one to not adapt to a new name pretty fast.
You are absolutely right!! My idea was only to keep from stressing them further in the beginning by trying different names. And since I've had time to think about it, I don't think they would come to the new people. In the beginning. Of course they're unsure or afraid, and even if you called their name as a stranger they probably wouldn't come. But yes, the fact that they have a Home is the blessing! And I never knew this thing would go this far, are you kidding me? I seen things go in high numbers before, but this is nuts.
Eh, many cats receive a new name when adopted and do great. It's as much about tone as it is the actual name. My cats each have and answer to several nicknames. One of my cats comes no matter who's name is called. He just hears one of his humans calling for a cat and he comes running. Not saying there aren't cats out there that could struggle with it, but I've never come across one.
If someone takes in two cats who need a home, rename them if you want. Whatever helps keep your home and environment happy for all parties. Names can be changed or appended. What matters most is they are loved
I would give it some time. Let them get used to you and continue using their established names. Are they microchipped? If so a vet could help you establish which is which. Otherwise, keep saying one of their names and see which responds more clearly, and you will figure it out.
Are they microchipped? Not entirely sure how it works but that might their names might be on them? To hazard a guess tho I reckon Thanos is the boy and Kang is the girl
My dog's chip definitely has her name on it - I remember because whoever input her details into the system spelled it wrong the first time round, so we had to contact the company to correct it
You're in a pickle. Maybe give them a little more time to adjust to their new environment? They must be very confused right now. Let them settle in for a few days and then gently say one name -- see if one perks up or looks at you. Good luck to you all.
Thank you for giving these beauties a home ❤️It’s the saddest thing when family won’t take them or their person had no family and loved animals go to shelters or worse. What about Misha (Russian nickname for Micheal, and has a sound that cats will respond to more easily than Thanos or Kang) and Nico? Very heroic sounding names
Don’t worry about people saying you shouldn’t rename them. It’s very common and not unkind for adopters to rename cats. Cats have many names in their lives, just listen to the Cats soundtrack
True. And people often take in strays who have had a previous home, unbeknownst to them. What are the chances that the new home would end up giving them the same name as the old home? Plus, many cats have several nicknames which they respond to.
I personally would say to keep their names if the respond to them; but if they don't, giving them a new name doesn't hurt.
He is pure adventurous trouble. When he goes to his Grandparents they have to put sticks to block drawers and cabinets. He definitely keeps me on my toes. His brother is the complete opposite. 🐈⬛♥️♥️
If I had to guess, thanos is a VERY well known character- I’d bet that’s the boy. Marvel’s Kang is a male character but it’s an androgynous sounding name- I’d bet that’s the girl
Obv I’m just guessing …
Did the previous owner have an instagram or facebook or something where they maybe posted about them? I can’t resist posting my cats constantly.
Have you taken them to the vet to see if they’re micro chipped if they are they’ll have names associated with them or just go to the vet that your friend used. I think you honor your friend by leaving their names as is.
Berlioz and Marie (siblings from Aristocats) if you have to choose new names. But I agree with other commenters that it would be best to use their existing names.
(I’m sorry, this is so stupid but I had to try) If i’m correct in my guess that mike is a shortening of Michael, perhaps you could split up the letters of “Michael”make some anagrams! examples: ham and lice; milch and …ea?; acle and him
Just use their original names and see which one comes for which name, they know what name Mike called them you just have to be patient and figure it out.
If they're not responding to their names my guess is the owner probably ran through many nicknames with them like most of us do LOL my boys name is Sancho. And after 11 years he only responds to tinky boy and tanch.
I have no suggestions but ultimately whatever you pick they will learn in time. They are probably stressed and just trying to learn their new environment.
Maybe you could try calling out both Thanos and Kang separately and see which cat responds to which? My cat will come to his name being called so it’s worth a shot
Kate and Theo. I have 3 cats. As I didn't know their names they were given new names. One answers to his name and the other two ignore me unless they want something like food or cuddles. I just go along with that. It was good of you to give them a home,
I would imagine they are chipped and that would tell you the answer if scanned. Also, their vet likely could identify them and tell you the differences between them. Also, many pet owners share pictures on social media... so I.am hoping a family member or friend can make it crystal clear for you. (I apologize in advance if you have already gone down these routes.)
Ignore all the people telling you not to rename the cats. That’s ridiculous. Both my cats have multiple names. My boy cat is Sam, Sammy, Sam a lam, samster, pretty boy, big boy, and fluffy. He answers to all of them.
What weee their names? Come up with something similar, but that you like, so it sounds familiar and they’re comfortable with it. Then they’ll just think you’re bad a pronouncing names.
Unless these are very young cats and were not with their previous owner for very long, then these cats already have names that they know and since they are probably already traumatized and confused, changing their names will just make it worse.
Try calling them by their current names. If they respond, it’s probably easier to stick with those names. If they don’t respond (mine wouldn’t whether because they’re cats or because I’ve called them a variety of nicknames throughout their lives), then rename them and don’t worry about whether they respond to them or not. Training them to respond at all would take consistency, treats, and luck/inclination.
As far as what names, I thought of the cartoon French cat & the skunk:
Pepe le Pew & Penelope Pussycat (though I’ve heard cats stop listening after 2 syllables).
When I’m naming cats I usually come up with a list and just start throwing names at them until they respond to one.
Some of them answer to the first name I offer, some stare at me as I run through all my favorite names and hit on one I threw out as a joke.
why not let them keep their names? seems cruel to make them rememorize completely new commands while they're still recovering from the loss of their owner. call the names and you'll eventually discover which one is which.
No offense but renaming them is a horrible thing to do. Their owner passed away, he didn't neglect or abandon them. I think it respectful and honoring to keep the name the original owner gave them.
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